Button Free Events
Preliminary Schedule subject to change
Bubble Wrap Stomp
Photo: John Markus
Bubble Wrap Stomp
A favorite activity of many parents, too! Watch the kids show joy as they break the bubbles and make lots of noise!
A favorite activity of many parents, too! Watch the kids show joy as they break the bubbles and make lots of noise!
From 1PM until there's no more bubble wrap to stomp.
From 1PM until there's no more bubble wrap to stomp.
Community Center Aerobics Room at 1:00 to 3:00 PM (Button-free)
CANCELLED Carnival Caper
Photo: Ron Snider
CANCELLED Carnival Caper
CANCELLED
A costumed road race, sponsored by the Chatham Squire. Register, show off your costume, and race for fun!
A costumed road race, sponsored by the Chatham Squire. Register, show off your costume, and race for fun!
CANCELLED A costumed road race, from the Chatham Squire to the Lighthouse and back, sponsored by the Chatham Squire. Register outside the Squire starting at 2 pm ($10); Costume judging at 2:30 pm; the race starts at 3 pm (a bit under 2 miles round-trip). You can't miss the gorilla in charge. Race registrants get a Tee shirt, and beef stew served at the Squire after the race! Spectators line Main Street to cheer on everyone parading down the road in costume - you can run, you can walk, you can hop, skip or jump!
Outside the Squire at 2:00 to 3:30 PM (Button-free)
Chatham Railroad Museum, with Special Displays
Chatham Railroad Museum, with Special Displays
A special opening of The Chatham Railroad Museum for First Night Chatham features two special displays
A special opening of The Chatham Railroad Museum for First Night Chatham features two special displays : museum volunteers are operating an "O" gauge train; and a special train themed exhibit of all First Night Chatham buttons, from the earliest to the present, are on display.
The Chatham Railroad Museum is located in the restored 1887 railroad depot that served Chatham for nearly fifty years. Enjoy the museum's many exhibits! Travel back to 1915 when the railroad was a hub of activity portrayed by the diorama of the railroad yard. Imagine riding the 1910 wood sided red caboose, located behind the Museum, which is also open.
The Chatham Railroad Museum is located in the restored 1887 railroad depot that served Chatham for nearly fifty years. Enjoy the museum's many exhibits! Travel back to 1915 when the railroad was a hub of activity portrayed by the diorama of the railroad yard. Imagine riding the 1910 wood sided red caboose, located behind the Museum, which is also open.
Chatham Railroad Museum at 1:00 to 4:00 PM (Button-free)
Face Painting
Photo: Susan Karchmer
Face Painting
What child does not enjoy having something fabulous painted on their face?
What child does not enjoy having something fabulous painted on their face?
Elementary School Cafeteria at 1:30 to 4:30 PM (Button-free)
Fireworks at Veterans Field
Photo: Stanlee Wetzel
POSTPONED to Jan 1st. Fireworks at Veterans Field
POSTPONED to Jan 1st. 6:30PM
Spectacular fireworks at Veterans Field after the Noise Parade, as a special treat for the young and young-at-heart.
Spectacular fireworks at Veterans Field after the Noise Parade, as a special treat for the young and young-at-heart.
Spectacular fireworks after the Noise Parade will be presented as for the whole family. March in the Noise Parade which ends at the Commuinty Center. The fireworks show is at Veterans Field and viewing is from the parking lot and fields behind the Chatham Community Center.
This amazing and special fireworks show is presented by Northstar Fireworks of Vermont; they've been doing the First Night Chatham fireworks for many years.
This amazing and special fireworks show is presented by Northstar Fireworks of Vermont; they've been doing the First Night Chatham fireworks for many years.
Veterans Field at 6:30 PM (Button-free)
Peter Gaines on keyboard
Peter Gaines on keyboard
Peter plays tunes from The Great American Songbook for your easy listening.
Peter Gaines enjoys playing The Great American Songbook — songs of the the 40s,50s, 60s, and broadway musicals from composers like Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rogers and Hammerstein et al. His talent and his love of music are sure to bring a smile to your face.
Elementary School Cafeteria at 3:00 to 4:30 PM (Button-free)
Ice Carving by Chip Koser
Photo: David Jordran
Ice Carving by Chip Koser
Watch Chip and his team carve a beautiful sculpture from large blocks of ice.
Ice sculptor Chip Koser carves a beautiful sculpture from large blocks of ice. In 2011, Chip and his team took home a bronze medal at the World Ice Art Championship held in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Cape Cod 5: Front Lawn at Noon until they melt! (Button-free)
Eldredge Public Library: Front Lawn at Noon until they melt! (Button-free)
Town Hall: Front Lawn at Noon until they melt! (Button-free)
St. Christopher's Church: Front Lawn at Noon until they melt! (Button-free)
Eldredge Public Library: Front Lawn at Noon until they melt! (Button-free)
Town Hall: Front Lawn at Noon until they melt! (Button-free)
St. Christopher's Church: Front Lawn at Noon until they melt! (Button-free)
Julie and Denya: Songs Of The Sea, Folk & Celtic Music and More!
Julie and Denya: Songs Of The Sea, Folk & Celtic Music and More!
Julie and Denya perform sea shanties, folk songs, familiar 20th century music and lively fiddle tunes, as well as Celtic and country music.
Julie Charland and Denya LeVine perform sea shanties, folk songs, familiar 20th century music and lively fiddle tunes, as well as Celtic and country music. They play guitar, fiddle, Irish drum, and ukuleles, and their vocal harmonies sparkle with joyous energy. Julie is a Nashville recording artist, award-winning songwriter, and local folk and bluegrass musician with Toast And Jam. Denya's a full time musician who's performed on Cape Cod and Southeastern MA with folk and ethnic bands for 35 years. This duo has a zest for life that is contagious!
