Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

80,000 fireworks to light up Strip for New Year’s Eve

New Year's Eve 2017

Wade Vandervort

A young couple embrace as fireworks explode over Planet Hollywood during New Year’s Day on the Las Vegas strip, Monday, Jan. 1, 2017.

Las Vegas Councilman Bob Coffin smiled moments before fireworks crackled and popped in the background during a news conference today announcing the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks show on the Strip.

Coffin, taking the place of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman at the annual press event, has experienced many such New Year’s celebrations in his decades as a state and local lawmaker. But he swears it never gets old.

“It’s about everybody,” Coffin said. “This is for all of the valley of Las Vegas, because we’re all in this together.”

Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly said Las Vegas is unique to other major areas hosting New Year’s celebrations because of its relatively mild winter weather.

He “threw shade” on New York’s annual event, questioning why people would bear the frigid temperatures of Times Square over the mild Dec. 31 weather on the Las Vegas Strip. Weekly, who recalled watching last year’s fireworks from atop the Rio, said, “It is incredible here.”

“When great minds come together, this is what you get,” he said. “No other city in the world does New Year’s like Las Vegas.”

About 150 fireworks per second will explode over the Strip to welcome 2019, said Phil Grucci, representing Fireworks by Grucci, a New York-based company that for the 12th consecutive year will coordinate the fireworks show in Las Vegas.

More than 10,000 electrical circuits will fire about 80,000 pyrotechnic devices from the rooftops of seven resorts: the Aria, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, the Stratosphere, Treasure Island and the Venetian.

The fireworks show will last about eight minutes, Grucci said.

Accompanying the display will be the Salsoul Orchestra’s version of the song “Auld Lang Syne,” followed by Frank Sinatra’s “Luck Be A Lady” and Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long.”

The show, billed as Vegas Nights, will continue with cuts from “Night Time Is The Right Time” by Aretha Franklin, “Waiting For Tonight” by Jennifer Lopez, “Take Back The Night” by Justin Timberlake, “Round Here” by Florida Georgia Line, “I Drove All Night” by Celine Dion and “Marry The Night” by Lady Gaga.

Partygoers can also download the mobile Fireworks by Grucci app, which provides the synchronized soundtrack in real time or tune into radio stations KOMP 92.3 FM or 97.1 FM the Point.

“All the songs have something to do with night; they’re party songs,” Grucci said. “We’re here to celebrate and reinforce how lucky we are.”

Those looking to spend New Year’s Eve off the Strip need look no further than downtown Las Vegas, where the Fremont Street Experience will host the America’s Party Downtown celebration.

The downtown party will include live performances by local bands and a light show featuring tracks from The Killers, The Who, Tiesto and Green Day on the Viva Vision canopy. Entrance to the Fremont Street Experience will cost $35 per person, down from $40 in previous years.

Nearly all major Las Vegas nightclubs and concert venues have New Year’s Eve parties planned, too.

Pop star Bruno Mars and Las Vegas-based Imagine Dragons are among the performers scheduled to appear at venues on the Strip and across the valley.

With between 250,000 and 320,000 visitors expected in Las Vegas for one of the world’s largest New Year’s Eve parties, police are advising people to take caution and plan ahead.

People driving to the Strip or downtown should arrive early, avoid parking on streets that will be closed and walk to make it easier to get out when the celebration is over, Metro Police spokeswoman Laura Meltzer said. She advised against driving at all, if possible.

“Keep in mind you’re going to be dealing with several thousand visitors down there,” Meltzer said. “Street closures can affect your ability to park and where you need to go, so it’s just important to be aware and prepare ahead of time.”