This Sunday will mark the inaugural North Country New Year, the spiritual successor to Saranac Lake’s First Night event.

Longtime residents will remember that New Year’s Eve in the Tri-Lakes region was once a fairly muted affair, particularly for those with children or those who are sober. Live music options were scarce and restaurants would be closed. It was this quietness that inspired the inaugural First Night event in the 2006-07 year, and since then, New Year’s Eve has grown into a bigger affair that people of all ages can enjoy.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. First Night was cancelled for two years, and the board of volunteers that plans the event saw several retirements, putting the future of the event in jeopardy.

Its reincarnation has truly been a group effort. We were thrilled to learn that the town of Harrietstown agreed to use $15,000 from its share of occupancy tax revenue — which is collected from visitors on all hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast and vacation rental stays — toward this event. Because of that investment — plus $22,000 left over from 2020 First Night button sales and with help from the Saranac Lake Rotary Foundation to create a new nonprofit organization for North Country New Year — residents across this whole region will be able to enjoy something both meaningful and just plain fun.

The night will start with free rides (5 to 8 p.m.) and two performances from Scotto the Balloon Wizard (6 to 8 p.m.) at the Adirondack Carousel, plus free skating at the Saranac Lake Civic Center from 5 to 7 p.m.

At the Harrietstown Town Hall, Alakazam will be kicking things off with circus stunts from 6 to 8 p.m. Then, the world rhythm and jazz band Heard will be performing two 45-minute sets between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Mal Maiz will perform from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. In the town hall lobby, there will be food vendors, face painting and photo booths.

The Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir will be singing at St. Bernard’s Church from 7 to 9 p.m.

Local musicians Dan Duggan, Peggy Lynn and Tyler Dezago will be playing folk and bluegrass at Will Rogers from 8 to 10 p.m.

The Completely Stranded improv comedy group will be bringing laughs from the Pendragon Theater stage from 6 to 8 p.m. followed by the witty standup comic Moody McCarthy until 10 p.m.

Jeff Boyer will be bringing “Bubble Trouble” to the Saranac Lake Free Library from 8 to 10 p.m., creating huge bubbles out of thin air.

From 6 to 9 p.m. ADK ArtRise will be leading “make and take” art projects for all ages.

The Dance Sanctuary will be holding free salsa dance classes from 6 to 10 p.m.

There will be hot chocolate stations and fire dancers from the Smoke Show Fire Co. at Berkeley Green from 6 to 9 p.m., when the fire dancers will move to Riverside Park ahead of the fireworks.

Fireworks will go off at 10 p.m.

Buttons are on sale now at each of the 11 venues and online at tinyurl.com/2rh885kb; they’re $20 for adults and $15 for seniors. Children under 18 are free.

We hope that North Country New Year is a smashing success, but moreso, we hope that everyone enjoys a happy, fulfilling start to 2024.