Las Vegas welcomes 2025 with fireworks show and more — BLOG
Check out our live blog below for coverage of New Year’s Eve celebrations from the Las Vegas Strip to Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.
12:40 a.m.
Party still going on Fremont Street
The party was still going strong on Fremont with Flo Rida’s energetic setlist. He climbed down from the stage and joined the crowd, making his way across the venue to the press risers, where he sang “Whistle” and “Right Round.” He threw out fake money from the risers before returning back to the stage.
— Jessica Hill
12:37 p.m.
Repeat performance in 2025
Bobby and Joey Demarco came to Vegas to see a show. The brothers, who hail from a Chicago suburb, said the fireworks display over the Strip was worth months of waiting.
“We booked this thing in like April,” Bobby, the older brother, said outside the MGM Grand casino hotel. “We’re gonna do it again. 100 percent.”
It may have been the Modelo(s) talking, but Joey thanked his brother — several times in a short span — for coming to Vegas with him.
“This guy right here,” Joey Demarco said, embracing the larger sibling to his left, “is pretty (expletive) awesome. And so is Las Vegas!”
— David Danzis
12:15 a.m.
Show over, crowds dispersing quickly
Following an explosive, eight-minute firework display from nine Strip resorts, people are quick to leave. Swaths of people of all ages flock to the north Strip to retrieve their cars.
Road closures are still enforced, with debris cleanup from the firework show starting at around 12:45 a.m. to 2 a.m. Roads should reopen around 6 a.m.
— Emerson Drewes
12:10 a.m.
‘Incredible’ fireworks display wows crowd
The crowds were standing room only as the fireworks erupted on Las Vegas Boulevard at midnight. Tourists cheered and screamed “Happy New Year,” turning in circles to watch the explosions from multiple casinos.
After the firework shows, one group in front of Caesars Palace sang happy birthday to their family member. Others paused briefly in the street, figuring out how to get out of the crowds.
“They were incredible,” said tourist Rachel Olsen, who came to Las Vegas to watch the fireworks and visit her boyfriend. “A lot more than I was expecting.”
Smoke and the smell of gunpowder lingered in the air as the crowds departed, and music from the nightclubs mixed with the sounds of noisemakers.
— Katelyn Newberg
12:07 a.m.
Canadian family cheers fireworks, new year
The Ovadan family cheered, took photos and blew horns as the fireworks lit off. Hailing from Canada, the family of three has travelled to Las Vegas for the past seven years to celebrate the new year — the fireworks being their favorite part. “We come to Las Vegas for the restaurants, parties and community,” said mother Lola and her two daughters Elisha, 13, and Olivia, 16. In the 2025 they hope to bring new beginnings, peace and joy.
— Emerson Drewes
Midnight
Mayor toasts 2025 with Fremont Street crowd
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley took the stage at the Fremont Street Experience with about a minute until midnight to ring in the new year. She wished everyone a happy new year and celebrates as the clock strikes 12 with Flo Rida, who holds a bottle of champagne. Behind the stage, the fireworks show begins, and Flo Rida leads the crowd in singing “Whistle.”
— Jessica Hill
11:50 p.m.
Maybe next year…
Mikey Rivas and his mother, Elle, tried to find a better vantage point but it was useless. Rivas knew he waited too long to come outside of the Excalibur casino-hotel, where he and his mother had been playing slots all night. By the time they left, hundreds of New Year’s Eve revelers had gathered at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, blocking any real view of the night’s big fireworks show on the Strip.
“Maybe we’ll have better luck next year,” he said, resigned to the fact that he missed his chance.
— David Danzis
11:45 p.m.
‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’
With around 15 minutes to go till midnight, rapper and singer Flo Rida took the stage on Fremont Street and rallied the audience.
He led a large crowd of hundreds in chants, yelling “what happens in Vegas” with the crowd answering “stays in Vegas.”
Partygoers surrounded the stage located between the D and the 4 Queens, waving their hands in the air and singing along.
