Four Regional Conferences (NE, SE, NW, SW) encompass every aspect of a First Night celebration including a procession, a variety of performances, hands-on art, and a finale. The curriculum is designed around a dozen essential subject areas to ensure that graduates are fully prepared to run successful First Night celebrations. Nationally-known speakers and workshops focus on arts programming, festival management, marketing, and fundraising.

In addition to lectures, the curriculum includes hands-on workshops, roundtable discussions, artist showcases, a trade show, sharing sessions in which you can learn from other First Night producers, and the new “Ask the Doctor” sessions, during which participants meet one-on-one with experts to discuss such things as marketing, processions, and sponsorship.

Participants are inspired by the presentations of award-winning First Night programs and revitalized by the City Spree, which is a mini-version of the host city’s First Night.

We offer two concurrent bonus sessions on Sunday, before the conference begins: a full day of orientation for new cities, staff, and board members and an advanced workshop for experienced producers that allows them to focus in-depth on a topic that will help their celebrations continue to thrive. This workshop qualifies for professional certification and re-certification credits in the Certified Festivals and Events Executive (CFEE) program from the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA).