As people around the world celebrate New Year's Eve, Annapolis, Maryland, is also celebrating her 300-year anniversary.
Most Americans have never experienced the 300th anniversary of anything, but Marylanders will be doing exactly that on New Year's Eve and throughout 2008, as Annapolis Alive festivities celebrate the 1708 signing of the Annapolis City Charter by Queen Anne of Great Britain.
According to the Annapolis Alive Website, This had significance far beyond the borders of our then small city. It resulted in the first lasting democratic representative processes in Maryland and the southern colonies of Great Britain and established a record of "firsts." Northern colonies had democratic processes earlier, but in the south officials were all appointed by the governors or other colonial officials. The election of our first city council, consisting of a Mayor and Aldermen, has been unbroken down to the present day - from Amos Garrett to Ellen Moyer.
It was also significant in that it laid bare a reality of the 18th century world; that some people were neither free nor enfranchised. This marked the beginning of the struggle for voting rights for women and people of color through the 20th century.
Annapolis Alive, which began with the Queen Anne Ball in September, continues with an alcohol-free city-wide New Year's Eve celebration beginning at 3 p.m. today and continuing until midnight.
This will be a magical evening of music, street performers, balloons, food vendors, and fireworks - all free, with no tickets required. The festivities will take place on Main Street from Harbour Square to Church Circle (pictured to the right) and along Maryland Avenue, with many of the shops staying open late.
Children's activities will take place from 3-6, celebrating New Year's Eve Around the World -
- Chinese New Year: paper yo-yos, dragon puppets
- Jewish New Year: homemade playdough for braided "bread"
- Europe: Crowns and hats, folded paper fortune tellers
- Latin America / Caribbean: maracas, masks, scarecrow
- West Africa: drums, dancing sticks
Beginning at 6 p.m., Ray Weaver will MC two music stages, featuring
Clones of Funk - Melody Page as Hannah Montana
- Asbury Broadneck United Methodist Chancel Choir
- The Tory Tullier Band
- Sean Johnson
- Brothers & Sisters
- Peter Brice Traditional Irish Music
- Caryl P. Weiss
From 7-10 p.m., The Jewel Tones and Sons of the Severn Barbershop Quartet will perform on Main Street, and Zak Ambrose, the one-man band, will perform on Maryland Avenue.
Then, at 11:45 p.m., the Chesapeake Caledonian Pipes and Drums will lead a parade from Church Circle to Market Square, where the countdown to 2008 will begin.
The Annapolis Alive New Year's Eve celebration will culminate in fireworks over the Annapolis Harbor.
Annapolis is a beautiful city year-round, with its historic buildings and "ego alley" of privately owned boats docked at the foot of Main Street in the Annapolis harbour - but holiday decorations add a special charm to the boats, the century-old buildings and the brick-surfaced streets and sidewalks. If you live within an hour or two of Annapolis, the Annapolis Alive festivities today and tonight are a great excuse to come for a visit.
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Have a Happy....Healthy and prosperous New Year