First Night Boston 2024: Everything You Need To Know

It's almost impossible to believe that 2023 is over. I mean, wasn't it just yesterday that we were ringing in the new year? Time really does fly, and here we are getting ready to welcome 2024. What do you usually do? Hang out with family and/or friends at home? Hit the club? Maybe you're someone who wants to be out and about with lots of people and activities. Well if the last one is you, First Night Boston 2024 is probably for you. Here's everything you need to know this year. What is First Night Boston 2024? First Night Boston is the city's annual New Year's Eve celebrations. It was started in 1976 by artist Clara Wainwright. She wanted to give Boston-area musicians and artists, family-friendly places to perform, and also show their works at venues across the city. In 2015 it was made free and open to the public, and was meant to be a family-friendly event that people could come to in an alcohol-free environment. Where is First Night Boston held? This year, the event is making a move. It's moving from Copley Square to the newly refurbished City Hall Plaza. There will also be programming events happening around other areas in Boston, including the North End, Boston Common, and Back Bay. What to expect The First Night festivities get underway starting at noon on Sunday, December 31st. The fun continues through 12:30am on Monday, January 1st. The popular signature ice sculptures will be placed throughout City Hall Plaza, as well as the Boston Common. The parade returns this year starting at City Hall Plaza at 6pm, and ending at the Boston Common before 7pm. That's just in time for the early fireworks that take place at 7pm. The other fireworks display will take place at midnight at Boston Inner Harbor. You can get a complete schedule of events HERE. How to get there, and where to park The organizers are strongly recommending that people use the MBTA to and from the event. There are stops on the T's Green Line, Blue Line, and other bus lines. Visit mbta.com/holidays for schedule information. As far a parking, there aren't any specific event garages, but here are some close to City Hall: Center Plaza Garage, City Place Garage, Pi Alley Parking Garage, Dock Square Parking Garage, and Garage at Post Office Square. There is also Boston Common parking at Boston Common Garage. Street parking is extremely limited. They also recommend booking parking in advance through the SpotHero app. To reserve your parking spot, visit the First Night Boston SpotHero Parking Page. For any other info you may need, go to the First Night Boston website. https://www.firstnightboston.org/ice-sculptures/