Charlotte will once again ring in the new year with its annual First Night Charlotte event starting Dec. 31 in uptown that will highlight and celebrate the city’s cultural offerings. 

There will be child-oriented activities throughout the day, followed by an array of performances beginning at 8 p.m. along South Tryon Street. There will be live indoor and outdoor acts from local, regional and national artists including aerial dancers, music, visual arts, comedy, international dance and more.

As midnight draws near, everyone will gather at the Duke Energy main stage located at Levine Avenue of the Arts for musical entertainment by Simply Irresistible and hip-hop violinist Daniel D, as well as a countdown to 2011.

Charlotte Center City Partners, which organizes the event, touts First Night Charlotte as  “an innovative, diverse, and high-quality alcohol-free celebration of the New Year … (where) we engage the community and advance the public’s appreciation of visual and performing arts through a shared cultural experience, accessible and affordable to all.”

Admission to all the events will be through wristbands, which can be purchased that night or previously at 40 Fifth Third Bank locations in North Carolina. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children aged 7-12.  Kids 6 and under are free with an adult.

McDonald’s First Night Kids runs from 3 to 7 p.m. at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South and Discovery Place. The kids’ countdown is from 7 to7:45 p.m. at the Seventh Street stage.

First Night Charlotte is presented by Fifth Third Bank and WBTV and is made possible by the hard work of representatives from organizations throughout the community, including Charlotte Center City Partners, the Arts & Science Council, Wray Ward, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Department, City of Charlotte Neighborhood Development, Hands on Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and  Audio Ethics.

For more details: www.firstnightcharlotte.com.