Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – First Night Springfield is the traditional New Year’s Eve event in downtown Springfield. It’s the main fundraiser for the Springfield Area Arts Council, whose executive director, Bella Szabo (pictured, center, holding the big scissors), says it takes months of planning.

“Coordinating with hundreds of artists and performers, volunteers, our staff, our board of directors; coordinating with our many partners – the Hoogland Center for the Arts, the Abraham Lincon Presidential Library and Museum, our fireworks people – so many people go into making this possible,” said Szabo.

Where does the money go?

“Maintaining al of our programming that we have all year round, which includes free programs of free performances all through the summer,” Szabo said. “We also grant funding to schools and non-profit organizations and businesses in town to provide public arts programming for the public as well.”

Fireworks are scheduled to go off at 8 p.m., Szabo said, unless it’s too windy.