Jan 1, 2007 6:22 am US/Central
Officials: 1.1 Million At Boston's First Night
BOSTON (CBS) ―
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Boston was the first city to host a "First Night" celebration. There are now more than 200 First Night celebrations worldwide.
City officials estimated that 1.1 million people participated in First Night 2007 activities in Boston on Sunday.
Among dozens of activities throughout the day, one of the most exciting was the perennial favorite, Grand Procession, reports CBS affiliate WBZ-TV in Boston.
The Procession began at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Hynes Convention Center. It then went down Boylston St., and turned left on Charles, and ending at Charles and Beacon Sts. Around 800 people in 35 different groups marched in the Procession.
At 7 p.m., those who couldn't stay up late enough for the midnight fireworks display were treated to an earlier, 12 minute version.
On the steps of the Boston Public Library, guests were treated to some loud musical entertainment to ring in the New Year.
Boston was the first city to host a "First Night" celebration, but many other cities have taken the concept and made it their own. There are now more than 200 First Night celebrations worldwide.
In Times Square in New York hundreds of thousands of revelers from all over the world flooded the area on Sunday to ring in the New Year at the city's massive holiday party.
In all, more than 1 million were expected to attend, with another 1 billion to watch on television worldwide.
At 12 a.m. in Boston, the night sky was illuminated with a brilliant fireworks display that rang in the New Year in celebratory fashion.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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