Special Fireworks Show for Families at 8:00 PM
New Location: Intersection of Grand and Broadway near the Main Stage

At 8:00 PM, families will gather on the Intersection of Grand and Broadway near the Main Stage and will enjoy a special fireworks display, designed with children in mind and set to a special musical score.

This special early evening display of dancing light is made possible through the support of Michael Crews development.

Fireworks Extravaganza at Midnight

The skies will dance with brilliant ephemeral light as First Night Escondido celebrants cheer in the New Year! These high in the sky explosions of light can be seen clearly throughout downtown Escondido. We encourage First Night Escondido participants to gather at the main stage to join in the countdown to midnight. There’s no better way to Welcome 2005!

This special display is proudly made possible by Sempra Energy.

HOT AIR BALLOON GLOW 6:00 to 12:00 p.m. Open area at the West Side of Grape Day Park, near California Center for the Arts, Escondido Watch as three professional balloonists inflate their stationary hot air balloons and produce a bright orange flame that lights up the balloon like a giant colored light bulb. With balloons up to 85 feet tall and 65 feet across, that's one heck of a light bulb! Breathtaking against the nighttime sky! Learn more about hot air ballooning and when the balloons aren't inflated, you can venture inside. Sponsored by: Dr. David & Lynn Tagge

FACE PAINTING 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. West Grand Avenue and East Grand Avenue FREE with Admission Button All ages are welcome to stop by to have fun shapes, patterns and dots painted on their faces by First Night® volunteers! Sponsored by: Dr. David & Lynn Tagge

WILD HAT BALLOON SCULPTORS 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. Grand Avenue at Escondido Blvd FREE with Admission Button Ask the balloon sculptor to create a super tall, bouncy and totally outrageous hat for you!

BANK OF ESCONDIDO "BEAD TOSS" Early Evening Grand Avenue at Maple FREE with Admission Button 1,500 bead necklaces will be tossed into the crowd from the balcony of the Bank of Escondido at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

ALBERTSON'S SOCCER KICK TO WIN 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Grand Avenue Event Zone FREE with Admission Button Kick! Score! Win! Show off your soccer kicking skills. Score a goal and win a prize.

COMIC MIME JUGGLERS 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Grand Avenue FREE with Admission Button This pair of mime jugglers will dazzle, amaze and amuse merrymakers up and down Grand Avenue!

STILT WALKERS 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Grand Avenue Event Zone FREE with Admission Button These stilt walking experts are sure to captivate the imaginations of the young and young-at-heart as the meander through the crowds, stopping at the stages to lead a dance or two.

NOVELTY SALES BOOTHS 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Two locations on Grand Avenue First Night® Escondido takes pride in providing New Year's Eve novelty items at family friendly prices. Visit one of our Novelty Sales booths this year to purchase 3 metallic bead necklaces or a neon glow stick for $1. Blinky lights start at just $3 each! A very special item this year is "Stick-on Face Jewels" that add a magical sparkle to anyone's New Year's Eve look - and these patterned jewel designs are just 2 for $1!

ROCK CLIMBING WALLS AND BUNGEE TRAMPOLINE GRAND AVENUE EVENT ZONE 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Two rock climbing walls - one with a bungee trampoline - are fun for all ages. Go for the top and jump to the sky! SPONSORED BY:

EARTH BALLOON CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, ESCONDIDO STUDIO 4, NEAR THE ESCONDIDO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Explore the giant balloon replica of Earth, 17 feet high and 20 feet around. Guests can walk into the balloon to learn more about the Earth's inner core, time zones, geography, countries and continents for a unique educational perspective. You have to see it to believe it. SPONSORED BY CINDY WAASDORP, COLDWELL BANKER

GARRY COHEN - GLASS BLOWER On Maple north of Grand 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Garry Cohen has been on the leading edge of this exciting glass revolution. The sculptured quality of his pieces combined with the rich, deep colors and an imaginative flair of design have made him one of Californias pre-eminent master craftsmen for over 25 years. He is a tremendous asset to the glass community and through his teaching at Palomar College he continues to introduce students to the art of blown glass. www.garrycohenstudio.com SPONSORED BY NORTH COUNTY INSURANCE

CHILDREN'S MUSIC EXPERIENCE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, ESCONDIDO STUDIO 3, NEAR THE ESCONDIDO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The Children's Music Experience-will focus on music education for kids, learning about the beauty and fun of music through professional musicians and hands-on participation with a variety of musical instruments. Adults will have fun, too!

Sand Sculpture Creation by A Grain of Sand 6 p.m. to Midnight Parking lot facing W. Valley Parkway, between City Hall and California Center for the Arts, Escondido Watch the award-winning team from A Grain of Sand create a magical sand sculpture right in the middle of First Night Escondido. SPONSORED BY: Escondido Sand & Gravel

Hula Hoop Contest 6 p.m. to Midnight Ready. Set. Hula Hoop! Who can keep their hoop going around the longest? SPONSORED BY: Curves Escondido

DEMONSTRATING ARTISTS TENT Grand Avenue at Maple Organized by the Escondido Art Association Ever wonder how artists create their works? Enter the Demonstrating Artists Tent and watch as local artisans create visual wonders in a variety of media.