The crowd sang along to his popular “Low” song, singing “apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur.”
— Jessica Hill
11:35 p.m.
Party lines long as midnight nears
For people in line, midnight is just a time.
The beat is thumping throughout Resorts World as Gatsby’s and Zouk hold their celebrations. People are still waiting in line for the clubs 30 minutes to midnight to start their party.
Gatsby’s is holding their “Ultimate NYE Celebration” and Zouk has T-Pain headlining the club
— Emerson Drewes
11:35 p.m.
Early firework shot startles crowd as Caesars
Crowds in front of Caesars Palace gasped as a lone firework went off behind the hotel at 11:30 p.m. The show is set to start right at midnight.
Mariana Villalobos wore 2025 glasses as she stood with her family waiting on the fireworks. Her and her family, who traveled from northern Mexico, are attending New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas for the first time.
“It’s known for the party and we wanted to party,” she said.
— Katelyn Newberg
11:10 p.m.
One last handpay in 2024?
Nate has been in Las Vegas since Friday, and he’s been on a hot streak. Nate has hit “six or seven” handpays (a machine payout of $1,200 or more) over the last few days.
On Tuesday, he was hoping to get lucky one more time before closing out the year. He was playing a Lightning Link game at Mandalay Bay and placing max bets.
“I’m convinced the only way to win any money playing these machines is to max bet,” he said, barely looking away from the screen. “I’m planning on getting a handpay before midnight, and this is the only way to do it.”
— David Danzis
11 p.m.
Characters - a proposal? - and a dance party
In the middle of the crowds across from Planet Hollywood stood multiple characters posing for tips. The group included Deadpool, Stitch, a character from the children’s show Bluey and a Hello Kitty character. Deadpool held a woman in his arms and then appeared to propose to her.
Meanwhile, a small dance party broke out a few hundred feet away in front of the Paris casino, where a group of men danced to Hispanic music blasting from a speaker.
— Katelyn Newberg
10:54 p.m.
Person taken into custody on Fremont Street
Police appear to make an arrest at the Fremont Street Experience near the Main Street Stage, and partygoers give a wide berth to what looks like tear gas on the ground. Police quickly removed it and took the person under arrest away.
— Jessica Hill
10:45 p.m.
Party picking up at Fremont Street Experience
Rapper Trick Daddy performed “I’m a Thug” on Fremont Street’s Main Street Stage, with a little over an hour until midnight.
A crowd of hundreds gathered around the stage, singing along.
Rapper Bow Wow is set to perform next, from 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
— Jessica Hill
10:36 p.m.
Security guard: ‘Everybody’s positive’
Damariae Harvy stands at the front of the Fontainebleau with a name tag that reads “Brittani” and bright and shining attitude — despite his 12-hour shift.
“I would say working here on New Year’s: it’s a beautiful sight to see because everybody’s positive,” said Harvy. “Twelve hours is pretty long, but hey — we’ll get there.”
Harvy has been working on the Strip for about a year, four months at the Fontainebleau. He described himself as “mailman by day, security guard at night.”
His message going into the new year: “Everybody just enjoy everyone else’s company. Smile, positive energy, all year.”
— Emerson Drewes
10:35 p.m.
Couple, wowed by fountains, look forward to 2025
A crowd let out an audible “awwwww” as the Bellagio fountain show started to Ed Sheeran’s song “Perfect.”
During the show, Brandon Garza gave his boyfriend of six years a red rose and a kiss. He said the fountains were beautiful and “intimate.”
The two wore large hand-made conical hats. Garza’s boyfriend, Ethan Molina, wrote affirmations for the year on his hat, including the phrases “positivity” and “success.”
Molina said his New Year’s resolution is to “stay determined, stay focused, do not procrastinate.”
— Katelyn Newberg
10:30 p.m.
Indiana resident hopeful for 2025
For Indiana resident Mendy McQueen, the last two years have not been kind. She lost 15 people close to her, including her parents and uncle.
