First Night's Neighborhood Network reaches out to children and residents of Boston’s neighborhoods, and makes them an integral part of the country's oldest and largest New Years arts celebration. Young people and their families directly participate in year-round, hands-on workshops conducted by artists/educators each year in the months leading up to First Night. These creative workshops culminate in performances and exhibitions that become part of First Night on December 31.

The Neighborhood Network began in 1994, and more than 2,000 young people now participate annually. First Night partners with twenty-five community organizations, including youth and community centers that provide afterschool programs. In many cases, workshops offer much needed enrichment programs to organizations in Allston, Boston, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End and West Roxbury.

In 2000, First Night created a summer component of the Neighborhood Network. First Night Summer Beat is a series of music and dance workshops conducted in collaboration with summer camps in Boston’s neighborhoods. Workshops culminate in a performance piece called “The Beat” that combines the drumming and dance styles representative of the diverse cultures of the participating artists and young people.