First Night Leesburg: Celebrating the New Year, Northern Virginia

Feb 16, 2011
James Barnett

With a storied history of almost 300 years, Leesburg, a sleepy Virginia hamlet, hearkens back to New Year Eves of old. We welcomed 2011 in the town square.

First Night is not uncommon around the country. It's a city’s alternative for those not wishing to celebrate the New Year in a crowded nightclub or some indulgent private party. In my experience even the best soirees tend to wind down and empty out by 12:15, and since many young adults are now married with children, why not involve the entire family in the celebration, eliminating babysitting fees and extending the bedtime for one night a year? The town of Leesburg, Virginia is approximately thirty miles west of Washington, D.C. Leesburg’s First Night is extremely affordable, offering merely a general admission ticket. The event takes place within a six-block radius of the town square, which dates back prior to the Revolutionary War, and boasts a reconstructed county courthouse over one hundred years old. The courthouse even has a clock tower, the final gathering spot for the evening’s events. The town council blocks the affected streets and revelers are free to roam at will. Downtown parking garages along the perimeters make the event within walking distance and allow for a relatively easy exit home. Puppet shows, musicians, jugglers, magicians, mimes, and even an improvisational comedy troop are scheduled to entice the children. Performers entertain in several designated venues. The festivities start at 6:00 P.M., my daughter and I started at 7:00.

The Juggler (7-8:00)

Arriving to the event from down state, this apt and very capable gentleman mixed dry wit, some sleight-of-hand magic, and precise juggling techniques to wow both the young crowd and the parents. He chose several volunteers from the audience to participate in his tricks. From juggling balls and pins while balancing on a unicycle to the grand finale of chainsaw juggling, the forty-five minute show was a great way to begin the New Years Eve festivities. It was also apparent that he is a resident entertainer for this annual event.

The Magician (8-9:00)

Another annual favorite for the event is the resident magician. He spent the evening performing inside the Loudoun County Courthouse. The audience entered the historic building and sat among the padded benches awaiting this seasoned professional. He utilized the area where generally the prosecuting attorneys and suspects sit, between the judge’s bench and first row. Standard magic included the ball/cup trick, the solid rings, and reappearing coins. Volunteers were selected for some of his more astounding feats, including a needle that penetrates an expanded balloon.

The Mime (9-10:00)

The event was located in the basement of a government building at a small auditorium that quickly became very crowded. The mime, also a veteran of First Night Leesburg, amused young and old alike, using only a whistle to communicate. The whistle was vital in directing the young participants, signaling alarm, or most often, for eliciting humor. The standard fare of descending an imaginary staircase, pushing against the wind, and becoming entrapped in a coat were quite amusing, but he also used his young audience to perform in a makeshift band.

The Musician (10-11:00)

Actually there were several musical acts appearing at First Night, from Appalachian Bluegrass to Celtic Traditional. It was impressive to have so many options to choose from. We chose an acoustic guitarist specializing in folk music. He played at the Tally Ho Theater, a two-auditorium venue one half-block from the courthouse. His songs of family and home were quite poignant this particular evening and the capacity crowd expressed their warm appreciation.

Improvisational Comedy (11-11:45)

An annual crowd pleaser at First Night, Leesburg’s own improvisational comedy troop performs monthly at the Tally Ho Theater. This encore performance, the final one of 2010, was played before a standing room only crowd. Four actors took the stage under the guidance of a stage director. With audience recommendations, the actors - masters of histrionics and hyperbole - hammed it up to the pleasure of the First Night Crowd.

The Grand Finale (11:45-12:00)

All performers cut short their final act so that the crowd could gather at the corner of King and Market Streets and watch the New Year’s countdown on the courthouse clock. It was unseasonably warm this evening - mid thirties - and slightly overcast. The organizers of the event distribute candles and wax shields and within moments the candles light up, the flame being passed from one participant to another. The juggler arrives at an ornate doorway and juggles fiery batons, his top hat lit up in flames as well. Carolers sing prior to the countdown and sing Auld Lang Syne once the cheering has subsided. The sense of community and the small town atmosphere make the visitor nostalgic for an imagined time decades ago, recreated on this night in Leesburg, Virginia.