In 2025, she hopes for abundance and freedom, she said
“2025 will be full of love and light,” she said.
— Jessica Hill
10:02 p.m.
Night club floodgates open
The party is getting started at Fountainebleau’s LIV, with lines starting to form for headliner Tiesto.
Locals Hanley Fowler, 22, and Alika Ruse, 23, are stamped and ready to go for the night. Typically, the girls would spend NYE in, but tonight, with the help of a promoter, the girls are out on the town in their sparkliest garb.
“I love to be home tonight, but not this year,” said Ruse. “Sitting, with a little champagne toast at midnight, some Netflix.”
Tickets and VIP tables for Tiesto are sold out, but third party are running around $200.
“Getting a promoter here is definitely the way to go,” said Fowler.
The party is getting started at LIV @fblasvegas. Tonight @tiesto is headlining for NYE. @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/DxE7YRUgvG
— Emerson Drewes (@EmersonDrewes) January 1, 2025
— Emerson Drewes
9:45 p.m.
Say ‘Cheese’ in the middle of the Strip
Candice Fuller has been to Las Vegas “hundreds” of times. The Los Angeles-native has rung in the new year here before, too, in 2019 and 2022.
On Tuesday night, Fuller did something she had never done during any of her previous trips to Vegas. She took a selfie while standing in the middle of the Strip.
“How many times in your life do you get to do something like this?” Fuller said while smiling and posing for her iPhone at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.
— David Danzis
9:40 p.m.
Georgia couple revels in Vegas New Year’s Eve wedding
Carter Aldavé-Walthall stepped outside the Flamingo to take a smoke break in her wedding dress, winter coat and pearl-studded veil, while her wife rested in their hotel room. The two got married earlier today at the Sure Thing Wedding Chapel on Fremont Street.
“Vegas is the New Year’s Eve capital of the nation, and it fits our vibe, so we decided to just do it,” said Aldavé-Walthall, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her now-wife.
She said the two of them realized they loved each other during the first New Year’s Eve they spent together.
— Katelyn Newberg
9:20 p.m.
NYE all in a day’s work for professional dancers
Professional dancers Tera Perez and Sara Crossan, clad in red sparkles, wait in line at Capons in the Fountainebleau food court on their dinner break. Both women are dancers at Papi Steak and do performances at the top of the hour; tonight is old Hollywood themed.
“So far, it’s steady, but we’re we usually get busy closer to 10,” said Perez.
This NYE the girls are most looking forward to their burger and fries.
“Eating a burger and working is usually how my New Year’s goes,” said Crossan.
— Emerson Drewes
9:05 p.m.
‘Pirate’ sharing his treasure for NYE
Dressed in full pirate garb, a Washington resident who goes by the name Five, handed out gold coins to partygoers on Fremont Street with his friend Viathan, also wearing a pirate outfit.
The two have always liked dressing as pirates, but they decided a few years ago it would be fun to bring it to Fremont.
It’s Five’s fourth year in a row coming to Fremont Street for New Year’s Eve dressed as pirate and giving out shillings. This year he purchased 600 coins, which cost between $40 to $50, he said.
He likes “to make people happy because who doesn’t love a metal coin?” he said.
This year marks an extra special occasion for the pirate cosplayer. He will propose to his girlfriend, whom he met in Vegas, at midnight.
— Jessica Hill
8:55 p.m.
Sphere still delights first-time visitors
The oohs and aahs are instantaneous as hordes of people catch their first glimpses of the Sphere.
“I never though you could get this close,” one woman said to her family before taking out her phone to take a photo.
Anyma, a DJ who recently launched a residency at the venue with guests like Ellie Goulding and FKA twigs, is scheduled to perform at 10 p.m. Thousands are lined up to enter, while others are outside, consumed with amazement of the structure.
— Alan Halaly
8:40 p.m.
Finding prime seats for fireworks display
Jose Ibarra wore a large conical paper hat with fireworks and the phrase “Happy New Year 2025” printed on it. He was visiting Las Vegas with his family from Chihuahua, Mexico.
