Austin's New Year

Entertainment Schedule

7 pm - midnight: details TBA! 

Midnight - Public countdown to 2025 and fireworks

ADA-accessible, paid parking will be available in:

• One Texas Center - enter via Haywood Avenue off Riverside Drive 
• Palmer Event Center - Barton Springs Road entrance 
• RiverSouth Garage - 425 West Riverside Drive
• City Hall Garage - entrance on Guadalupe north of 2nd Street
• State Garage N - 300 San Antonio St.

CapMetro Rail service will operate late on December 31 (New Year's Eve), running until after 2 a.m. The last train will leave Downtown Station at 2:22 a.m. Bus routes will operate regular service and Night Owls will run from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Please use the CapMetro Trip Planner to find your best transit option.

Bike parking is available at on site bike racks at the park.  Don't forget your bike lock!

A guide to additional transportation and parking options is available at our Getting Around Austin page and on our Trail Directory page for those wishing to explore hike and bike opportunities.

Road Closures

Roads in and around the event will progressively close on event day for the safety of attendees. Details TBA.

Lake Closures

Lady Bird Lake will be closed from 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31 until approximately 1:00 a.m. Jan. 1 for safety purposes. The area between the west edge of the South 1st Street Bridge and the rail trestle bridge is closed to all watercraft. 

• Make a plan to get to the event - consider using public transportation options outlined in the transportation section. Pick a designated driver to and from any event during the holiday season!
• Bring a small flashlight to use if traveling on the hike and bike trail.
• Dress appropriately for weather and park conditions, including outdoor footwear and layers, as needed.
• Bring a blanket or collapsible single seat chair to relax in while enjoying food and beverages purchased from on-site vendors.
• Leave pets, alcohol, fireworks/sparklers, smoking materials and similar items at home.

ADA & Access Information

Parking - ADA parking is available in adjacent garages (see the Transportation and Parking section).  There are ADA accessible sidewalks from all posted garages to the park site. 

CapMetro MetroAccess will have a drop off location for those who schedule services.  Contact CapMetro directly.

Navigating to the Park - Depending on which garage and garage exit is utilized, travel path distances range from 500 feet to 1400 feet for garages south of Lady Bird Lake. From Riverside Drive sidewalks, there are transitions or ramps onto the park turf on the east or west street curb cuts onto park grounds.

Park Conditions - the park consists of sidewalks, granite, concrete and turf areas. While in the park, the largest surface encountered will be turf. Stability of the turf can vary depending on weather (rain) conditions. The main lawn at the park is approximately 500 feet long by 500 feet wide.

ADA accessible portable restrooms are on site for all event attendees.

Sensory Overview: Event guests can expect loud amplified sound from the bands and announcements, stage lighting including strobe lights, moving spot lights, and loud percussive sounds form the fireworks display

Personal rides, push services or personal care services are not available on site.

Allowed:

• Baby strollers
• Blankets (no tarps or sheet plastic)
• Collapsible single seat chairs and collapsible covers
• Small, lunch-sized coolers (no alcohol allowed in the park, and no outside beverages except for those required for childcare or for a medical purposes)
• Personal cameras, including digital cameras, DSLR's with stock lenses, point-and-shoot cameras and traditional film cameras
• Small wagons
• Trained Service Animals aiding a person with a disability  (therapy or comfort animals are not allowed)
• Umbrellas - Hand-held style

Prohibited:

• Aircraft
• Drones
• Alcohol
• Confetti, confetti cannons, glitter and similar - it is harmful to wildlife and gets stuck in park turf
• Costumes covering the entire face - festive glasses and hats are encouraged!
• Fireworks/sparklers/explosives of any kind
• Flagpoles, posts or any type of item consider a projectile
• Glass containers
• Illegal substances
• Large bags (frame backpacks, suitcases, rolling bags) - all bags are subject to search
• Pets and animals - fireworks scare and are triggering to many pets 
  
  • Trained service dogs aiding a person with a disability are allowed - please heed the fireworks warning
  • Therapy or comfort animals are not allowed
• Remote controlled aircrafts/drones/cars
• Skateboards, scooters or other personal motorized devices/vehicles on park grounds, except for mobility assistive devices for a person with a disability
• Smoking/vaping activity (Class C Misdemeanor)
• Styrofoam
• Tents
• Vendors/merchandise without permits - a permit is required to sell food, drink or merchandise from a park, street or sidewalk
• Weapons/Knives - a person may not carry or possess a weapon or firearm while in a park, except as allowed by state or federal law ( full text: Austin Park Rules)

About Austin's New Year

Austin’s New Year celebration began in 2006 as “First Night Austin” – a unique celebration of local culture, community, and arts. First Night Austin entertained and artfully delighted the Austin community showcasing more than 80 art organizations over 14 blocks of downtown and culminating with a midnight fireworks show. Since 2010, Austin's New Year has been set at iconic Auditorium Shores where Austinites have enjoyed live music, food, and a family-friendly environment with a sense of Austin local flare. The evening and the calendar year is complete after lighting up the night sky with a spectacular display of fireworks.

The Austin’s New Year event is owned by the City of Austin and produced in partnership with Blue Norther Live.

2023

Ring in 2024 at the City of Austin's New Year Celebration

CNN Central Time Zone rings in the New Year from Auditorium Shores in Austin, Texas

2022

Austin's New Year 2022

2022 Fireworks Finale Video Clip

2021

2021 Fireworks Finale Video Clip

2020

Austin's New Year - 2020 - Virtual Celebration - taped around Austin's live music venues the City celebration virtually with local artists.

2019

Fireworks Finale Video Clip

2016 Photos

2014 Photos

2013 Photos

2011

ATXN Video