First Night has become so successful that it’s sometimes hard to remember a time when it was simply called New Year’s Eve and you didn’t need to buy a button. The first First Night marked the last night of 1976. These photographs document the first time Bostonians enjoyed the arts festival that would one day spread nationwide and ring in the new year in over 70 cities, growing to showcase the work of over 1,000 artists. - Lane Turner and Lisa Tuite.

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  Paul Connell/Globe Stafff

  Dec. 29, 1976: As part of the countdown to First Night 1977, Mark Dannenhauer skied through the First Night doorway as Dancing Bear (Ellie Hayes) looked on. The pair from the Northeast Puppet Theater rehearsed in Waterfront Park for their First Night performance.
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  Bill Curtis/Globe staff

  Dec. 31, 1976: The environmental art in the total First Night scene involved a number of innovative pieces. Setting up his "Sky Drawing" exhibit on Boston Common was Jeff Stetson (left) with John Donahue and Billy Lockyer helping him. Arranged 20 feet from the ground, chemoluminescence was pumped into the clear tubing creating the drawing in the sky.
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  Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff

  Dec. 31, 1976: The only real disappointment of the night was the 200-foot red and white balloon scheduled to be lofted at 9:30 near the stage on the Boston Common baseball field. It never got off the ground. Gusting winds up to 30 miles per hour kept collapsing the balloon, and workers, buffeted by winds and cold, gave up the battle shortly before 10 p.m.
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  Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff

  Dec. 31, 1976: Susan Espinola, 12, of Winthrop got her face painted at an art booth set up by the Massachusetts College of Art on Boston Common.
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  Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff

  Dec. 31, 1976: Bob Holloway entertained First Night fans with some jazz on his saxophone.
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  Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff

  Dec. 31, 1976: Fireworks crowned New Year's festivities on Boston Common that attracted 30,000 celebrants.