He said they’ve been to Las Vegas several times before, but never for New Year’s Eve.
“We wanted to have the experience and see the fireworks,” Ibarra said.
Hours before the fireworks were set to start, Ibarra’s family already claimed a spot on the sidewalk in front of Caesars Palace to wait for the show.
— Katelyn Newberg
8:35 p.m.
Ice skating while waiting for 2025
At the Fontainebleau, families are looking for a slice of winter wonderland in Las Vegas’ temperate NYE. Outside at the Oasis Ice Rink, children and their families twirl and wobble around the rink as songs like “Uptown Girl” plays — getting a little activity in before the clock strikes midnight. The ice rink closes at 11 p.m.
— Emerson Drewes
8:30 p.m.
Almost Times Square…
Lisa Heffernan and Tim Klacick are spending their first New Year’s Eve together as a couple and wanted to make it memorable.
While standing on line for The Bar at Times Square inside New York New York, the duo said they purposely chose this place to grab a drink because of the obvious connection to the New York City destination. They planned to have a drink at 9 p.m. in Las Vegas as the ball dropped in Times Square at midnight in the Big Apple.
— David Danzis
8:15 p.m.
Get-ups celebrate the old and new
Inside the Grand Canal Shoppes near The Venetian, the famous canal rides don’t appear to be available today.
Elsewhere, it’s a costume party. The Voltaire is hosting a “Great Gatsby” themed party, with a line out the door of people dressed in vintage suits and many, many sequins.
One line of particularly well-dressed couples is strictly for VIP and “Jay Gatsby tables.”
— Alan Halaly
8:05 p.m.
Here for the party - and the dumplings
Aubrianna Reudter and Miguel Delgadallio are visiting from Wendover, a town of about 1,200 on the border of Utah and Nevada. The couple decided to visit Vegas for New Year’s Eve and to enjoy the food.
“I’m a foodie,” she said. “I’m looking forward to soup dumplings tomorrow.”
— Jessica Hill
8 p.m.
Las Vegas Boulevard now open to pedestrians
Las Vegas Boulevard has opened up to pedestrians for the night. keep people from completely crossing the road in some sections, except for cross streets including the intersection at Flamingo Boulevard. Partygoers lingered in the middle of the intersection, using the opportunity to take plenty of photos with casinos in the background.
— Katelyn Newberg
7:50 p.m.
High expectations from Ohio visitor
Donning New Year’s Eve sunglasses, Jamie Peagler of Dayton, Ohio, walked down the Fremont Street Experience with her cousin.
Peagler said she is a “regular” Vegas visitor, but Tuesday was her first time celebrating New Year’s Eve in Sin City.
“So far, I’m not impressed,” she said of the Fremont Street Experience. The music isn’t great, she said, and she had to pay $65 to enter.
Peagler prefers old Vegas and likes staying at the Golden Nugget. She loves everything about Vegas but joked that she couldn’t live here because she likes to gamble.
— Jessica Hill
7:40 p.m.
‘More people here than I’ve ever seen’
Charlene and Byron Babbel of St. George, Utah, were waiting to see Creed in concert at Caesars Palace on Tuesday night. The two stood with a small crowd waiting for the Colosseum to open before the show started at 9 p.m.
The concert will mark the first time the band has played in Las Vegas in 12 years, according to a poster advertising the show.
The couple said they like to go to concerts together, and they traveled to the Las Vegas show to celebrate their recent 37-year wedding anniversary.
“There’s more people here than I’ve ever seen,” Charlene Babbel said about the crowds, adding that she still wanted to catch the fireworks after the show.
— Katelyn Newberg
7:40 p.m.
Calm before the party on north Strip
With nightclubs not open until 10 p.m., foot and gambling traffic are low at Resorts World and Fontainebleau. Most restaurants have open tables, and bars are far from packed at both locations.
