ORANGE — As a mix of snow and rain fell over Orange Saturday night, grandparents and grandchildren, teens and adults lined up in front of Town Hall, all hoisting artistic, shimmering stars. At 10 p.m., they commenced their march through town, bells jingling with every step.
The Parade of Stars, followed by fireworks at the fire station, rounded out the 21st annual Starry Starry Night, Orange’s traditional New Year’s Eve celebration.
Starting at 6 p.m., entertainers like puppeteers, comedians, musicians, dancers and magicians performed for audiences across town. Ice sculptures were on display at Veterans Memorial Park, and guests could enjoy hay rides, hot chocolate and a bonfire outside the fire station.
In particular, the bonfire, fireworks and ice sculptures have kept Bill Gibson and his fiancée, Amanda Mitchell, both of Athol, coming back for four years.
New Year’s Eve 2024
“It’s just a nice little community thing,” Mitchell said as she and Gibson admired the ice sculptures of a heart and roses, a knight and a bench.
“It’s a good family venue,” Gibson noted, remembering how his family members from Gardner would often travel to visit him for Starry Starry Night.
Jim McIntosh, a member of the Orange Lions Club and a Starry Starry Night volunteer, agreed the event offers “a family fun atmosphere to bring in the year new.”
“There’s different acts every year, a wide variety from rock ’n’ roll to blues,” McIntosh said while listening to Double Vinyl play in Town Hall. Plus, everyone can still be home in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square.
Orange Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Kathy Reinig said the “fabulous event” added two new venues this year — Witty’s Funeral Home and the Dance Studio of Orange. Organizers also added open mic sessions, and the former Parade of Puppets became the Parade of Stars.
Reinig said she was pleased to see Starry Starry Night continue for another year. The event faced extinction over the summer, after a number of longtime volunteers stepped down. In response, the Starry Starry Night committee appealed to the public for help and the event enjoyed a resurgence of support.
“We’re so glad all the volunteers came together to keep it running,” Reinig said.
Had the event seen its final year in 2015, it would have been missed by local residents like Mitchell and Gibson.
“I definitely look forward to it every year,” Gibson said.