Fireworks signal the beginning of 2020 on the Las Vegas Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020
Published Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 | 6:45 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 | 12:45 a.m.
This is how you throw a party.
About 400,000 revelers ushered in a new year on the Las Vegas Strip with a festive countdown, punctuated with couples (and strangers) kissing and rejoicing for a new year as fireworks burst overhead.
The eight-minute display of 80,000 pyrotechnic effects, which exploded from the roofs of MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, the Venetian and the Strat, was sure breathtaking.
There's nothing like welcoming in a new year — and decade — with thousands of new friends, many of whom came from all corners of the world for our celebration. "America's party" was expected to contribute $240 million to the local economy.
Strip partygoers wore eyeglasses shaped into the numerals 2020 and sipped on drinks from oversized cups. Some took the extra step of wearing costumes and many had on extra clothing for temperatures in the 40s.
The party appeared to go off without significant conflict, as Metro Police had heavy police presence on the Strip and in downtown. Metro and other agencies were also out in full force with DUI enforcement.
Police will release figures, including DUI arrests from across the valley, later Wednesday.
Strip walkways, elevators and escalators resumed operation about 12:15 a.m. Vehicle traffic was scheduled to resume at 3 a.m. on the Strip, about one hour after street sweepers working to get debris off the roads.
Tourism officials predicted near 100% occupancy in the almost 150,000 hotel rooms in and around the Strip, with no nightly rates below $100 and some approaching $750.
Headline acts at various venues included Lady Gaga, Journey, Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5 and Third Eye Blind, while nightclubs drew names including Steve Aoki, the Chainsmokers, Tyga, NAS, Lil Jon and T-Pain.
12:30 a.m.
Clark County officials announced that 18 people, who'd been at Strip and downtown festivities, had been hospitalized.
Thirteen were being treated for excessive alcohol consumption, while another had consumed drugs. Three others were transported for unknown reasons.
All but one patient, whose ages range from 20 to over 60, were taken from the Strip. Further information was not provided.
— Ricardo Torres-Cortez
12:20 a.m.
About a half-hour before the controlled fireworks show went off in the tourist corridor, firefighters were responding to a "serious fireworks-related incident" in the east valley, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue said. A person, only identified as an adult, was taken to University Medical Center.
— Ricardo Torres-Cortez
12:10 a.m.
The Las Vegas party was punctuated at midnight by the New Year's Eve fireworks extravaganza.
Chants down from 10 rang out over Las Vegas Boulevard as visitors and locals raised their phones to video the choreographed eight-minute aerial pyrotechnic display.
The conclusion got the biggest cheers of the night.
The fireworks lasted until around 12:10 a.m., after which revelers started to make their way off the Strip.
— John Sadler
12:05 a.m.
As she counted down to midnight at the main Fremont Street Experience stage, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman praised her city.
"There's no place better than Las Vegas, Nevada," Goodman said, flanked by her husband, Oscar Goodman.
Seconds before the new year arrived, Goodman reminded the thousands in the crowd to make a resolution and keep it.
When the clock struck midnight, the crowd erupted.
— Bryan Horwath
11:15 p.m.
Walking down Fremont Street at about 11 p.m. in her white wedding dress, Melinna Davis of Wausau, Wis., said she and her new husband, Mark Davis, were having a blast.
“The atmosphere is amazing,” Melinna said. “We came to get our marriage license over Thanksgiving and we wanted to come back to get married on New Year’s.”
As the couple talked with a reporter, several passersby offered their congratulations.
Mark said that had been happening ever since the ceremony, which took place Tuesday afternoon at the High Roller.
Meanwhile, most seemed to be having fun along Fremont as partiers danced, drank and readied to ring in 2020.
Derek Stevens, downtown casino owner and businessman, said he’s looking forward to what the new year has in store for Las Vegas.
“I think this is one of the best New Year’s we’ve ever had,” said Stevens while seated at the Longbar at his The D casino. I think there’s just a lot of excitement. The economy is great and I heard sales for tonight are up 25%. There’s so much happening in Vegas for 2020. We’re excited.”
— Bryan Horwath
11 p.m.
The Strip is packed. Outside the Paris, a group stood off the street, avoiding the crowd.
Anne Robichaud and Alain Hogue, two visitors from Quebec, were in town for a personal celebration.
"We're celebrating our anniversary," Robichaud said. "It's 30 years that we are together."
The two were in Las Vegas for the first time and said they had rented a car to see sights such as Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.
They were going to enjoy the Strip festivities until the night was done, they said.
— John Sadler
11 p.m.
Seven revelers, who'd been on the Strip and downtown Las Vegas, will likely greet 2020 from hospital beds.
Clark County officials said four people who consumed "too much" alcohol and one who consumed drugs were taken to local hospitals, as did two others who were taken for unknown reasons.
Five patients were transported from the Strip and two from downtown, officials said. Their ages range from 20 to over 60, but further information was not provided.
— Ricardo Torres-Cortez
10 p.m.
The number of impaired drivers nabbed by Southern Nevada authorities had increased to at least 14 two hours before the new year. Metro Police officers on DUI enforcement, which began patrolling valley roads at 7:30 p.m., had arrested 10 drivers before 10 p.m.
