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First Night Boston

Celebrate New Year in Boston


Boston is well-known for its annual events. A cherished Boston Tradition is First Night Boston, which is celebrated on New Year's Eve. First Night is an outdoor artistic and cultural celebration. Starting at midday, the party continues until midnight and is a celebration of Boston's local culture, featuring music, dance and of course, fireworks.


First Night celebrations began back in 1976 as a small arts event on the Boston Common. More than 30 years have passed and First Night Boston is now a major citywide Festival of the Arts, featuring the best of Boston’s cultural and artistic communities. First Night New Year's Eve activities take place from 1pm to midnight on December 31st at over 40 indoor and outdoor venues throughout downtown Boston.

Longtime audience favorites include the interactive Fedex Family Festival, colossal ice sculptures fill Boston's parks, the Mardi Gras style Metro Grand Procession, and of course, two dazzling fireworks displays round out the evening.

Some More First Night Attractions

see Firstnight.org for times and locations as well as hundreds more exciting events.

  • Boston’s Family Fireworks CelebrationPresented by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston 4 Productions
  • Boston Saxophone Quartet
  • Cambridge storyteller Brother Blue
  • Boston-based singer/songwriter Carrie Cheron
  • Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
  • Donald Chapelle / Brilliant Ice Sculpture
  • The Downbeat 5 fill the Boston Common with their primitive garage-rock greatness.
  • Keep Your Resolutions Dance Party
  • Verizon Yellow Pages and Superpages.com Midnight Fireworks

More than one million people each year celebrate First Night Boston. The First Night tradition that began in Boston 30 years ago has also led to more than 100 similar First Night celebrations around the U.S. and 200 First Night celebrations around the globe.

Top Of First Night Boston.

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