New Year’s Eve Dahlonega

11/11/2022

Event cancellation info and new event planned for Autumn 2023:

As the newly hired executive director of North Ga. Interfaith Ministries, I feel it’s important that I give an update to our community regarding the First Night event. It is with a great amount of prayer and consideration that our executive committee has decided to cancel this year’s First Night event. This event has historically contributed to our fundraising endeavors that support our transitional housing program – Jeremiah’s Place.

With the incredible misfortune of COVID, we had no choice in the past couple of years but to cancel the event. This year, due to staff changes and the energies taken in transition, our executive committee felt as though this initiative needs more assistance than we have been able to acquire in such a short amount of time.

On behalf of myself and our board of directors, I want to personally thank everyone who has poured themselves into this event in the past. We are incredibly grateful for the time, effort, energy, and vision you have offered in spite of bad weather and the past two challenging and unpredictable years of COVID. I would also like to thank the many of you who donated in the past few years when COVID compromised our opportunity of fundraising through this event. You have always stepped up and your generosity has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

We ask again for your prayers and support as we move forward in transitioning our fundraising endeavors. With that being said, we are very excited to announce a new event that we are adding to our calendar and hopefully to yours as well.

We are excited to announce our 2023 inaugural fundraiser – a “Fall Festival of the Bands.”

We have secured the entirety of Yahoola Creek Park and are already in the works with plans to host different genres of music throughout the day. We look forward to offering food trucks, competitions, and other activities that will promise to entertain all ages and interests.

We are over the moon and love the idea of hosting a fall event for our wonderful community and thousands of our friends and families, as well as the new friends and families we will meet in the process.

So, instead of a cancellation, let’s consider this good news and a personal invitation for you to join us for the Fall Festival of the Bands to be held in Yahoola Creek Park in Autumn of 2023.

We are excited to plan an event by the riverside in Yahoola Creek Park surrounded by beautiful fall leaves, among the smells, sights, and sounds that only the heart of Dahlonega offers in this, my favorite season of the year. We hope to see you there!

Thanks again for your donations, prayers, and support of our endeavors to build programs and successes to overcome and eradicate homelessness in our community.

We are incredibly grateful.

Kerri Johnson
Executive Director of North Ga. Interfaith Ministries
Jeremiah’s Place Transitional Housing Program

12/29/2021

The Staff and Volunteers of Jeremiah's Place would like to personally thank the community for their outpouring of love and support since the announcement was made to cancel First Night. During this process, we have also realized many thought throughout the years this event was a city event. First Night is actually a fundraising event put on by Jeremiah's Place volunteers and staff and was created to benefit the efforts and ministry year round of Lumpkin County's only transitional homeless community. First Night was our largest fundraiser of the year, so when we made this tough call our hearts were broken.

To all of you that have sent us your love and support during this time, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. This ministry is vital to this community and the support you continue to provide - especially during challenging times - has been overwhelming. The way you continually love on the families and children deserves so much more than a thank you, but please know we take every text, call and email to heart right now as we continue to navigate these very challenging times.

May God bless you as we enter into 2022. May we all look to the new year with gratitude, a purposeful heart, and an unconditional love for all mankind.

Sincerely, The Staff and Volunteers of Jeremiah's Place

12/27/2021

Due to the recent COVID-19 surge in the Georgia area, particularly North Georgia, the First Night Committee of First Night Dahlonega have come to the difficult decision that we must cancel the event this New Year’s Eve, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

We cannot accurately predict what the virus numbers will be like on Dec. 31, but COVID-19 incidence continues to spike in northern Georgia. Unlike the trend with the larger cities in America continuing with their New Year’s Eve celebrations, First Night Dahlonega is simply unable to manage the COVID-19 recommendations by the CDC and do not want to put our attendees, musicians, artists and volunteers at risk for contracting this highly contagious strain of the virus.

This decision was particularly difficult as First Night Dahlonega supports the efforts of Jeremiah’s Place. Since 2015, First Night has offered a wonderful opportunity for people to get together and celebrate with great music, kids’ entertainment and more. As we look ahead to this upcoming year, we fully intend to come roaring back, and we will begin our plans in early 2022 to make next year’s event spectacular!

If you purchased a button online, we're happy to refund. Just let us know!

Thank you.
First Night Dahlonega Committee

12/23/2021

Here ya go! Our evening schedule for First Night Dahlonega!
DahlonegaFirstNight.org

12/22/2021

The lovely Starr Phipps to perform at First Night Dahlonega's The Marketplace during the 6pm hour. Grab your buttons and come on by. Yummy, warm food and drink concessions for everyone. Get your buttons and purchase your luminaries at FirstNightDahlonega.org.

12/20/2021

The First Night 2021/22 schedule is UP and we are ready to go!

https://dahlonegafirstnight.org/first-night-entertainment/

12/14/2021

Take a quick break from announcing all the festivities to show why Jeremiah's Place works so hard to make First Night a success. 100% of First Night proceeds benefit all the efforts of Jeremiah's Place. Enjoy our holiday newsletter full of beautiful stories of hope and love. May you be blessed seeing love shown within the community and we'll see you in Downtown Dahlonega on December 31st.

December 2021 Stories of Hope This month, North Georgia Interfaith Ministries enters its seventh season of giving hope since its doors first opened in 2015. Lives have been changed through this minist

12/13/2021

We are looking for volunteers as we get ready for the countdown to First Night! If you are interested in helping our Jeremiah's Place at their largest fundraising event of the year, please give us a shout at 706-867-5404 and ask for Katie! We would LOVE to have you join us!

12/03/2021

Committee Chair Susan Bridgforth and Karen Shayne getting ready for First Night at Marketplace! Have you checked the website lately? New entertainment announced and new events are added. Come on, Dahlonega! It's just around the corner!

12/01/2021

Thank you to The Dahlonega Nugget for the AMAZING article about First Night. Here we go, North Georgia! The COUNTDOWN IS ON to one of the most amazing nights of the year!!!

While most of us are still recovering from the Thanksgiving feast and thinking about a gift list for Christmas, board members and staff at Jeremiah’s Place are making preparations for the First Nig

11/19/2021

Jeremiah's Place Holiday Newsletter was just released. New information on all the going's on with First Night! We're getting ready!

November 2021 As We Gather Around The Table Thanksgiving will feel somewhat normal this year. As we gather around the table, may we be mindful of the journey of change we have taken together as a nati

11/10/2021

And....it just keeps growing! New updates to the website AND luminaria's are now ON SALE! This year, First Night Dahlonega will add a beautiful new aspect to the festive and historic event. “Light Dahlonega” will showcase luminarias that will line the courthouse square to create a beautiful path in welcoming the new year. Just before the clock strikes midnight, the town will host a moment of hope as we say goodbye to 2021 and welcome in the joy of 2022.

Luminarias will be sold in advance for a donation all over the city and on this website ($5 minimum donation). Each luminaria can offer a message of love, hope, and awareness. Luminarias may also be created in honor or in memory of. It will be a stunning sight and a first at First Night 2022.

https://dahlonegafirstnight.org/light-dahlonega/