The tally includes four arrests the Nevada Highway Patrol had previously announced. Additionally, troopers had caught drivers accelerating to 106, 96 and 90 mph, according to radar images shared on Twitter.
A trooper averted a possible tragedy when he pulled over a driver heading the wrong way on Las Vegas Boulevard South, near St. Rose Parkway. The video of the interaction also was shared online: "Please be extremely careful tonight if you have to travel, and do so responsibly," the patrol said on social media.
— Ricardo Torres-Cortez
9:45 p.m.
Jennifer and John Patillo, a pathologist assistant and recent speech pathology graduate respectively, have been out for around an hour and are set up in front of the Bellagio for the night.
"We like the fountains," John Patillo said. "It's a free show." He said they watch the water show and then switch to people-watching.
The Patillos are both longtime Las Vegas locals. Jennifer said they have only missed a few New Year's on the Strip. John said that the police presence had increased over the years.
The two have a hotel room this year, which they said they do every three years or so rather than go back home.
Jennifer said one of the biggest changes is the influx of people.
"It seems like more and more people every year," she said.
— John Sadler
8:30 p.m.
While waiting in line to enter the Fremont Street Experience, Lori Coleman marveled at the new $32 million video display.
“It’s great,” Coleman said. “I read about it before we came here, so I was excited to see it.”
Coleman and Marlon Embry came to Las Vegas on Sunday from the San Diego area. It marked their first New Year’s Eve here. They like to travel to different places for New Year’s. Last year, it was the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
“We’re ready time have a great time here in Vegas!” Embry said.
Cool temperatures — hovering in the mid-40s — didn’t seem to deter anyone in line from having a good time. A few-dozen people deep after 8 p.m., it took around 15 minutes to work to the front of the line at 4th and Fremont.
As with the Strip, there was a robust police presence downtown as Metro officers kept a watching eye. Some carried long guns.
“We usually don’t come to Fremont Street when we visit Las Vegas, but we wanted to do something different,” said Pam Giesegh, who was also visiting from California with her husband, Greg. “The new video screen is nice. I just have to get a good shot of it in the background of one of our pictures.”
All around the downtown pedestrian mall, people stopped to take selfies. Musical acts played on several different stages.
At one stage, an '80s cover band played Madonna’s “Holiday,” which seemed appropriate for the festive night. On a nearby stage, a dancer shouted into her microphone: “New Year’s Eve! Are you drunk yet?”
Visiting from Maine, Erica and Aaron Mutty said they had been to Las Vegas in the past, but made sure to take in more of the city this time over their New Year’s getaway.
“It’s Las Vegas on New Year’s,” Erica said. “It’s an experience everyone should have at least once.”
— Bryan Horwath
8:15 p.m.
The Strip is not yet packed, but there is considerable foot traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Police are stationed on the Strip's medians and outside the entrances to most casinos, and security guards are positioned throughout resort interiors.
At the Linq entrances, security was checking bags and purses. There were security stations inside Caesars Palace, as well.
— John Sadler
8 p.m.
In a three-hour span ending at 7 p.m., Nevada Highway Patrol troopers had already made four DUI arrests, the agency announced on Twitter. Southern Nevada law enforcement patrols were saturating valley roads to spot and pull over impaired and reckless drivers, hoping to prevent a tragedy.
Authorities warned motorists that it's better to spend a few bucks on ride-sharing services than end up in handcuffs. Lyft was offering discounts using code LASNYE through 4 p.m. Wednesday, while Regional Transportation Commission buses were also waiving fares.
— Ricardo Torres-Cortez
7:30 p.m.
Revelers were hopping on the monorail at the Westgate to make their way to the Strip, although the cars were not crowded.
There were about 15 people in a monorail car headed out from the Paradise Road property, including a group of four adorned with Happy New Year crowns.
Briton Bauberly of Ames, Iowa, and Brianna Stahlei, from the Chicago area, were part of the group. Stahlei had been to Las Vegas once before, but it was Bauberly's first time.
They were headed to the Jewel nightclub in the Aria to see rap artist Tyga. When asked about what else they were excited for, they laughed.
"Fireworks," Bauberly said. "But that's pretty obvious."
— John Sadler
• • •
The Strip has closed to vehicle traffic. The party has begun in Las Vegas.
New Year’s Eve will bring about 400,000 revelers to the Strip, which at 6:45 p.m. was fully opened to pedestrian traffic between Sahara Avenue and Mandalay Bay Road.
The scene never changes each Dec. 31: Thousands of warmly dressed people enjoying the biggest party of the year. There’s plenty of drinks and laughs. And, most important, safety. Metro promises to be out in full force.
The festivities will conclude with a fireworks show as the clock strikes midnight, the annual introduction to a new year to conclude the celebration that has made Las Vegas one of the landing spots nationally to bring in the new year.
They also included what’s become another annual tradition, a Golden Knights hockey game. The Knights beat the Ducks.
We have reporters stationed on the Strip, in downtown Las Vegas and off the resort corridor providing updates as we get closer to 2020. Check back later for coverage.
