We have a wonderful fireplace in our family room/dinning area. It has
not been used for the last 3 winters/years. I don't plan on using it
as a heat source on a Friday night, but rather an source of
entertainment/ center piece. Is it necessary that I clean the chimney
before use? Should I be worried?

How would I go about cleaning it? or do I really need to? should I
higher someone or can I do it myself?

Thank you,

cgaube...

The main issue is safety, and the primary problem arises when there
is too great a buildup of creosote on the interior walls of the
chimney from past (and usually, frequent) use. When there is such
a buildup, there is a potential for a chimney fire, in which the
creosote on the walls of the chimney catches fire. This can cause
fire to shoot out of the chimney and you run the risk of setting
fire to the building.

More on creosote and its formation can be found on this page about
chimney problems on the Michigan State University site:
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/mod02/01500598.html

Such buildup is pretty evident, and you can inspect the chimney
yourself to determine if it's a problem. When creosote covers
the chimney in thicknesses large enough that you can break it
off in flakes, it's time to do a cleaning.

Here's a page on how to clean the chimney yourself, from the 
Essortment website:
http://nd.essortment.com/chimneycleaning_rbtk.htm

Another option, if you have only a light buildup, is to burn
a chimney cleaning log before using the fireplace for normal
purposes. The manufacturers claim that they will reduce the
buildup by about 60%. These are available from various locations,
including Ace Hardware (note the this is a 12-pack, though it's
not clear from the page):
http://www.acehardware.com/sm-supersweep-chimney-cleaning-log-br0342-12-pack--pi-1443969.html

These logs are impregnated with some of the same chemicals that
professional chimney sweeps use to break down and remove creosote,
but they are not adequate if you have a major buildup, and do not
preclude the need for professional cleaning in the long run, as 
noted on the ChimneySweepOnline site:
http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/hocslog.htm

sublime1-ga


Searches done, via Google:

chimney cleaning
://www.google.com/search?q=chimney+cleaning

chimney cleaning log
://www.google.com/search?q=chimney+cleaning+log

Do you really need to clean your chimney if you are only going to use
it as a place of entertainment?

I would guess that this depends on the type of entertainment that you have in mind.

If you like good, clean fun ... then a thorough cleaning is a must.

On the other hand, you might prefer a bit of smut ...

LOLOLOL...Bryan ;)

Sublime1 has done an excellent job, as always, but I feel I must
comment from my own experience.

While creosote and similar contaminants are a serious hazard, do not
be lulled into a false sense of security if your own look up the
chimney reveals a clean flue and you have an older house.

First off, if your chimney is unlined, do not use it. Get it properly
and safely lined. If your chimney is lined and the liner becomes
cracked, it must be repaired or replaced. Hot spots on the liner can
cause it to crack or fail at or near that spot. Creosote can form on
the liner and ignite, causing a hot spot.

Too-vigorous buildup removal can damage the liner also. Never poke or
jab at the liner; use only a flue brush.

If you are foolish enough to use an unlined chimney-- after all, folks
were doing it for a long time just fine, right?-- be warned that fires
can be ignited in cracks in the mortar and can smolder through house
framing for DAYS before flashing. This happened to one of the houses
in the neighborhood where I grew up, though I think a modern
investigation might find arson to be the cause.

Hey, I was nowhere near the place! I was in Jersey!