Details: New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront

The best ways to experience both New Year's Eve fireworks shows in Philadelphia — whether you're watching from home or heading to the waterfront.

Photo by Matt Stanley

Photo by Matt Stanley

Sure, we’ve barely even made it to Christmas, but if you want to do anything special on New Year’s Eve, you’ve got to start planning now. So I’m here to make your life a little easier when it comes to celebrating the dawning of 2016, at least for those of you who are looking to take in our big ol’ fireworks shows over the Delaware.

Like every year for the past six years, there will be two fireworks shows on December 31st — one for the early birds and one for the stay-out-all-nighters. Put on by SugarHouse Casino, the first show will kick off at 6 pm. The second one, of course, will explode when the clock strikes midnight. The fireworks shows will be synchronized to a soundtrack that will be played along the waterfront. For those of you watching from home who want to partake in the full musical experience, the tunes will also be played on KYWNewsradio.

For the first time ever, the fireworks shows at midnight will be played on large screens around town, including locations at the Lit Brothers Building (8th and Market streets), Commerce Square (Market Street between 20th and 21st streets) and the cube at the Kimmel Center (Broad and Spruce streets). Don’t feel like getting off the couch? They will be broadcast on NBC10 and Telemundo62, too.

According to a release from Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, there will be four tons of net explosives used over the course of both shows. The largest fireworks are made from 10-inch shells that are shot 800 feet into the air. Those explosions will be the ones you’ll ooh and aah at the most, at nearly 600 feet in diameter.

Several spots along the waterfront will be hosting viewing parties, including SugarHouse Casino, Penn’s Landing, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, Adventure Aquarium, Independence Seaport Museum, Moshulu, Dave and Busters, and more.

Blue Cross RiverRink, in particular will be hosting a couple Parties on Ice on New Year’s Eve, where there will be skating, light refreshments and live music. There are two parties: one from 5 pm to 8 pm, and one from 10 pm to 1 am. Tickets for those gatherings cost $30-$40 and can be purchased here.

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