2008 First Night S.L. County — Crowd small, spirits high in downtown New Year's party

Hundreds braved the frigid cold on New Year's Eve to watch the ball drop on 2007, an inaugural event for downtown's First Night Salt Lake celebration.

Temperatures in the teens kept the crowds light while bands played and dancers of all shapes, sizes and styles captivated their energetic audiences, both young and old. Organizers prepared for participants to experience an evening of Louisiana roots music and New Orleans funk, sans the alcohol for family fun.

Westminster College students Jessica Felt and Neil Mertlich came downtown looking for fun things to do — and ways to stay warm. The couple found the Salt Lake Capoeira dancers to be the most intriguing and decided to keep each other warm the entire night at the Gallivan Center just to see the fireworks show at midnight.

"The fireworks are my favorite thing," Felt said. Mertlich, who had one arm tucked away in a sling from a skiing accident, said he hopes the new year brings better luck skiing.

Of particular interest was the giant LiteBrite interactive art project and craft stations staffed by the folks at Discovery Gateway, who brought tiny umbrellas for kids to decorate and use to direct the Second-Line Parade, a tradition in New Orleans.

"It looks like a lot of fun for the kids," said Ann Morrison. She and her husband, Kent, drove from Cache Valley to attend the First Night celebration.

"We're crazy," Kent Morrison said. "We'd normally be sitting in the living room watching the festivities on television, thinking these people are crazy for being out in the cold." The couple were celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary downtown.

The Morrisons were among the crowds gathered to make masks and decorate cowbells in the Party Makers tent, which was one of three tents with activities to keep partygoers busy, entertained and sheltered from the cold air. Other tents featured American Indian dance performances and a variety of music groups and were kept full with people wanting to find a warm corner.

In its 15th year, First Night Salt Lake promised new and exciting acts and the returning fire performers, break-dancers, hypnotists and folk dancers who gave attendees "surprises around every corner," said Danica Farley, spokeswoman for the party's organizers, the Downtown Alliance. She said they wanted things to be "colorful and vibrant," and the celebration did not disappoint.

"It's an amazing party, that's for sure" Kent Morrison said.