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Mayor announces half-price First Night buttons

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Mayor Thomas Menino announced new events for this year's New Year's Eve celebration in Boston on Thursday.

The First Night Boston celebration, which was canceled in June after 37 years due to lack of funding, has been revived and is being presented by the City of Boston and its partner, The Highland Street Foundation.

"First Night has its roots in Boston and keeping this tradition alive is so important to our city," said Mayor Menino.

In addition to fireworks at midnight, the celebration, which starts at 1 p.m., hosts a number of art, music and dance events. Mayor Menino announced a list of new musical acts this year, including Patti Smith and Gentlemen Hall. A list of some other musicians performing can be found here.

All outdoor events are free and open to the public. First Night buttons are required for any indoor events, and can be purchased online starting Thursday through Dec. 31, or in person at ArtsBoston's BosTix Booths in Faneuil Hall Marketplace or Copley Square. Tickets are $10, half the price of celebration buttons in previous years. Children under the age of four get in free.

For more information on the celebration, visit firstnightboston.org. First Night officials will also be announcing daily button benefits starting Nov. 29 on the event's Twitter page, @FirstNight.