ORANGE — Starry Starry Night was founded to ring in the new year, and few have been more welcomed than 2021.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout it has produced have wreaked havoc on the American psyche, generating massive cabin fever and crippling “COVID fatigue.” The annual downtown festivities have, like most other community events, had a monkey wrench thrown into its plans, going remote for the first time in its history and foregoing some traditional components such as the fireworks and ice sculptures.
“I was planning on still having the fireworks until a month ago,” Starry Starry Night Committee Chair Crystal Parent said. “But because of (Gov.) Baker’s rules, it just didn’t work out.”
This year’s event will be aired on AOTV, which along with the event itself is celebrating its 25th anniversary. AOTV will provide programming and participation via a virtual Starry Starry Night from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tune in to channel 1301 or 1302, and if you don’t have access to AOTV through cable, stream it on aotv13.org.
The entertainers will be magician Ed the Wizard, singer-songwriter JB Murray, local band The Can Collectors, eastern Massachusetts stand-up comedian and the InsideOut Dance Company youth performing group from Orange.
A gig worker, Ed the Wizard has been out of work since March, when the state put into place safety protocols to help curb the spread of COVID-19. His performances are often held at schools, libraries and senior centers. He has recorded a Starry Starry Night act but says it is not the same.
“It’s just so very, very different,” he said, adding that he misses the energy and immediate feedback of live shows. “You don’t have that relationship with the camera that you have with an audience.”
Ed said he has been a professional magician for 21 or 22 years and has been full-time since 2006. He mentioned he has conducted six magic shows over the online video conferencing platform Zoom but said he is “not a fan.”
This year’s Starry Starry Night will consist of local business gift card giveaways throughout the evening. To sign up to enter for the gift card drawings, visit bit.ly/38HDKnW or call Orange Revitalization Partnership President Denise Andrews at 513-780-0538. The ORP started in 1995 and hosts the New Year’s Eve gala with the support of local volunteers, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Starry Starry Night is sponsored by Witty’s Funeral Home this year.
The Starry Starry Night Committee is in need of members for next year’s event. To inquire about helping or for information about Starry Starry Night, visit www.starrystarrynight.org or call Crystal Parent at 413-336-0128.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.