Update: The City of Portland has announced that New Year's Portland will not be held this year due to lack of sponsorship. A local organization is attempting to provide at least the children's portion of New Year's Portland, but the outcome is uncertain as of December 8, 2006. Portland's end-of-the-year community bash focuses less on the arts and nighttime activities and more on families and daytime activities. The celebration will be a free family festival with over 50 events taking place from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on December 31st, 2006, but you'll have to pay for the event many people enjoy most: the fireworks. Once again this year there will be indoor fireworks at the Portland Pirates hockey game in the Cumberland County Civic Center at 8:45 p.m. Admission to the game and fireworks is $5 for children under 16. Adult prices vary.
The schedule of 50 events at a dozen or so locations in downtown Portland (including the Cumberland Civic Center, Merrill Auditorium, and Monument Square) will be available on the New Year's Portland Web site once it is updated for this year.
Magicians, balloon twisters, puppets and storytellers, and live bands will be at downtown venues from late morning until early evening. Other activities include ice carvings, wine and cheese tastings, karaoke, horse-drawn carriage rides, magic shows, and more.