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BISBEE — The theater group Flam Chen will be back in Bisbee for the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
Sean Hicks, acting as a representative of the group, announced the return of the surreal, pyrotechnic, stilt-walking performers for an alcohol-free celebration Dec. 31.
“Flam Chen does this for Bisbee because they see something in the community and this setting inspires them culturally and artistically,” said Hicks. “Last year’s event was a clear success, providing an exciting, non-drinking focus to the Brewery Gulch celebrations. This year they want to build on the momentum of that success not only by providing a children’s show in the afternoon and the midnight balloon launch finale, but also leading a structured parade prior to the countdown to midnight.”
Hicks says partnering with Flam Chen will build a unique New Year’s Eve event over the coming years that provides fun for the residents as well as visitors. Last year, around 1,000 people attended the event.
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Last year, there was a decrease in disturbances as reported by the Bisbee Police and Fire Departments since an alternate non-alcohol celebration was offered, Hicks emphasized.
The free celebration has been gaining momentum and backing. Hicks has been raising funds to cover the group’s expenses while they are in town.
It takes $1,000 just to fill the huge balloons that carry the Lunar Moth skyward as the countdown to 2009 begins. In fact, helium and the balloons account for most of the troupe’s $4,600 performing closts, which include insurance, traveling, food and lodging.
Funds have been donated by Bisbee hotels and businesses. He also received $1,500 from the Bisbee Arts Commission and $1,000 from the city of Bisbee, bringing the total raised to over $3,600.
This year, Flam Chen will be using parts of a Chinese Circus piece they have developed, added Hicks.
The fun begins Dec. 31 with a workshop and children’s performance without fire. Lanterns for the parade will be made in the afternoon and donations of clear soda one-liter bottles and cellophane are needed.
At 10:30 p.m., the parade will start at Goar Park and head up Main Street and Subway Streets. There will be a brief performance in front of the Busy Bee parking lot on Main Street and a second one in front of the post office. It will continue down Main and up Brewery Gulch, to the parade’s end at City Park where the finale will take place. It will be a spectacular sight as a cluster of balloons lifts one of the troupe into the sky as the new year begins.
According to Hicks, volume for the music will be kept to reasonable levels due to the late night time frame of the event. More emphasis will be placed on acoustic instruments.
“This will not be a midnight rock concert,” said Hicks. “Every effort will be made to be sensitive to the residential neighborhoods surrounding the park.”
Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
Resident wrote on Dec 30, 2008 9:21 PM: