Watching Fort Lauderdale's New Year's Eve Fireworks from the Water
A guide to the events and locations for this year's New Year's Eve fireworks in downtown Ft. Lauderdale

Posted Friday, December 30, 2011

 


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The City of Fort Lauderdale is gearing up for the Fort Lauderdale Orange Bowl Downtown Countdown, the annual premier New Year’s Eve celebration. Touted as one of the largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in Florida, this year’s free 11-hour street festival is full of fun and excitement for both children and adults. An estimated 100,000 revelers will crowd downtown Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, December 31 from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. along S.W. 2nd Street between S.W. 2nd and S.W. 5th Avenues to wait with anticipation for the lighted ball to drop at midnight.

The spectacular celebration will feature a variety of activities for the whole family from 4 to 8 p.m. including bounce houses/inflatables, face painting and games, contests and line dancing with the DJ, as well as an early ball lighting countdown at 7 p.m. There will also be a special guest appearance by Obie, the Orange Bowl Mascot between 6 to 8 p.m., so make sure you have your cameras ready.

The Big City Dogs kick off the live music at 7:45 p.m. on the main stage located at S.W. 2nd Street and S.W. 5th Avenue. Known for their classic rock genre, revelers don’t want to miss music by the likes of the Allman Brothers, Moody Blues, BB King, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and the Blues Brothers – just to name a few.

Just when you thought you’ve danced until you drop, Groove Line, one of South Florida’s premier party bands, picks up where Big City Dogs left off. Groove Line is one of the top dance and party bands in South Florida with a mix of songs from the 50’s to today’s top 40. Groove Line will continue to rock the crowd until the ball drops and the fireworks shine at midnight!

You might be wondering, where can I watch the fireworks from the water? Well, since the party is downtown, really the only way to do this is if you have a boat docked on the New River. Chances are there will be a lot of boat traffic so anchoring is really impossible (it's never possible to anchor on the New River!).

On the east stage located at S.W. 2nd Street and S.W. 2nd Avenue, partygoers can jam to Tuxedo Jesus, a cover rock band, beginning at 7:45 p.m.

Revelers should make their way to the main stage by 11:45 p.m. for the midnight ball drop - it will be elbow room only! City officials will count out 2011 and usher in 2012 as the Downtown Countdown ball drops. At midnight, a five-minute pyrotechnic display will brilliantly illuminate the sky above Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Bursts of custom-mixed colors light up the night sky as confetti descends on partygoers. And the band plays on . . .

The City of Fort Lauderdale reminds everyone to celebrate responsibly. Two taxi stands will be available at the City of Fort Lauderdale Orange Bowl Downtown Countdown:

• East: S.W. 1st Avenue just north of S.W. 2nd Street
• West: S.W. 2nd Street and S.W. 5th Avenue in front of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.