First Light Countdown to 2014

The Cortland Downtown Partnership (CDP) is pleased to announce its second year organizing Cortland County’s New Year’s Eve celebration now known as First Light. The event’s revival would not have been possible without the continued efforts of the CDP’s volunteer promotion committee and the generosity of Cortland County’s business community.

McNeil & Company, a long time sponsor of the event for numerous years while the event was known as First Night, and first year sponsor Edward Jones Financial have teamed together as the celebration’s premier sponsors. Their financial contribution and shared vision for the growth of the event will allow downtown to host a truly special event that will be better every year. Additional sponsorship support has been contributed by returning sponsors The Royal Auto Group, The Restaurant and Tavern Association, and CoffeeMania. CoffeeMania was the premier event sponsor in both 2011 and 2012.

All of the Cortland Downtown Partnership’s signature events, including A Taste of Downtown, Chill-A-Bration, and First Light are designed to provide family and friends an opportunity to celebrate the culture and commerce that makes up the unique heritage of our community. This year’s First Light event will feature a traditional ball drop accompanied by a live digital stream of the Times Square Countdown on a giant screen, a smaller screen for video games for children with game cheat codes provided by FunFlicks, music, street vending, and to top off the evening, the area’s premier New Year’s Eve fireworks display. For daily updates on the event make sure and “like” the Cortland Downtown Partnership’s Facebook page and join the First Light Event.

The CDP’s promotion committee strives to enhance existing, revive traditional, and create new events to make Cortland a more attractive place to live, visit and do business. If you are interested in working to strengthen the heart of Cortland County, volunteering with a CDP committee or sponsoring an event are great opportunities to reinvest your resources and skills locally.

Promotion committee meetings take place at least the first Tuesday of every month at 8:30 am at 9 Main Street with increased meetings as needed.  Anyone interested in event planning or volunteering for First Light or future events is encouraged to attend.  Please contact Jane Witty, Event Coordinator at jane@cortlanddowntown.com immediately and sign up for downtown’s monthly e-newsletter at the CDP Facebook page.