Once respective clubs open, Zouk and LIV, things will start to ramp up, with Fontainebleau’s almost sold out. T-Pain is headlining at Zouk and Tiesto at LIV.
— Emerson Drewes
7:10 p.m.
Dressing for the occasion downtown
Las Vegas resident Steve Arthur stood at the front of a stage on Fremont Street listening to the DJ as the crowd began to filter in for a night of music.
Arthur, dressed in a long blue tailcoat and top hat, said it his first time celebrating New Year’s Eve on Fremont Street. He said he is looking forward to having fun and making memories at the Fremont Street Experience tonight. He said he likes dressing up in unique outfits every week.
— Jessica Hill
7:10 p.m.
Las Vegas Boulevard closed but still off limits to pedestrians
Las Vegas Boulevard has been fully shut down in front of the Bellagio and Paris casinos. But that doesn’t mean pedestrians are allowed into the street. Several Metropolitan Police Department cars were patrolling the road, with officers telling people to get back onto the sidewalk if they try to jaywalk or walk in the traffic lanes.
— Katelyn Newberg
7 p.m.
Party about to get started on Fremont Street
Partygoers at Fremont Street Experience are lining up to get inside the closed, canopied street for a night of music performances.
The street was closed off from 6 to 7 p.m. for a security sweep. On the screen canopy, a yellow alert advised attendees to exit.
— Jessica Hill
7 p.m.
North Strip traffic ‘not bad’
People walking north toward Fontainebleau and Circus Circus are practically going against traffic heading south toward Caesars Palace and the Venetian.
Traffic on the north Strip is “not bad,” according to vendor Adriana Macias in front of Circus Circus.
“People park on this side (north) and walk down (south),” said Macias. “All of the fireworks are down that way, so everyone wants to be down there.”
— Emerson Drewes
7 p.m.
Mild winter night forecast, but bring a coat
Revelers can expect a mild, seasonable winter night in Las Vegas. According to the National Weather Service, midnight is forecast to be around 45 degrees. Expect light winds and few clouds over head.
— McKenna Ross
6:50 p.m.
K-9 officers on patrol, glass bottles banned
A K-9 officer was seen patrolling the casino floor of Mandalay Bay, one of several noticeable security precautions on the property.
Signs at the entrance of the property inform guests of prohibited items, which include strollers, backpacks, glass bottles and coolers. The signs also tell visitors about Clark County ordinances in effect for the night, which includes a total ban of glass bottles on Las Vegas Boulevard between the hours of 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 and 6 a.m. on Jan. 1.
Just a friendly reminder posted at the entrance/exits of Mandalay Bay for NYE in #Vegas
- No glass bottles on the Strip between 6pm/6am
-No backpacks
-No strollers@reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/Bj4BgxRA0l— David Danzis (@AC2Vegas_Danzis) January 1, 2025
— David Danzis
6:40 p.m.
Elevated security presence felt on Strip
Throughout Harrah’s and the Linq Promenade, security officers in bright yellow uniforms are posted at every casino entrance and are roaming the properties. Metro officers are present, too, doing routine sweeps in groups of three.
It’s not all tense, however: One security officer stepped away from his pack of officers to help take a group photo for tourists in front of an outdoor Christmas tree.
— Alan Halaly
6:32 p.m.
Canadian makes most of Vegas trip
Amit Bagga, a Vancouver, B.C., resident, traveled to Las Vegas for the first time to celebrate the new year with his family before traveling home to Canada on New Year’s Day.
He explored casinos on the Strip during his visit and is looking forward to the Fremont Street Experience events.
— Jessica Hill
6:30 p.m.
Music, acrobatics on display near Bellagio
A group of performers put on a show for a crowd of people outside the Bellagio around 6:30 p.m. Several men break-danced and performed acrobatics while joking with the crowd. Performer Oussama Acousta finished the set by jumping over five crouched men, as tourists cheered and clapped.
Robert Smith, who runs the group Cya Fam Entertainment, said he’s been performing up and down the Strip for the past decade. Tuesday’s show was “pretty crazy,” as the Strip started to get more crowded, he said.
