STORY:
Albany Will Wrap-up Before Midnight

City's party will end at 11pm allowing people to go home and countdown or avoid Y2K

Officials in Albany, New York, are planning to end the city's New Year's Eve celebration at 11 p.m. to let people go home and countdown to Year 2000 or avoid possible computer Y2K related problems.

The Albany Millennium 2000 celebration promises a Mardi Gras-like atmosphere in New York's state capital but minus the alcohol, midnight countdown and "First Night" name.

Albany was the first city in New York state to adopt the Boston-born alcohol-free New Year's Eve parties known as "First Night," 13 years ago. However, in a cost-cutting move it has decided not to take the "First Night" name according a UPI report. Taking the name requires a registration fee with First Night International and can cost hundreds of dollars.

Still, city officials reportedly say Albany's downtown event will follow much of the First Night model and will feature giant puppets, gospel singers and other musical acts, and no alcohol. The event will last five hours, and the city said that would give everyone time to be home by midnight.

Source: UPI

DATE: 9/23/99

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