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First Night Buffalo 2025, a behind-the-scenes look

This year's celebrations will include old friends and new.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — 2 On Your Side recently got a behind-the-scenes look at First Night Buffalo, which has been totally online since the pandemic. Production crews are in the middle of recording the entertainment this month.

Our cameras on Wednesday got a little preview of what your family can expect to see on New Year's Eve, as always, before midnight. First Night Buffalo 2025 will be two hours of entertainment even the adults can enjoy. 

"Let's go, 2025! I hope everybody's ready to have a good time," DJ Milk said.

Your ears aren't tricking you, at Lemur Studios in downtown Buffalo, it's 2025.

"Being able to be beamed into homes of young people all around the world, create a dance party, and bring in the new year, I mean, it's just a fabulous, fabulous thing to do. I love it," DJ Milk said.

Along with DJ Milk, you'll be able to spend New Year's Eve with Jeff the Animal Guy.

"She's 8 years old. Capuchins are pretty awesome because they're like a 4-year-old child," Jeff Musial said. "I just think it's cool to educate people about animals because I feel like people kind of stepped away from the natural world. So if you could kind of tie it in with people having fun, they're learning, and they have no idea they're even learning while they're watching me play with a monkey."

First Night Buffalo moved from the convention center to your living room in 2020 because of the pandemic, and it just so happens, it made it more accessible for families.

"If you need to celebrate New Year's Eve at 7 p.m. or 5 p.m., do it, like, just grab what you need, grab what the kids enjoy, and have a great time together," said Melanie Goehle, Independent Health Foundation, Manager of Community Initiatives.

First Night is new every year with new segments with old friends and new ones.

"We want to be representative of everyone. We bring in new cultures, new artists, new performers, so we kind of keep an eye out all year long, and see what kids are enjoying, and what families are enjoying, and we try and keep people as local to Western New York as we can," Goehle said.

And while it's made so kids can countdown to 2025 before midnight, the adults will find it entertaining, too.

"I try to compare my shows to a Disney movie so that, like, the kids are laughing because mom and dad are laughing, but I'm saying things, it's like watching Sponge Bob, you know, same difference, you get a kick out of it," Musial said.

First Night Buffalo is free to watch and will be online in less than 48 days. There's also a $25 party pack with everything from a disco light to face paint inside that you can get at Tops. It benefits Oishei Children's Hospital.

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