Posted: January 3rd, 2010 Tonya Jameson

First Night revelers in Uptown Charlotte rang in 2010 with a parade and festivities for all ages.

Charlotte Center City Partners and Crossroads Charlotte hosted a video booth for people to share their stories and what they hope to see Charlotte become.

Posted: January 1st, 2010 Greg Lacour

Click here for a slideshow of more First Night photos by Lashawnda Becoats and Greg Lacour.

COMING SUNDAY: Tonya Jameson's video from the Xchange Stories booth at Trade and Tryon.

The crowds at Trade and Tryon streets were just starting to thicken on New Year’s Eve. Casey and Shavon Bolden, both 30 and married and with a baby on the way, were taking part in First Night, the annual New Year’s celebration in uptown Charlotte.

It was a special time for both, the last New Year’s Eve they’d spend before the trials and responsibilities of parenthood. But they noticed two other things they hadn’t expected: the size and diversity of the crowd around them and the feeling that they were in no danger whatsoever.

“It’s a safe place to be tonight. Every corner, you see about 20 cops,” Shavon said. “If anywhere, this might be the place to be tonight. To stay out of trouble, anyway.”

Casey: “You’re out here kind of intermingling, and everybody’s out tonight. So it does feel a little more like you’re involved in the community.”

Charlotte Center City Partners is happy to hear it. The organization hosts First Night, an alcohol-free celebration that offers performances by artists in indoor and outdoor venues throughout Uptown for several hours on New Year’s Eve. (Crossroads Charlotte is one of 18 sponsors.)

It started in the afternoon with a First Night for Kids, with events and performances at ImaginOn, Discovery Place, Spirit Square and Levine Museum of the New South.

Then came First Night's centerpiece, the People’s Processional, organized by Crossroads Charlotte. It's a loosely organized ramble up Tryon that showcases Charlotte’s diverse and growing population.

A few minutes before the parade started, Darrel Williams – the co-chair of Crossroads’ steering committee, along with Mike Rizer – grabbed a microphone and told the crowd: “This exemplifies what Crossroads Charlotte is all about – bringing together our community and celebrating the diversity we have as a community … and working together to be the best community we can be.”

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