First Night Chatham is deeply saddened by the passing of Bette Hahner, a long-time committee member, who was often the first face that our guests saw at Headquarters. She always greeted people with a smile, ready to answer whatever questions they might have. Bette was widely known in Chatham for her extensive volunteer service. In addition to First Night Chatham, Bette was a member of the Chatham Garden Club, the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library, and formerly the Chatham Historical Society. Acknowledging her commitment to the community, Bette was selected as the Grand Marshall of the 2025 Chatham Independence Day Parade. We will greatly miss her wit, humor, and most of all, her friendship.

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Welcome to
First Night Chatham

New Promotional Video

Thanks to the town's Chatham TV staff for creating this new First Night Chatham video (see it here).

    10 hours of Fun in 90 Seconds

First Night Chatham returns with a full day and evening of music, performance, and celebration throughout town. Your button opens the door to a magical celebration you won't want to miss. Come join us for First Night Chatham! We are a family-friendly, alcohol free, town-wide celebration of the arts with over 70 performances and events.

December 31st, 2026 will be was First Night Chatham’s 36th New Year’s Eve celebration. Festivities start with the Town Photo at the Chatham Lighthouse at Noon, then both indoor and outdoor performances and activities, reaching a peak of noise and awe with the Noise Parade and Fireworks, and more performances until finishing at 10 PM.