First Night is a collaboration of more than 200 community celebrations in four countries, marking the passage of time with modern festivities in an alcohol-free, family-oriented environment. Three area city groups have planned extensive entertainment schedules for the New Year’s Eve events, each with a wide variety of musical performers throughout the evening.

Two of the three, Youngstown and Canfield will end the evening with a bang — several bangs, actually — of fireworks displays. Salem is the third. All three will offer free transportation among their venues included in the single $10 ticket price for all events, with reduced price offers and free admission for children.

YOUNGSTOWN

First Night Youngstown is handled by an official non-profit organization of that name, headed by downtown artist Bob Barko Jr. of Steel Town Studios. Their 2009 event involves 26 performers at 18 venues, with an additional 13 venues serving food. It starts with opening ceremonies in the food court of 20 Federal Plaza (the former Phar-Mor building) at 5:30 p.m. and ends with a Times-Square style ball drop at City Hall Annex and fireworks display at the Chevrolet Center at midnight.

In between, there’s plenty to keep folks hopping. We’ll start at the top of Wick Avenue.

The Arms Family Museum has rock band Triple Play in the museum and Appalachian string band Erie Travelers in the Carriage House from 7 to 9 p.m.

Masonic Temple will have Chasin’ the Blues from 7 to 9 and then Uptown Saturday Night on the first floor, and a storyteller, wild west show and oldies soloist Sterling Anderson on the second floor.

First Presbyterian Church hosts the classical flute Olsen Duo at 6 p.m. and Latino orchestra Conjunto Riquena at 8.

In the recital hall of YSU’s Bliss Hall, teens will have a talent festival starting at 6 p.m., followed by vocalist Jaclyn Hodos, and in Ford Theater, the Youngstown Connection will bookend a show of Senior Follies.

On Federal Plaza, the food court at 20 Federal Place will become a dance hall after the opening ceremonies, first with Classic Cruisers doing oldies and Elvis, and later, Eddie Valus Band II playing polkas.

In FEIC Financial Inc., Father Vit Fiala and Friends will perform classical cello pieces. Davis & McKay do acoustic rock and Stephen Dorsey impersonates Roy Orbison in the Mahoning Valley Historical Center.

At the west end of the street, in the recently restored Davis Building next to the Draught House, three of Youngstown’s hottest rock bands will perform in succession, starting with Pete Drivere and the Pretty Demons, then The Zou, and finally Jones For Revival.

Though JamBrain is mostly interested in the music, there’s plenty more going on, including free skating until 8:30 and a children’s fireworks display at 9 at the Chevy Center.

CANFIELD

Visitors to the official website for First Night Canfield are serenaded by an original song about the event describing, in lyric terms, the intent and spirit of the community activity.

Two cabaret dinner shows will open the night’s fun there, with two sittings each, at 4 and 6 p.m. Ross and Jennifer Cruchlow will perform “Young at Heart” at A La Carte (426 Lisbon St.), and Elysia Shutrump and Mark Christine will sing “Songs We Love” at the Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St. Each dinner show is $27.50 and includes a First Night button.

The Wade Raridon Singers, pianist Kathryn Miller, Celtic soprano Colleen Harris and harpist Kirk Kupensky will perform at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St.

Located at 7105 Herbert Rd., the Old North Church hosts a continuous lineup of singers and dancers including Cahal Dunne, John Mosely, bluegrass band Get Out and Push, Ladies of Country Music, SideKicks Quartet, and local rocker JD Eicher and the Goodnights, plus performances of Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Wonderful World” and “A Night at the Movies.”

The Canfield Presbyterian Church at 140 W. Main, will feature music for youth all evening, including a meet-and-greet for the youth bands and Soul Kitty, Lost View, Aldous, Made in Canada and Signal the Verse.

Canfield High School will have activities for kids throughout the evening, ending with a bonfire and fireworks display at midnight.

SALEM

Local folk music teacher, instrumentalist and singer Bill Schilling coordinates the efforts for Salem’s First Night and figures prominently in the entertainment.

He and Linda Sigismondi will kick off a hymn sing at Episcopal Church of Our Savior, followed by Ted Thorne, God’s Quad and All 4 One. Then they’ll skip on down to the Memorial Building gymnasium to play with his Dulci-More instrumental orchestra and sing some more duos, after performances there by the bluegrass Allegheny Drifters and bluegrass/gospel Stockdale Family Band.

At the Elks Lodge, rock band Drivin’ Wheel will start at 6 p.m. and then alternate sets with After Midnight until about 11 p.m. In Scullion Hall of St. Paul School the Salem Jubilee Chorus starts singing at 6:45, followed by Stormin’ Norman and the Del Reznek Polka Band.

A Cavalcade of Stars Radio Reality Review will fill the evening at Kent City Center, KSU Auditorium, with Dottie Aiken Reynolds portraying Patsy Cline, original members of Randy & The Renegades, Abbey Road (Beatles tribute band), and a grand finale with a combined cast of many of the festival performers.

First Night Youngstown, Canfield and Salem. A great way to end 2008 and wake up in ’09 with your head clear and your toes tapping.