New Bedford
New Year’s Celebration
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Celebrate New Year’s Eve With Our City
New Bedford is the ideal spot to celebrate the upcoming New Year for you and your family. Our festivities take place early in the night and feature family-friendly activities for all ages – along with a spectacular firework display lighting up the sky over the harbor.
Experience the fun this New Year’s Eve as we say goodbye to the past and welcome the new year ahead.
An Enchanting Night of Free Entertainment
Our New Year’s celebrations are truly unique. Each year surpasses the previous one, showcasing an array of entertainment and activities—from live music and magicians to fire spinning. Our festivities always deliver excitement.
This year’s lineup offers fun for families with children of all ages, along with programming for adults looking to unwind with live jazz in the beautiful lobby of the New Bedford Harbor Hotel. Enjoy delicious meals and quick bites from local restaurants and food trucks as you explore the various entertainment venues throughout downtown.
Event Lineup:
City Celebrates New Year’s Eve programming is family-friendly, free, and open to the public. Entertainment runs between 5:00 and 8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 31st. Check the schedule below for exact times at each venue.
Programming not listed here may require entrance fees or tickets and are not part of the City Celebrates New Year’s Eve lineup.
Toe Jam Puppet Band
5:15 – 7:15 PM | New Bedford Whaling Museum
The lively Toe Jam Puppet Band will be in the Jacobs Family Gallery, bringing the family-friendly party to life with interactive silly songs, dancing, and fun for all ages.
Dance Party w/ DJ Gazelle
5:00 – 7:00 PM | The Vault Performing Arts Center & Pub
Dance the night away with LED characters and Spiderman to family-friendly tunes with DJ Gazelle from Fun107! A photo booth will be on-site for a free digital photo.
Sing Karaoke w/ DJ Fuzzy Slippaz
6:00 – 8:00 PM | PLAY Arcade (Outside)
We’re shutting down the bottom of Union Street so you can hang outside and sing your heart out to family-friendly karaoke songs.
Cirque de Light Fire Spinning and Dancing
5:00 – 8:00 PM | Custom House Square
Watch in awe as performers dance, spin, and breathe fire.
Buttonwood Brass Band
6:00 – 10:00 PM | 222 Union Restaurant and Bar at New Bedford Harbor Hotel
Enjoy a cozy lounge, cocktails, and a special menu while listening to an ensemble play jazz, classical, and the great American songbook.
Likewise, I’m Sure
5:00 – 8:00 PM | Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center
Unwind to the tunes of this 4 piece band of multi-instrumentalists featuring fiddles, banjo, cello, bass, and accordion. Enjoy a mix of original songs and some traditional material in the theater at the visitor center.
Fireworks Display
8:30 PM | New Bedford Harbor
The City Celebrates Fireworks Display is launched from the harbor. The bottom of Union Street is closed off for prime viewing. Grab a bite from a nearby restaurant or the food trucks in the YMCA parking lot and cozy up with family and friends.
Food Trucks:
In addition to our great restaurants in New Bedford, we’ll have food trucks available from 5:00 – 10:00 PM.
Carter’s Parking Lot
BBQYMAS
Fancheezical
Piononos
Uncle Joey’s Cannoli
YMCA Parking Lot
Berry Sweets
Blount Clam Shack
Tandoori
Adobe Republic
Restrooms
In addition to restrooms at each entertainment venue, there will be portable restrooms available at the City of New Bedford municipal parking lot at the corner of Union Street and Water Street.
City Celebrates New Year’s Eve is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Bristol County Savings Bank.
