More than 70,000 expected to ring in Opening Night in Oklahoma City

It's an alcohol-free, family-friendly event that will assemble more than 40 performers on 16 different stages across nine venues, with the festivities starting at 7 p.m. Monday.

The night is expected to wrap with the countdown to midnight and local R&B band Shortt Dogg.

That will be the culmination of a night that's a virtual variety show of performers.

“For one price, you get to go to all these different places and see a wide variety of performers that perhaps will be the first time you've ever had the chance to see them.

“So Opening Night makes the performing arts very accessible. That's what's wonderful about it,” said Arts Council of Oklahoma City Executive Director Peter Dolese.

The Oklahoman and NewsOK are sponsors of the event, where for the second straight year, the traditional raising of the giant lighted ball will take place at the Myriad Gardens, where local R&B band Shortt Dogg will get people revved up for the final moments of 2012.

“Shortt Dogg is gonna be amazing,” Dolese said. “They've got that power to really just slowly build the energy and then crescendo at midnight. I think it'll be a wonderful way to ring in the New Year.”

He said an estimated 70,000 people gathered last year at the Myriad Gardens to count down and watch the big fireworks display.

“You've got a Barons game that night, you've got a Thunder game that night, and you've got everybody partying all over the place ... but people literally leave wherever they are and come there,” Dolese said.