BELFAST – Downtown streets will bustle with revelers as the city ushers in 2005 with its annual New Year’s By the Bay celebration.

Jugglers, musicians, mimes, clowns, rockers, folkies, storytellers, caricaturists and games are among the performances and activities, which run 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, Dec. 31. The action will be topped off with a spectacular midnight bonfire overlooking Penobscot Bay.

In its eighth year, Belfast’s family-oriented, chem-free cultural celebration is expected to draw thousands. Those attending will be treated to 60 acts at 10 venues ranging from First Church Belfast on Court Street to the Boathouse at Steamboat Landing on Front and Commercial streets.

“We feel we really have some great acts this year,” said NYBB executive director Mary Mortier. “It is very much focused on the family.”

Downtown Belfast is rich in Victorian architecture and on New Year’s Eve its historic buildings will sparkle with lights both from within and along its brick-edged sidewalks. Large, lighted evergreen wreaths encircle period lampposts and steamed-over windows of numerous shops. Local restaurants will provide a warm welcoming for those strolling from one performance to another.

Strolling about town, revelers will likely see Kim Hawkins of Trenton, a graduate of the Ringling Brothers and Barnam & Bailey’s clown college, who will be clowning in full costume around the streets.

The crowd-pleasing Hawk Henries, the only performer to perform at every NYBB celebration will be back again this year. Henries, a member of the Nipmuc Nation, is a self-taught flute maker and player of a variety of flutes. His stories and music create a spiritual experience, which has enthralled audiences each time he played in Belfast. He will perform at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

The Boathouse, where magician Amazin Lou will entertain families with young children starting at 4 p.m., will be a “very hot venue,” according to Mortier. In addition, videographer Ned Leightner will be on hand to record and video people’s new year’s resolutions for the local access cable television channel, Bel-TV7.

“His feeling is that if people make their resolutions out loud and on camera, they will keep them,” Mortier said.

The all-women steel band Steelin Thunder will take the Boathouse stage at 6 p.m. followed by the local rock band Justferkiks at 9 p.m.

Other new additions to the event are: Scot Canon’s Mime & Music, including a mime lesson; singer-songwriter-guitar-harmonica player Orson Horchler, who specializes in folksy country blues; the father-and-son folk and bluegrass team of Jeff and David Lewis, the six-member McSravis Family Fiddlers, featuring twin sisters and their two daughters and independent filmmaker Nicolle Littrell, who will present short films and locally produced student films..

Some regulars, who have played at earlier celebrations, are back again this year. They include: pianist “Fingers” Frank Wareham and Barbara Pendleton, who will stroll down memory lane with lively sets of show tunes and standards; the well known Blue Hill Brass Quintet; Celtic and traditional musicians Castlebay; the women’s barbershop group River City Harmonizers; English and Irish music balladeer Carol Noonan; fiddle, bagpipe and banjo player Jennifer Armstrong; and the jazz trio Straight Up with guest saxophonist Bruce Boege.

Also slated to play are: jazz pianist Lincoln Blake with vocalist Ann Delaney; soul, swing and funk band Soul Guru; the bluegrass-swing-jazz group Evergreen; musical comrades David Dodson and Dan Bennett with special guests; singer-storyteller Amy Robbins-Wilson; sea shanty and Appalachian balladeers Don De Poy and Martha Hills; and the traditional songs and chants of Laura Campbell on guitar, rain stick and didgeridoo.

From 3-10 p.m., horse and wagon rides will be offered through the downtown. Children can have their faces painted from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Boathouse while Scrabble players will compete 5-8 p.m. Artists Charles “Chuck” Rak and Paula Carter will do caricatures respectively 5-8 p.m. at Scoops and 7-10 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.

The National Theatre Workshop for the Handicapped, which was founded in Belfast in 1997, is hosting this year’s celebration. Waldo County Transportation will run shuttle buses in a continuous loop throughout the night between NTWH, the Boathouse, First Baptist Church and Colonial Theater.

Besides entertainment and activities for all ages, Belfast will serve up lots of good food and drinks.

The Boathouse will offer homemade soup, chowder and nachos, the Weathervane will have complimentary hot drinks. Scoops plans to prepare sweet and savory crepes. At Alexia’s Pizza, pizza and calzones will be on the menu while Krazy Kones will whip up lobster stew and haddock chowder. Hot sandwiches will be available at the Belfast Co-op and Bay Wrap will have wraps, soups and complimentary hot cider. First Church Belfast will serve homemade soups and cookies. At the First Baptist Church, beef stew, chili and barbecue beans will be available while parishioners will host a lasagna dinner and baked goods at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Walter Griffin can be reached at 338-9546 and bdnbfst@earthlink.net.

New Year’s By the Bay

Admission buttons for all performances cost $15 for adults and $5 for children in grades K-5. Admission is free for children under 5. The Parent Gallery on the corner of Main and High streets will serve as festival headquarters and tickets will be available there in advance, as well as at the Belfast Co-op, Mr. Paperback, All About Games, the Fertile Mind Book Store, Hannaford’s service counter, the Belfast Harbor Inn and the Comfort Inn. For more information, call 338-5870 or newyearsbythebay.org.