Blue Masquerade
Art Amiss, a local artists’ collective, will host a masquerade ball from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. New Year’s Eve at the Urban Table Bar and Grille in the Old Post Office building on the Fayetteville Square.

“Blue Masquerade” will include musical entertainment by area DJs, along with hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and a champagne toast at midnight. “Blue Masquerade” will give away complimentary masks, but coming in handmade masks is encouraged.

The main art attraction will be a living art installation, featuring themed creations from local apparel designers and modeled by area men and women. There will be a silent art auction of 12″x12″ paintings created by local artists. Door prizes donated by local business will also be given away.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door or in advance through the Art Amiss website, www.artamiss.org. Open to ages 18 and up.

First Night Fayetteville

First Night Fayetteville is a family oriented, no alcohol celebration that takes places in downtown Fayetteville. First Night is a worldwide tradition that features live entertainment, interactive children’s activities and New Year’s Eve magic. There is something for all ages to enjoy. Many like to bring their children to the event for the early activities and then come back later for an adult late night. Others bring their children for the entire event, allowing them a “first late night.”

This year pop rock group Fastball from Austin, Tex. will headline a lineup of some of NWA’s favorite musical acts. Music will range from Renaissance and Celtic to jazz, folk and rock.

There will be dance and poetry performances and wandering jugglers and minstrels.

Children 6 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a buttoned adult.  Buttons are $10 adults and $5 ages 7 to 18. Buttons can be purchased at the Northwest Arkansas Mall Guest Services Desk and Collier’s Drug Stores.

First Night Schedule
Subject to change

Key events
7 p.m. Giant puppet parade around the square
11:55 p.m. Closing ceremony and extinguishing of the Lights of the Ozarks, countdown to midnight, Hog Drop and fireworks

Imagination Station (Fayetteville Town Center)
Activities
6- 9 p.m.  Imagination Station – Make a hat, mask or costume for the parade.
Performances
6 p.m.  KinderSongs
7:30 p.m.  Dance Coalition
8 p.m.  Anoush European folk dance
8:30 p.m.  McCafferty School of Irish Dance
9:05 p.m. Palillos! Spanish dance
9:30 p.m.  West African dance and drum troupe Afrique Aya

Outdoor Stage
7:30 p.m.  Soma Juggling Theatre
8:05 p.m.     Chase Missy
9:15 p.m.  Thanks for Nothing
10:30 p.m.  Fastball

Folk Stage (Odom Law Firm)
7:30 p.m.      Emily Kaitz and Drew Pierce
8:20 p.m.     Still on the Hill
9:10 p.m.    The Kelly and Flip Band
9:40 p.m. Jam Session

Literary Stage (Bank of Fayetteville)
7:30 p.m. Ceramic Cow Productions performs scenes from “BigFoot Love”
8:15 p.m. Staged readings by Arkansas Playwright’s Workshop
9:45 p.m.     Slam Poetry workshop and performance by Terrence Youngblood

Jazz Stage (The Cosmopolitan Hotel)
7:30 p.m. Gibson – Greeson Ensemble
8:30 p.m. Walter Savage Quartet
9:30 p.m. Claudia Burson Trio

Classical Stage (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Sanctuary)
7:30 p.m.      Mary Haley, Jeannie Lee and the Fayetteville Fiddle Choir
8:30 p.m. Naturally Brass
9:30 p.m. Gregorian Schola

Rock & Blues Stage (Masons on the Square)
7:30 p.m.     Blues Builder and Youth Band
8:30 p.m. Adam Posnak
9:30 p.m. Band from Planet X

Anniversary Stage (Convention and Visitor’s Bureau)
7:30 p.m. Ozone Players
8:30 p.m. Shaky Bugs
9:30 p.m. Howl-O

Imagine a Moment
From 7 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, the Walton Arts Center will host an evening of fun, entertainment, food and chocolate. A circus atmosphere will be created with jugglers, tents, food and drinks, live entertainment and even a photo booth.

The space will be transformed five  “moments” starting with the “Welcome Moment.”  As guests enter, there will be the sites and sound of a circus. Other “moments” include the “Chocolate Oasis Moment” an entire room devoted to chocolate and relaxation; a “Dance Party Moment” with the band Full House; a “Chance Moment,” with blackjack, craps and roulette table in a Vegas atmosphere; and a “Romance Moment,” with jazz by the Ben Harris Trio.

The juggling and comedy group, Passing Zone, will be performing and there will be a live auction of items like a Cabo San Lucas vacation and a 2008 Toyota Prius.

Tickets are $85, which includes food, drinks and entertainment.

In the clubs
There are lots of New Year’s Eve options in town this year, starting with the Cate Brothers show at The Cosmopolitan Hotel  in downtown Fayetteville. Toom packages available, so plan to take in First Night, the Cate Brothers and then wake up to room service.

Big Smith and Sarah Hughes will be at George’s and since Hughes is moving to Austin, Tex., this may be your last chance to enjoy her award-winning music for a while.

Rockers Earl’s Garage will play the Green Door for a costume ball and at the Music Hall catch Pop the Rocks and Hard Candy show with School Boy Humor, Jarris, and Hair Cut Of The Year.

Many music fans will be headed to Rogers on NYE to hear another award-winning musician and favorite, former Fayetteville diva, Cherry Brooks who has been living in Memphis.

Although some may think that the week between Christmas and New Year’s is thin for club action—wrong. Here is a quick run down.

It really is old-home week in Fayetteville. Another former Fayetteville player, Lee Tamboulain will be joining new Fayetteville player, Walter Savage, a transplant from the San Francisco Bay Area tonight at Bordino’s for what will no doubt be a jazz show that will be talked about for a while. Savage, is credited with bringing the bass to the forefront of jazz and folks around here are just starting to find out why.

Friday night Steve Pryor, Mountain of Venus and Jesse Aycock Band will be at George’s, with Speakeasy doing Saturday night at George’s with Jah Roots.

On Sunday, Texas’ Memphis May Fire—Chase Ryan, Kellen McGregor, Jeremy Grisham, Ryan Bentley, and Austin Radford—will play the Music Hall for a night of hard rockin’, sharing the bill with Twelve Gauge Valentine and Handshake Murders. Memphis May Fire say their mission is to redefine southern rock ala the ways of ZZ Top and Underoath. Check ‘em out.