Monday Memories: Toledoans embraced 1996 with family-friendly First Night celebration

It was a New Years Eve to remember – Downtown Toledo was buzzing without the buzz. The alcohol-free event drew more than 20,000 people to wander the streets, and enjoy a variety of arts, music and family friendly activities scattered in about 50 buildings. In this 1995 Blade archive photo, a larger-than-life Hector the Cat marches in a procession from the Children’s Imagination Market at Lake Erie Station to the Lucas County Courthouse to watch an early fireworks show. Children had spent the afternoon making fancy hats, winter wands and other decorations to display during the Mardi Gras-style parade. The giant cat puppet was played by Ann Latham, 16, who performed in a play that night. The event was first organized by the Performing Arts of Toledo in 1993 and continued through 2001. Go to thebladevault.com/memories to purchase more historical photos taken by our award-winning staff of photographers, past and present, or to purchase combinations of stories and photos. Simmons.