Oklahoma City's Opening Night rings in New Year with an array of entertainment

Ravi Riyanto, 8, of Norman, Okla., participates in Opening Night activities at the Cox Convention Center on Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman Archives

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From Saturday’s The Oklahoman.

Opening Night rings in 2012 with an array of entertainment
The alcohol-free, family-friendly event will spread 40 performers across eight different downtown venues, with nonstop entertainment starting at 7 p.m. Saturday. A world-famous magician, a local roller derby squad and musicians of practically every sonic preference are on the bill for the venerable year-end bash.

“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” asks the old song by Oscar-winning composer Frank Loesser.

For downtown Oklahoma City party-goers who choose to ring in 2012 Saturday at Opening Night, the better question might be “what aren’t you doing New Year’s Eve?”

A world-famous magician, a local roller derby squad and musicians of practically every sonic preference are on the bill for the venerable year-end bash along with improv comedians, an Elvis impersonator and a hypnotist.

Presented by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, the alcohol-free, family-friendly event will spread 40 performers across eight different downtown venues, with nonstop entertainment starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The children’s area inside the Cox Convention Center will feature live entertainment, hands-on art projects, face painting and an inflatable obstacle course, plus it will serve as headquarters for the event-wide scavenger hunt.

When it comes planning out the celebration, organizers aim to provide a wide variety of entertainment.

“We have performers all across downtown. With musicians and theater and dance, there’s really just a little bit of something for everyone,” said Opening Night Director Christina Foss.

About 60,000 people rang in 2011 at last year’s Opening Night.

The Opening Night Finale Ball is moved from its storage location on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. by crews from Allied Steel Construction Co., for its final preparations before it is moved into the downtown Oklahoma City. The ball will be lifted during the countdown to welcoming in the new year as the grand finale of Opening Night activities. The ball is decorated with 5,000 lights, a mirror ball, weighs 3000 pounds and is 10 feet tall. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

Grand finale