Just for Teens: Rock N Roll Racing (7-9)
Just for Teens: Rock N Roll Racing (7-9)
All teens are invited to Rock N Roll Racing at the Small Gym in the Middle School from 7-9. Free snacks and beverages too!
All teens are invited to Rock N Roll Racing at the Small Gym in the Middle School from 7-9. Free snacks and beverages too! All high school and middle school students welcome.
Monomoy Middle School Small Gym at 7:00 to 9:00 PM (Button-free)
Giant Legos
Giant Legos
Use giant life-sized LEGOS to create and build robots, club houses, thrones, mazes, rainbows and more!
Build with giant life-sized LEGOS! Create life sized structures like rainbows, robots, club houses, thrones, mazes, and more! Only limit is your imagination. Fun for all ages!
Monomoy Middle School Cafeteria at 12:00 to 6:00 PM (Button-free)
Denya LeVine
Denya LeVine
Denya LeVine is a fiddler, ukulele player, and singer. She'll be playing fiddle tunes from around the world.
Denya LeVine is a fiddler, ukulele player, and singer. She'll be playing fiddle tunes from around the world and singing from a wildly diverse repertoire that includes Celtic, country, songs of the sea, Motown, campfire songs, little kid songs, and more. She studied classical violin then took fiddle lessons with Seamus Connolly, 10 time "All Ireland" fiddler. She worked at The Fillmore East (rock music theater) in New York City, and lived in Afghanistan, India, Belgium, England and Ireland.
Elementary School Cafeteria at (Button-free)
Monomoy Seven
Monomoy Seven
Dixieland jazz - swinging improvisations on familiar and not so familiar tunes, and requests from the audience.
Dixieland Jazz – a perennial favorite! With Jeff Hughes on cornet leading the band, you'll hear lots of swinging improvisations on familiar and maybe not so familiar tunes, with each musician featured on specialty numbers, and on requested tunes from the audience. This is always a fun and exciting performance, so come and sit awhile, and prepare to enjoy some hot jazz to warm the chilly night!
St. Christopher's Parish Hall at 7:00 to 9:00 PM (Button-free)
Noise Parade
Photo: Ron Snider
Noise Parade
Make noise any way you want, wear silly hats, flash some lights. Walk to see the early fireworks!
Join the raucous fray! Make noise any way you want.
A police escort leads the parade and no one will be cited for too much noise. Great fun for kids and adults, who often wear silly hats. Start at the corner of Cross and Main at 6 pm, walk to rotary, then continue on to the Chatham Community Center to see the early fireworks!
A police escort leads the parade and no one will be cited for too much noise. Great fun for kids and adults, who often wear silly hats. Start at the corner of Cross and Main at 6 pm, walk to rotary, then continue on to the Chatham Community Center to see the early fireworks!
Town Hall Corner (Main & Cross Streets) at 6:00 PM (Button-free)
Snowmen Scavenger Hunt
Snowmen Scavenger Hunt
Find the snowmen around town and win a little prize!
Search for the First Night Chatham snowmen up and down Main Street, on Dec 31st,and win a little prize!
Especially for the young ones and the young at heart!
Start by getting an entry sheet First Night Chatham Headquarters.
Frosty the Snowman is looking for his six snowmen friends who are scattered along Main St. Each snowman is holding stickers. When you find one, take a sticker and attach it to your snowmen scavenger hunt card. When you have collected all six stickers, return with your sheet to First Night Chatham Headquarters for your prize!
The Snowmen Scavenger Hunt Card can be viewed or downloaded or printed by clicking here.
Frosty the Snowman is looking for his six snowmen friends who are scattered along Main St. Each snowman is holding stickers. When you find one, take a sticker and attach it to your snowmen scavenger hunt card. When you have collected all six stickers, return with your sheet to First Night Chatham Headquarters for your prize!
The Snowmen Scavenger Hunt Card can be viewed or downloaded or printed by clicking here.
Main Street at 1:00 to 5:00 PM (Button-free)
Town Photo
Photo: Spencer Kennard
Town Photo
Come with family & friends. Buy the photo or see it online. A whole-town event!
Important! Please use front gate only !
Show up with your family and friends and pets to pose for the Town Photo. Start First Night Chatham with a wave at the camera and a smile on your face. The photo will be available at the Chatham CVS store for purchase. A panorama deep-zoom photo will also be posted on the First Night Chatham website. Have fun zooming in to see if you blinked, check out who was there, and just enjoy actually seeing your lovely smile up close.Chatham Lighthouse Grounds at Noon (Button-free)
The UnHoly Mackerels
The UnHoly Mackerels
Join The UnHoly Mackerels for a folk rock revival! You may even be inspired to sing along!
Join The UnHoly Mackerels for a folk rock revival! The Macks, who have been covering your world since 2005, are bringing their unplugged line-up to First Night Chatham. Expect acoustic arrangements of popular folk, blues, rock, country, and pop tunes. The band's promise to the audience is that we will sing songs you know. You may even be inspired to sing along!
Town Hall (downstairs) at 1:00 to 4:00 PM (Button-free)
Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy
Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy
Kids and adults love Mr. Vinny 's huge bubble and bubble chasing games.
Using giant homemade bubble wands, a sound system full of music, and a lot of funny family entertainment experience, Mr. Vinny get kids and adults involved in bubble chasing games. The program is all about big beautiful bubbles, running-around, and . . . having FUN! Truly best for all ages.
Community Center Outdoors at 3:00 PM (Button-free)