Brian Horne, Mitchell Woodbeck, Gary Toombs, Keira Brown and 142 other brave – and chilly! – runners take off from the starting line of the starting line of the YMCA’s annual New Year’s Eve Frostbite 5K run earlier this afternoon on Market St. At right, Oneonta’s Michael Hamilton came in first place overall with a time of 18:06. The New Year’s Eve festivities continue this evening with the First Night parade at 5:30, followed by music, dancing, a poetry reading and talent show, as well as a chance to meet Oneonta’s own American Ninja Warrior, Anthony Eardley, at the free “20/20 – I Can See Clearly Now” celebration at Foothills. The fun continues until 10 p.m., when fireworks will be launched from Neahwa Park, then stick around for a blacklight after-party and Cosmic Karma fire dancers. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CELEBRATION – 5 p.m. Start a safe & sober New Years celebration with parade down Main St. followed by poetry readings, festival featuring live music, games, dancing, & special guest Anthony Eardley, Oneonta’s American Ninja Warrior. Then first ever talent show featuring $1000 prize at 7:30, then black-light after-party featuring entertainment by Cosmic Karma Fire Spinners. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
Leah Puylara and her friend Owen Meade, Milford, help add to the music as part of the the First Night festivities, now underway at Foothills in Oneonta. With music, dancing, magic, performances, a make-your-own-sundae bar and more, the festivities go on until midnight to help Oneonta ring in 2019. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Tyler Gregory, Franklin, crosses the finish line to take first place at the Oneonta YMCA’s annual Frostbite 5K with a time of 17:54. 176 runners braved the cold to race on the last day of 2018. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Though the parade and the fireworks at Oneonta’s First Night celebration have been cancelled, the festivities at Foothills are still scheduled from 5 p.m. to midnight, according to organizer David Hayes.
“Unfortunately, in Upstate New York, we are at the mercy of the weather,” he said. “But it was just going to be a wall of rain, and out of concern for people’s safety, we decided to cancel.”
CELEBRATION – 6 p.m. – Midnight. Fireworks at 10. Ring out 2018 with pizza party before parade down Main St. Ring in 2019 with performances by Alex Torres and his Latin orchestra. Free admission. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Visit firstnightoneonta.com
FROSTBITE 5K – 1 p.m. 3rd race of the O’town Triple Crown. Begins on Market St., Oneonta near Sidney Federal Credit Union. Info, www.oneontaymca.org
NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE PARTY FUNDRAISER – 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Come out to support the Standing Rock Medic and Healer Council with DJ Raphael. Tickets at door $25. Cantina de Salsa, 11 Main St., Cherry Valley. Info, www.facebook.com/events/249553308797227/
NEW YEAR PARTY – 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Ring in the new year with champagne and a midnight breakfast buffet with Burning Moonlight. Timber Creek Saloon and Restaurant, 2957 ST. HWY. 23, West Oneonta. Info, www.facebook.com/TimberCreekLLC/
Felix Thomas, Oneonta, swings his wife Lauren around the dance floor to the sounds of the band Chaser, who kept the final hours of 2015 hopping at Bassett Hospital’s annual New Year’s Eve Gala – the theme is “A Walk on the Wild Side” – The Otesaga in Cooperstown. The festivities ended at midnight with fireworks. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
