Preparations for the 37th annual First Night Boston began on Wednesday, the first of many days of work for the 12-hour festival on New Year’s Eve filled with dance, music, and art, including those fleeting marvels, the ice sculptures, and a parade.

Since its Boston beginnings in 1976, First Night, a nonprofit organization, has worked to promote community and diversity through art and celebration. It has spread to more than 70 cities across the United States, the organization’s website says.