by Ian Elliot
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 12/97) - First Night organizers say that this year, the balloons will drop at midnight.

Yellowknife's First Night festivities, the family-centred alcohol-free celebrations that take place on New Year's Eve, traditionally finish with a large balloon dropped from the ceiling of the gym at Sir John Franklin High School.

Each year, however, technical difficulties have put a snag in the timing of the ritual.

This year's agenda is being put together and Pat Moore, one of the members of the volunteer organizing committee, says this year they hope to banish the gremlins and get the pesky balloons to drop at the stroke of midnight.

"We do the balloon drop every year, but we never seem to be able to get them to drop at just the right time," she said with a laugh this week. "We've been working on it, though."

This year's First Night celebrations will centre around Sir John Franklin high school and the adjoining Northern Arts and Cultural Centre facility and will kick off with a bonfire in the school ball fields at around 7 p.m. on Dec. 31.

For the younger set, a teen dance will be held in the school gym, while the NACC stage will be occupied by a number of acts to amuse the rest of the family, although Moore says the lineup has not yet been finalized.

There will be face-painting booths, masks and refreshments available.

"It should be a good family event," Moore said, noting that about 500 people attended last year.

Tickets will go on sale next week at Sam the Record Man and Sutherland's and will sell for $5 a person or $10 a family.