First Night Boston 2025 - New Year's Eve
First Night Boston, New England’s largest New Year’s Eve party, returns to celebrate the start of 2025 in Boston’s Back Bay. Plus - The T is free after 8 p.m. this year!Many of the beloved traditions of First Night’s past will continue, including cultural and musical performances in various indoor venues around the Back Bay, fantastic ice sculptures, and light displays.
The event features a wide range of local musicians, artists, and performers at indoor and outdoor venues through the Back Bay. Plus, everything at First Night is free. No tix or buttons required!
The free and family-friendly event runs from 12pm on December 31 through 12:30am on January 1, 2023, and resumes on New Year’s Day with live performances in Government Center.
Sammy Adams, Boston’s own hip-hop singer, rapper, and songwriter, will headline its December 31 concert at City Hall Plaza. As the finale to more than twelve hours of free entertainment, light shows, ice sculptures, and other family-friendly programming, Adams will ring in the New Year with tens of thousands of cheering fans.
With the illuminated and historic Boston City Hall as a backdrop, Adams will take the City Hall Plaza main stage at 11:30pm, helping lead the First Night Countdown into the New Year.
Segments of the performance will be carried live throughout New England on event television partners NBC10 Boston, NECN, and Telemundo Boston.
View the 2023 Schedule of Events
We’re thrilled to welcome back our First Night Parade that will take colorful and celebratory groups from City Hall Plaza to Boston Common at 6:00 PM leading up to Family Fireworks over the Common starting at 7:00 p.m. Midnight Fireworks over Boston Harbor will once again be produced by the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park.
MBTA
The T is free after 8:00pm this year!
Procession
We’re thrilled to welcome back our First Night Parade that will take colorful and celebratory groups from City Hall Plaza to Boston Common at 6:00 PM. Once the performers pass by, the public is invited to walk along to the Boston Common, where fireworks will begin at 7:00 PM.
Ice Sculptures
Ice sculptures make their dazzling return to First Night Boston! Sculptures will be located in City Hall Plaza, at Boston Common, and along the waterfront. They will be available for public viewing from 12:00 noon to 12:30 AM.
Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll
Presented by: Boston Harbor Now & Waterfront Partners
When: December 31, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Boston Waterfront
FREE
Skating Spectacular at Frog Pond
Presented by: Skating Club of Boston
When: December 31, 6pm
Where: Frog Pond Boston Common
FREE
Early Family-Friendly Fireworks Display
Presented by: Skating Club of Boston
When: December 31, 7:01pm
Where: Frog Pond Boston Common
FREE
Midnight Harbor Fireworks
Presented by: Boston Harbor Now, The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, & The Wharf District Council
When: December 31, 11:59pm - 12:15am
Where: Boston Harbor.
Best Viewing: Public viewing is free and available along the Harborwalk at Fan Pier, Christopher Columbus Park, and the East Boston waterfront.
Join us and NBC10 Boston, NECN, and Telemundo Boston for our signature midnight Copley Countdown pyrotechnics and light show in Copley Square.
Event Locations:
● Copley Square
● Boston Public Library- Central Library
● Boston Common
● Boston Harbor (Long Wharf)
● Copley Place Mall
● Copley Square
● First Church of Christ Scientist
● Old South Church
● Trinity Church
First Night First Day is an annual two-day, city-wide celebration that is free and open to the public. Arts and musical performances will take place in various venues around the Back Bay.
Since 1975, Boston’s First Night has been a New Year’s Eve celebration of artistic performances, the wonders of the season and the beginning of a new year. In keeping with this fantastic Boston tradition, the First Night celebration in 2023 will continue to be free and open to all.
Looking for more fun December events in Boston? Our handy guide is a great resource to find out what's happening near you this month.
Start the new year off right with our handy guide to January Events in Boston, and take advantage of all the winter activities.
Visit our Boston Events Calendar for more great ideas on fun things to do with kids in Greater Boston all year long.
More information can be found at boston.gov/first-night.
| HOURS | ↑ top |
Saturday December 31st (12noon-12midnight) through Sunday, January 1st (11a.m.-4p.m.).
| COST | ↑ top |
Free | - Everything at First Night is free. No tix or buttons required.
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
560 Bolyston Street, Boston, MA, 02201 map
Phone: 617 204 4206
The most direct access via MBTA is the Green Line to Copley Station. The T is free after 8 p.m.
Dartmouth Street will be closed from St. James to Boylston from December 31st through January 1st. Trinity Place and Blagden Street will be closed on the 31st and 1st. Boylston Street will be closed from 5:30 – 7:00 PM on the 31st along the parade route from Dartmouth St. to the Boston Common.
There will be no parking on Bolyston Street between Dartmouth and Clarendon on the 31st and 1st.
| TIPS | ↑ top |
- Find fun places to go ice skating in Boston or snow tubing near Boston in our handy guide to winter fun! Our readers have also shared their favorite sledding hills in the area for those snowy winter days.
- Many venue also host open houses on certain holidays, so you can always stay in-the-know about holiday happenings in Massachusetts in our helpful guide to family fun.
| RELATED LINKS | ↑ top |
- Profiles
- Localities
- Events
- First Night Boston 2025 - New Year's Eve, 12/31/24-1/1/25
Info changes frequently. We cannot warrant it. Verify with First Night Boston 2025 - New Year's Eve before making the trek. If you find an error, please report it...