Photos

T'Daizha Grady, 10, discos with brother Emanuel Craig, 3, at the Kids Dance Party at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon, part of kids' activities at the First Night Kids Program at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

The bluegrass group Sweetbriar Jam of Lenoir, N.C. performs at The Levine Museum of the New South Wednesday afternoon, part of the First Night Kids Program at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. L-r are Sarah Seymour, Kaitlyn Caldwell, Sawyer Whitman, Dalton Caldwell and Nicholas Seymour. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Local entertainer Drew Nowlin (right), lets Will Miller, 6, touch his puppet dodo bird as part of Interactive Activities outdoors in front of ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Local entertainer Drew Nowlin high fives Benjamin Miller, 5, as part of Interactive Activities outdoors in front of ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

A cold Dominique Owens, 3, huddles against her father Darryl Owens of Charlotte as the two watch Interactive Activities outdoors in front of ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

A Childrens Theatre of Charlotte dance group performs for an enthusiastic crowd as part of Interactive Activities outdoors in front of ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. The dancer leaping in front is Christian Bufford. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Victor Antonov and child Asen, 1, watch the Kazoobie Kazoo show featuring Rick Hubbard at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Children laugh at the antics of Rick Hubbard and his Kazoobie Kazoo show at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Children laugh at the antics of Rick Hubbard and his Kazoobie Kazoo show at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

L-r Madeline Lovell and Sophie and Alexandra Biancofiore laugh at the antics of Rick Hubbard and his Kazoobie Kazoo show at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Cousins Isabelle Chow, 9, and Jett Thijssen, 2, join a crowd of children playing kazoos given to them by Rick Hubbard as the grand finale of his Kazoobie Kazoo show at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon. First Night Kids Program events took place Wednesday at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. , Wednesday afternoon begin First Night activities uptown. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Elizabeth Stratton, 5, of Charlotte does the twist with her aunt Ellen Brown at the Kids Dance Party at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon, part of kids' activities at the First Night Kids Program at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Kids enjoy dancing to disco music at the Kids Dance Party at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon, part of kids' activities at the First Night Kids Program at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Kids enjoy dancing with adults to disco music at the Kids Dance Party at ImaginOn Wednesday afternoon, part of kids' activities at the First Night Kids Program at ImaginOn, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, The Green and the Main First Night Stage at 6th and Tryon Sts. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Cheralyn Lambeth operates a 14 foot tall "Father Time" made by Grey Seal Puppetts for Charlotte Center City Partners, marching down Tryon street in the peoples procession parade to celebrate the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Blowing their horns and noise makers,left to right, Chloe Appleby 8 , Anna Covington 10 , Jennifer Appleby and Camille Appleby,11, all of Charlotte came to watch the Peoples Procession parade to celebrate the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Dressed as "New years babies" Hardin Minor on left, Eddie Williams on right, both with Omimeo Mime Theatre of Charlotte, march down Tryon street in the peoples procession parade to celebrate the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

3-year-old Jillian Stevens of Charlotte blows her horn as hard as she can as she walk around Uptown Charlotte with her mom Emily Stevens to celebrate the New Year 2009. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Members of the Kool Jazz Brass Band of Charlotte performing on Tryon street in Uptown Charlotte to celebrate the New Year 2009. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

A Central City Carriage carrying folks through Uptown Charlotte to celebrate the New Year 2009. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Vivian Spiral and Tommy Roberts, dressed as a human statue,march along Tryon street in the peoples procession parade to celebrate the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Dewey Beeler of Charelston, SC working as a street vendor selling 2009 sunglasses which he said is his most popular item. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Seconds after the Queen Charlotte Crown was raised to bring in the New Year folks dance to celebrate the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

The Daniels family of Charlotte, left to right, Drum,Nia and Darel,celebrate seconds after the Queen Charlotte Crown was raised to bring in the New Year folks dance to celebrate the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Bridget Williams and Walt Whitaker both of Charlotte give each other a New Year's kiss seconds after the Queen Charlotte Crown was raised to bring in the New Year folks dance to celebrate the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Fireworks go off surrounding the Queen Charlotte crown as it is raised 25 feet high to ring in the New Year 2009 in Uptown Charlotte. ROBERT LAHSER - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com