First Night Talbot 2020

Click here for the 2020 Program!

First Night Talbot’s history spans over 25 years and is currently the last running First Night celebration in the State of Maryland. Known as a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration, First Night Talbot has become a wonderful Eastern Shore tradition spanning multiple generations. Our favorite thing each year is seeing parents share stories of their First Night Talbot experiences and creating new memories with their little ones.

Every First Night Talbot has entertainment and fun for the whole family, and this year is no different. Our goal has always been to follow the original traditions of First Night that started in Boston in 1976: family-oriented, affordable, drug & alcohol-free, and a wide variety of performances for all ages. We’ve also chosen to feature local and regional talent, youth and adult, because it’s amazing what’s available right here on the Shore.

The family focused programming and arts celebration leads up to the now world-famous (with thanks to CNN!) Maryland Crab Drop. The 9 p.m. “Midnight in the Mid-Atlantic” Crab Drop is led by a bagpiper and a parade of sea creatures. It is a fun way to celebrate the arrival of 2020 as a family, especially if you have little ones. Our traditional Crab Drop at Midnight rings in the New Year on the street, and is always one of the public’s most popular photo-op locations of the evening.

Many artists and volunteers have created our mermaids, fish hats, decorations, tuxedos, and sea creatures over the years. We cannot thank them enough for their support.

Performers have historically chosen to perform for First Night Talbot families rather than the more lucrative options in bars on NYE. We’re also blessed to have an exceptional town and county for their generosity and volunteerism. First Night Talbot has always relied on those two important factors to support the event. It could not happen each year without both.

You’ll fi nd festivities take place in a variety of venues in downtown Easton: Avalon Theatre & Stoltz Listening Room, Prager Auditorium, & Waterfowl/Armory building. We’ve added Town Hall and Storm’s Ice Cream as free activities for families. S. Harrison St. is closed to all traffic from Dover to South Streets: The Maryland Crab Drops, Food Truck, Fire Juggling and Bagpiper are to be found here.

Please join us to welcome the First Night of 2020! See you there!
~ Carolyn Jaffe & Discover Easton

For more information visit www.firstnighttalbot.org.