First Night through the years

Forty years of Boston’s First Night.

As part of the countdown to First Night 1977, Mark Dannenhauer skis through the First Night doorway as a dancing bear (Ellie Hayes) looks on.

First Night on New Year’s Eve 1977.

First Night goers on the MBTA on New Year’s Eve 1977.

A man juggling on First Night 1979.

A puppet show during First Night 1979.

The procession approaches the Common on New Year’s Eve 1979.

Participants in the First Night procession assemble their 200-foot snake for a dry run before New Year’s Eve 1983.

Ed Tiffany carries his daughter in his backpack on First Night 1983.

Preparation for First Night in 1985.

A crowd gathers around a Volkswagon for a light show during First Night 1986 in Copley Square.

Peace stars fill the streets on Boston’s First Night on New Year’s Eve 1987.

Fireworks bring in the New Year in 1988.

A large ice sculpture in Copley Square for First Night 1990.

Ice sculpting on First Night 1990.

Artist John Tagiuri, of Somerville, building a boat for First Night 1992.

Marchers snake their way along Boylston Street on New Year’s Eve 1995.

Erich George of Reading uses a chain saw as he begins the process of building a First Night ice sculpture to ring in 1997.

New Year’s Eve 1996 at Boston’s First Night.

Joseph Neimann, 6, left, and his brother, Jonathan, 5, blow their horns while walking in Copley Square on their way to First Night events on New Year’s Eve 1996.

Vendor Jade Lupinacci, 21, works to keep snow off hats and horns while standing in his booth during a freezing 12-hour shift during First Night 1997.

First Night 1998.

Rich Gloster scuplts ice for First Night 1999.

The streets were filled with costumes, live music, and thousands of people to celebrate the First Night 1999 procession.

Visitors to Boston’s Big Dig tour on December 31, 2000. The tour was offered as part of Boston’s First Night celebration.

Marchers in costumes of all types, make their way down Boylston Street.

First Night 2001.

Boston First Night fireworks over the Common ring in 2002.

Boston Red Sox fan Julie O’Neill, of Atlanta, poses for a photograph next to an ice sculpture that highlights the Red Sox for the First Night celebration at Faneuil Hall on New Year’s Eve 2004.

Donnie Cadman, 7, of Framingham, gets into the holiday spirit and blows his horn during the First Night parade on New Year’s Eve 2004.

Paul Bellino, 8, of Malden, wears the trademark New Year’s celebration glasses during First Night 2007.

Fernanda Novelle-Ruddy, 17, of Roslindale, dancing with Spontaneous Celebrations, an after school program in Jamaica Plain, at the beginning of the First Night Grand Procession on Boylston Street during First Night 2009.

First Night 2009.

Lee Petty wears 2009 glasses at his First Night souvenir stand in Copley Square.

Fireworks at the Common ring in 2011.

First Night 2011.

Dancers with the Chu Ling Dance Academy of Boston delight audiences during First Night 2011.

First Night 2015 procession on Boylston Street.

A member of the Color Guard walks down Boylston Street with the American Flag during the First Night Parade on New Year’s Eve 2014.

First Night 2015.