First Night Boston 2012

Celebrate New Year's Eve in Boston - Welcome 2012!

First Night Boston 2012 welcomes the New Year with a gala day-long celebration throughout the city with fireworks, a huge parade, Harbor cruises, entertainment, music, and spectacular ice sculptures by renowned artists.

As many as 1 million welcome New Years Eve in Boston at the First Night celebration, an 11-hour event at 35+ indoor and outdoor locations from Fenway to the South Boston Waterfront. 

First Night Boston is the oldest, largest, and most elaborate of these New Years Eve events in the U.S., dating back to 1976.  Here in Boston, we're also sure it's the best Boston New Year's Eve 2012 celebration.

Hundreds of artists, musicians, and performers entertain the crowds at the Hynes Convention Center, Copley Square, Boston Public Library, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, Berklee Performance Center, theaters, churches, and the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common.  Because the Boston New Years Eve 2012 events take place across such a wide area, First Night never seems too crowded, even though lots of people take part.

First Night Ice Sculptures

Although the gala celebration officially begins at 1pm, you can watch the giant ice sculptures take shape in Copley Square and Boston Common (near Frog Pond) from 9am to noon as ice artists use chain saws to carve their elaborate works of art.

First Night Boston ice sculpture in Copley Square
Photo courtesy of Tim Sackton

First Night Premium Performances and Fireworks Packages

For the first time in 2011, you can get premium seating in the front of the orchestra section for special headliner events for $35, which also includes a First Night button for general admission to all other events.  Call 617-542-1399 to purchase.

Select from these special events:

• Soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples at Symphony Hall (9pm)
• Punk rockers The New York Dolls at NEC's Jordan Hall (9pm)
• Story teller Mike Daisey at Boston University Theatre (9:30pm)
• Jazz guitarist Julian Lage with Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland at the Berklee Performance Center (7:45pm)

The Premium Package is also offered for:

• Midnight Fireworks Cruise on Boston Harbor (11pm - 12:30am)

First Night Boston Family Events and 6:45pm Fireworks

If you're coming with kids, you'll find plenty of children's events during the afternoon hours.  Puppets, acrobats, music, jugglers, story tellers, crafts, and performers provide plenty of family-friendly entertainment for kids and their parents. 

The Boston Children's Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, Old State House, and Old South Meeting House offer First Night Boston button holders free admission between 10am and noon.  Many other Boston museums offer free tours or special events at various times throughout the day.

Huge ice sculptures dot outdoor spaces in Copley Square and Boston Common, and attract lots of admirers.  You can watch most of the sculptures being carved ahead of time, and enjoy the brilliant displays of lights illuminating them on New Year's Eve.  Each sculpture weights 30-45 tons.

At 5:30pm, the Grand Procession begins at the Hynes Convention Center and marches down Boylston Street.  Featuring a different theme each year - "Over the Horizon is the 2012 theme - the procession features brass bands, huge moving sculptures, elaborate floats, puppets, and costumed participants. 

At 6pm, head over to Frog Pond on Boston Common for family-friendly festivities with a special holiday skating show by local and national figure skating champions, synchronized skating teams, and star students from the Frog Pond Skating Academy.  The rink opens to the public after the show - so take a few spins around the ice under the stars.

Local cable station NECN will broadcast the skating show as well as other entertainment, including local Boston group Dis Vincent performing "So Good."

At 6:45pm, twelve minutes of glorious fireworks launched from the Common's ballfield let families with young children celebrate the New Year - and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

You do not need a First Night button to attend and enjoy these outdoor First Night events.

New Year's Boston Evening Events and Midnight Fireworks

Throughout the evening in 40 indoor and outdoor locations across the city, you can enjoy other non-stop performances.  Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker, jazz and other musical groups, films, anime, concerts, dancers, and even a poetry slam are just a few of the options.

At just before 12am, Countdown to Midnight begins at Copley Square and Boston Common.  When the clock strikes 12, another fabulous firework display over Boston Harbor welcomes the first day of the New Year. 

Watch this short video to get a preview of what you'll see!

Any Questions about First Night in Boston?

Have a question about First Night Boston? Ask, and I'll do my best to answer.

First, though, check out what others have asked - I might have already answered the same question for someone else.

When asking your question, please fill out the whole form, including lines for name and location that say "optional."

After you send your question, you'll see a page that thanks you and asks you to set notification options. I highly recommend that you check the first 2 boxes so you'll be notified when I reply - otherwise, you'll have no way of knowing other than checking the website periodically. When you see my reply, please let me know if it was helpful!

Thanks for getting in touch, and enjoy your visit to Boston!

Susan

Questions from Others about First Night in Boston

Here's what others have asked:

Find More Special Boston Events Throughout the Year

January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

Boston Discovery Guide makes best efforts to update event information but we cannot guarantee the information as it may change without our knowledge.   Please confirm details with the event sponsor prior to attending.