EVENTS : FIRSTS AND LAUGHS : Kwanzaa, Fullerton Festivals End Year With Beginnings; Others Go for the Jokes

This New Year’s weekend, the bars and restaurants and concert clubs will be hopping, and there will no doubt be parties galore. Amid the standard-issue revelry, however, will be a few less traditional ways to celebrate.

At the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, the African American holiday of Kwanzaa will be marked Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Beginning each year on Dec. 26 and lasting for seven days, Kwanzaa ( first fruits in Swahili) was created to correspond with traditional African festivals of harvest.

Last year, the Bowers was host to an event that observed both Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, but this year the focus will be on Kwanzaa. There will be food, music, tours of the museum’s African art holdings and dramatic readings telling the story behind the holiday, developed in 1966.

Barry Nixon of the museum’s African Arts Council (sponsors of this year’s event) estimates that more than half of the 200 or so people who attended last year were learning about Kwanzaa for the first time. He hopes this year to teach more about the holiday.

The goal is “certainly to educate people in the community about Kwanzaa as an American--and particularly an African American--celebration,” Nixon explained. “We’re obviously doing this for education, but it traditionally is a family celebration.”

Kwanzaa “basically centers on positive values,” expressed in the Nguzo Saba --seven principles. The principles are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).

During Saturday’s event, a different person (some of them children) will explain each of the principles. The event is free and will be held in a conference room at the museum, 2002 Main St. in Santa Ana. Information: (714) 567-3600.

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Another family-oriented event is the fourth annual First Night Fullerton, which will again feature live entertainment, activities for kids and a fireworks show.

Held from 7 p.m. to midnight, First Night Fullerton is touted as an alcohol-free way to welcome the New Year. It is modeled after “First Night” events held in other cities and pioneered in Boston in 1976, as a finale to the nation’s Bicentennial celebration.

Last year’s event drew a crowd estimated at 10,000. This year, almost 100 events will be held at more than 30 indoor and outdoor sites throughout downtown Fullerton.

The festivities begin with a “People’s Procession” down Harbor Boulevard at 7 p.m., in which everyone is invited to take part. Events held throughout the evening include screenings of silent comedy shorts, roots music by Little Jonny and the Giants, industrial music by Tunnelmental, numerous theater performances and storytellers, international dance and a midnight fireworks show.

Attractions include an outdoor roller-skating rink, a karaoke pavilion, and children’s activities that include face painting, a petting zoo and pony rides, and kiddie cars. All events are within walking distance of each other.

Anyone wishing to attend must purchase a button that grants entry to all events. Advance sale prices are $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. On the day of the event, adult button prices go up to $10. Buttons will be sold Saturday at booths throughout downtown Fullerton.

Special events administrator Ann Mottola recommends two parking areas: one is the Plummer Auditorium parking lot, at Lemon Street and Chapman Avenue near Fullerton College; the other is the Transportation Center on Pomona Street just south of Commonwealth Avenue. For information on the event, call (714) 738-6545.

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Pop New Year’s events are listed on Page 13, but we’ll mention a couple of musical offerings here. One is billed as a “Cajun New Year’s Eve Celebration” starring the irrepressible Queen Ida and her Zydeco band. It begins at 10 p.m. Saturday at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. The $50 ticket price includes Cajun-Creole food and champagne. Information: (714) 994-6310 or (310) 944-9801.

Another is “Praise ‘95,” Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. The slate of Christian pop performers includes Bryan Duncan, Geoff Moore & the Distance, Audio Adrenaline, Crystal Lewis, Guardian, the Gospel Gangstas (a Christian rap act), Dream of Eden and Scott Blackwell’s Righteous Dance Party. Country line dancing will also be offered. Tickets are $20 to $22, which includes all shows and attractions at Knott’s. Information: (714) 220-5200.

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Finally, those looking to welcome 1995 with a few laughs have a couple of options that feature local comedy and theater talent. One is the Orange County Crazies, presenting “Orange Lang Syne” Saturday at the Orange County Crazies Theatre, 115 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana. Refreshments will be offered at 9 p.m., with the show beginning at 10 p.m. and wrapping up at midnight. Tickets are $25. Information: (714) 550-9900.

Also in Santa Ana on Saturday, there’s “The Way Off the Wall New Year’s Comedy Celebration” at the Way Off Broadway Playhouse, 1058 E. 1st St. The show is a compilation of comedy sketch, song, dance and improvisation. Also on tap will be door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, champagne at midnight, party favors and dancing, all starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25. For those who want to keep on celebrating, the show will also be offered Jan. 7 and 14 at 8 p.m., with a $12 price tag (show and dancing only). Information: (714) 547-8997.