As Native-American lore would have it, dream catchers were believed to be mystical instruments created to sift through dreams. They allowed the good dreams to go through, but caught the nightmares and held them captive in their web-like hold until the sun came up and melted the offending dream away.

This seemed like a perfect concept for Burlington County’s fifth annual First Night, a New Year’s Eve performing and visual arts festival which involves a variety of entertainment including a display of fireworks, music and art. First Night is a nationwide event that originated in Boston in 1976 and has since evolved to include nearly 150 official First Night events around the world.

Regan Young, coordinator of Burlington County’s First Night events, attended the American Indian Arts Festival at Rankokus in 2002 which happened to display small dream catchers made from materials including deer hide and small beads. He soon discovered that Native American artist Alicia Cook, pictured here, had created them and decided to commission her, along with the local Girl Scout Troop 5338, to create a giant (six-foot tall) dream catcher for the First Night festivities. The idea was that it would represent "catching the American Dream," Cook said. And why not? After all, life is but a dream.

Dream Catcher Construction, Mon., Dec. 29, 2-6 p.m., free, Borders Books & Music, 4010 Dearborn Circle, Mt. Laurel, N.J., 856-866-9090; First Night Celebration, Wed., Dec. 31, 7 p.m.-midnight, procession on Garden St., uptown Mount Holly, N.J., 609-265-2652.