OKLAHOMA CITY — The best party of the year is right around the corner. Oklahoma City’s favorite New Year’s Eve celebration — Opening Night — has an exciting evening of music, comedy, dance and fireworks lined up to launch the New Year and the new decade.

Opening Night is Thursday, Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight with more than 30 performances across 10 venues in downtown Oklahoma City.  

The countdown to midnight in Kerr Park will be loaded with entertainment from headliner PowerHouz, a high energy R&B, blues and variety rock band. As the midnight hour approaches, revelers will enjoy a special finale countdown as the traditional Opening Night ball rises and one of the state’s largest fireworks shows commences the New Year.

Performers include some of Oklahoma’s best and brightest stars like Edgar Cruz (guitar), Cori and Chelsey Emmett (contemporary country), Boru’s Ghost (Celtic), Floyd Hanes Orchestra (Big Band) and The Non (experimental rock). Plus there’s more than music, revelers can catch a heart-pounding bout of the Oklahoma City Roller Derby, enjoy performances by belly dancers Desert Fire, laugh at the impromptu comedy of the Red Dirt Improv group and be amazed by illusionist David Thomas and his award-winning World of Magic show

The family-friendly event includes the popular Children’s Area that will offer face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, performances such as clowns, magicians and jugglers, and hands-on arts and crafts activities in the Cox Convention Center.

An Opening Night wristband allows revelers into all the venues. Wristbands are just $8 in advance, or $10 at the event, with children under 5 admitted free. Wristbands are available beginning Nov. 20 at 7-Eleven Stores of Oklahoma, metro Homelands, MidFirst Banks and Mathis Brothers.  Wristbands may also be purchased at the event.    

Opening Night is produced by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City and sponsored by Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy Corporation. Co-chairs are Molly McBride and Robert Shelley. In 2009, more than 73,000 people gathered at Opening Night, setting the highest attendance record since the event began in 1987. In 2009, Opening Night was named Best Party of the Year by the Oklahoma Gazette. 

The Arts Council of Oklahoma City is a non-profit 501 c(3) organization dedicated to bringing the arts and the community together through free or low-cost cultural events and a variety of arts outreach activities that impact underserved populations. Each year, Arts Council events, programs and services reach nearly one million residents and visitors to the Oklahoma City community. The Arts Council of Oklahoma City receives funding from the Oklahoma Arts Council and is an Allied Arts member agency. The Arts Council of Oklahoma City is sponsored by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Devon Energy Corporation, MidFirst Bank, The Oklahoman, Ozarka Coffee and Water Service, and Sonic – America’s Drive-in. For more information, call 405-270-4848 or visit www.ArtsCouncilOKC.com.