Smith said his New Years’s resolution is to start a dance studio in town.
— Katelyn Newberg
6:15 p.m.
Container Park provides family friendly venue
Families hang out at the Container Park on Fremont Street and listen to a live reggae band, as children play on the jungle gym and build blocks in the lawn.
Families are hanging out and listening to some reggae at the Container Park, down the street from Fremon Street Experience. @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/HlbzCag1fY
— Jessica Hill (@jess_hillyeah) January 1, 2025
— Jessica Hill
6 p.m.
Crowds starting to gather on central Strip
Crowds are beginning to form in the center of the Strip, with vendors selling blinking top hats, glasses and balloons, while families pause to take photos in front of the Flamingo and Caesars Palace. Just outside an entrance to the Bellagio, two guitarists and a tuba player perform in Spanish and English, collecting tips from a small crowd.
— Katelyn Newberg
5:54 p.m.
Busy evening for Strip vendors
Vanice Bowie greets customers in front of Reunited Luxury, a used luxury bag store, before it closes inside Resorts World at 7 p.m.
“This is the busiest I’ve seen it since working on this property a month ago,” said Bowie. “Since the holiday season, this week has been the busiest.”
With the tourism traffic, with an estimated 400,000 arriving in Las Vegas just for the celebration, people are eager to spend. This week alone, Bowie said “a couple people” have bought the coveted Hermes Birkin Bag, which can run customers $40,000 unused.
Other than success at Reunited Luxury, Resorts Worlds retail offerings are quiet before celebrations ramp up closer to midnight.
— Emerson Drewes
5:45 p.m.
Security sweep clears early birds from Fremont Street
Early partygoers at the Fremont Street Experience began filtering out of the covered street for a security sweep from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Police officers roamed drinking Red Bulls and coffee, preparing for a long night, while New Year’s Eve celebrators carried Coronas and the popular long tube drinks.
The Experience will host performances throughout the night leading to midnight, with Flo Rida expected to close out.
— Jessica Hill
5:45 p.m.
Saxophone duo rocks Harrah’s
Plenty of drunken clapping and shoulder shimmying will be the norm inside Harrah’s tonight at its small and casual Piano Bar.
Performers Michael Brown and Kent Johnson, known as the Saxman Duo, are performing hits such as “Uptown Funk” and “Brick House.” Clad in all-white clothes and bathed in purple stage lights, the musicians are keeping crowds lively early in the evening.
“On the count of three, say happy new year,” Johnson shouted at a few dozen onlookers, adding that the crowd needed an energy boost. “Don’t worry, we’ll be here all night.”
— Alan Halaly
5:30 p.m.
Road closures to begin
Interstate 15 off-ramps at Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road will close to traffic at 5:30 p.m., as crews prep to close the Strip. The off-ramps at Russell and Spring Mountain roads will remain open to traffic throughout New Year’s Eve.
The main party Tuesday night will be on the Strip, where the largest crowd will pack a portion of Las Vegas Boulevard shut down to vehicle traffic, as partygoers enjoy the atmosphere ahead of a planned eight-minute fireworks show, with pyrotechnics fired from the rooftops of nine resorts starting at midnight.
Officials will begin to close the Strip at 6:30 p.m., with the full shutdown expected to occur before 8 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Police Department. The Strip will be closed to vehicles between Spring Mountain and Reno Avenue, just south of Tropicana.
The Nevada Highway Patrol is reminding everyone to plan ahead and make responsible choices. Troopers will be out in force on New Year’s Eve in an effort to stop impaired drivers. In addition, the Regional Transportation Commission will offer free bus rides from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.
— Mick Akers
More Las Vegas New Year’s Eve 2024:
-New Year’s Eve 2024 in Las Vegas: A guide to concert, fireworks and parties
-Where to watch NYE fireworks in Las Vegas
-Las Vegas traffic on New Year’s Eve
