The Boston arts festival that began in 1976 was First Night Boston.
First Night was created as a community-centered New Year's Eve celebration in Boston. Its organizers emphasized performances and public art rather than alcohol-focused parties, offering concerts, dance, theater, visual art, and outdoor activities across the city. The first event took place on December 31, 1975, welcoming 1976, and it became a model for similar First Night celebrations in other American communities.
The festival helped popularize the idea that New Year's Eve could function as a citywide arts event. Participating venues included churches, museums, theaters, and other public spaces, allowing audiences to move among many programs during the night.
“First Night” is therefore not simply a generic phrase for a New Year's party. It is the name of a specific Boston-originated cultural movement, even though many local versions later adopted the same title.