Residents are in for a treat thanks to an unusual festival to celebrate the new year which starts four days before this one finishes!

Europe's only First Night festival returns to south east London from December 28 to 31 with a community celebra- tion of the new year through the arts.

Surprise yourself over the holiday and visit some striking and imaginative artworks. The events to mark the passage of another year will take place across south east London from Lewisham town centre to Canary Wharf/ West India Quay and Stratford with the centre-piece in the home of time Maritime Greenwich.

Bradley Hemmings is artistic director of the arts organisation Greenwich and Docklands Festivals, which introduced the event in this country. He said: "It's the idea of celebrating all the promise of a new year through the arts in such a way people can come together in a spirit of community."

First Night opens with an array of street arts on Friday, December 28, at 3.30pm in Lewisham town centre. The highlight will be The Candle, the London premiere of a new show produced by The Dream Engine featuring an aerialist suspended within an 8m transparent candle with flame.

Moving across the Thames you can enjoy Ark at Fisherman's Walk, Canary Wharf, and over the dock at West India Quay. Inspired by these beautiful waterfront settings, a monumental sculpture will feature giant arcs and boat-like structures. And look out for the illuminated lantern procession with live drumming by the sculpture at Canary Wharf at 5.30pm on December 28. On New Year's Eve singing will accompany a symbolic burning of the installation.

Back in Greenwich, Arts Desire will create a fantastical, illuminated, sculptural Firebird. In traditional folklore, birds have often been featured as powerful metaphors of aspiration, hope, freedom and peace. These themes will be explored through workshops in Greenwich primary schools and at an open workshop tent in Cutty Sark Gardens where visitors will be able to make their own feathers for the sculpture. Every day at 6pm there will be street theatre next to the Firebird to celebrate that day's creations.Look out for The Fire Brigade, Flaming Gorgeous, Fire Dance and Incandescence.

For further details, call 020 8305 1818, e-mail info@festival.org or visit GDF's website at www.festival.org

December 19, 2001 17:00