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First Night Scranton To Ring In New Year!

SCRANTON — From music to entertainment and more, First Night Scranton is all about celebration. It’s a family-friendly, alcohol-free event with carr...

SCRANTON -- From music to entertainment and more, First Night Scranton is all about celebration.

It's a family-friendly, alcohol-free event with carriage rides and shuttles, taking folks from The Mall at Steamtown to other venues in the city.

“This is something where you can bring your children, and enjoy along with them and then you can enjoy the fireworks at midnight,” said event co-chair Sandra Opshinksy.

First Night Scranton drew in lots of locals and even some folks from out of town, looking for a way to ring in the new year.

“We were looking online and I saw the First Night Scranton and I had to ask my wife, if she would like to do something like that, being as we are up in the area and that's what we decided to do, come to Scranton,” said William Comegys of Delaware who came with his wife.

“We're from Boston and first night is very family-focused there but hard to get to and parking is crazy and this just seems very approachable and friendly and family-oriented with face-painting, it's why we chose to come here,” said Beth Carey, who was there with her husband, young daughter and one-month old baby.

The celebration was spread throughout the city but centered at The Mall at Steamtown.

“2016 is really going to start a new chapter at The Mall at Steamtown. You're going to see the new movie theater opening, crunch opening, lots of new store, some food entities coming in,” said Amy Zellers, marketing director for the mall.

Inside the mall, there was actual snow, and snowboarders putting on a show for folks.

"It's pretty amazing, he's doing some some pretty hard things,” said Julian Hubbard of Scranton about the pros.

Jose Valenzano of Factoryville liked it, too.

"2016 is the city of Scranton's 150th anniversary and organizers say celebrating the past, present and future of the Electric City was key during First Night.

"2016 is going to be a good year for the city of Scranton. We’re very confident!" said Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright.

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