Thousands celebrate First Night

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Huge crowds turned out under a full moon to enjoy First Night festivities.

The fun started at 4 p.m. with the HEB Family Fun Festival at Auditorium Shores and City Hall. Kids lined up at the power jumping ring, where they were harnessed up and jumped high in the air on mini trampolines.

At sundown, the Austin Community Art Makers started releasing propane to fuel fire tornadoes contained in a three-story tall polycarbonate cylinder. An illuminated parade made its way down Congress and across the First Street Bridge at 6 p.m.

The festival concludes at Midnight with a fireworks display over Lady Bird Lake across from Auditorium Shores and Lake Austin near Hula Hut on Lake Austin Boulevard.

Interactive features like foam "movie" snow and live entertainment delighted the young and the young at heart.  There was also a lighted boat parade and two separate fun runs. 

People traveling downtown should be on alert for the following road closures: 

Starting at 8 a.m.

-South 1st St. from Cesar Chavez St. to Riverside Dr.

-Cesar Chavez St. from San Antonio St. to Congress Ave.

Starting at 5 p.m.

-Cesar Chavez St. from Sandra Muraida Way to San Antonio St.

-Congress Ave. from Cesar Chavez St. to 5th St

-Lavaca St. from Cesar Chavez St. to West 2nd St.

Starting in the evening

-6th Street from I-H 35 to Brazos St.

All roads should reopen around 1 a.m. on Friday.

To see a map of all of the events, click here.