The Road That Community Built: Remembering the First Night Panels
For nearly 20 years, First Night Cadillac was the heartbeat of our New Year’s Eve, but it left behind more than just memories—it left a “Yellow Road.”
In 2000, CAPS Art teacher Kathy Mills began a tradition that would eventually span 22 massive 4’ x 5’ wooden panels. Each year, a new thematic world was sketched out, connected by a winding yellow road that traveled from one board to the next.
The best part? The artists were YOU. Throughout the night, families, students, and neighbors would stop by to pick up a brush and add their own splash of color to the panels. Once finished, they weren’t tucked away; they were displayed in the Cadillac Junior High lobby, a vibrant timeline of our community’s creativity. As demolition of the old Junior High was about to begin, school staff moved the panels to a storage area that would be closed for over two years as new construction began. When the building was finished, the panels were moved in to storage at Up North Arts. Recently, the panels were moved to their new home at the Wexford County 4-H Michigan State University Extension office
Now you can visit these amazing works of community art. If you look closely at that yellow road, you’ll find the signatures of hundreds of residents who “walked the path” together.
Though First Night held its final celebration in 2018, the spirit lives on in those panels—engaging every generation in art and culture. The panels are available to view Monday through Friday at the county building at 401 Lake Street.
Did you help paint the panels or sign the Yellow Road? We’d love to see your photos or hear your favorite First Night memories!
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