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.
On Dec. 31, we gather at Auditorium Shores for free festivities, live music, and a fireworks display presented by Visit Austin and the City of Austin. The Austin’s New Year event is owned by the City of Austin and produced in partnership with Blue Norther Live. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Austin's New Year is free and open to the public - For everyone's safety, the event will feature secure entrances on the east and west ends of the park. All guests, including their belongings, will be subject to a search upon entry into the event.
Event Timing:
7 PM – Gates Open - Food, Beverages, and Vendors Open.
7 PM – The Point, Tameca Jones, Chaparelle, The Head and the Heart
11:40 PM - Austin’s New Year Drone Show presented by Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
12 AM - Fireworks
Austin's New Year is made possible by:
- Artists
-
Earlier this year, The Head and The Heart released their Verve Forecast album, Aperture. The album brings the band back to a DIY approach as it’s the first record self-produced by the band since their self-titled debut album in 2011. The band went on to appear and perform on ABC News, CBS Saturday, The TODAY Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Over the years, The Head and The Heart have established their status as a touring powerhouse, having landed prime time mainstage slots at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Following the release of the album, this past year saw the band tour North America and last month, The Head and The Heart announced that they will join 11x Grammy Award-winner Brandi Carlile on the road next year.
In a harmonious union, singer-songwriters Zella Day and Jesse Woods come together to reveal their highly anticipated collaboration, “Chaparelle”. Esteemed for their exceptional vocal prowess and celebrated contributions to their distinct genres, Zella and Jesse craft a musical tapestry that harkens back to legendary duets of icons like George and Tammy or Gram and Emmylou. This partnership channels the enduring allure of Country music’s golden age, weaving a melodic narrative that resonates with themes of love and the indomitable Texan essence.
Tameca Jones is an Austin, TX based singer and songwriter, whose expressive vocals earned her the title "Empress of Austin Soul" by her fans. She has shared stages with The Black Pumas, Gary Clark Jr, Leon Bridges, St Paul and the Broken Bones and other notable artists. In 2015, ahead of her 2016 Austin City Limits debut, she released her first single, "Hot and Bothered," heard in the 2021 movie, "The Marksman," starring Liam Neeson. She followed her festival debut with the 2016 release of her emotive single, "Sandman,” which gained a resurgence thanks to a placement in the Hulu show, "Black Cake.
Despite their influences ranging across the world, The Point. are a band that could only have started in Austin. Fusing psychedelia, Saharan guitar music, and cumbia with jam-band sensibilities, the trio creates a laid-back vibe that’s more than the sum of its parts. Their latest, Maldito Animal (Deluxe Edition), finds the band exploring new directions, the aural equivalent of a crate-digger showing off their collection, a panoply of taste culled into one source.
- Vendors
-
Arrive for dinner or look forward to a midnight snack or beverage - there will be vendors ready to satisfy your appetite!
- Closures
PARKING:
- Downtown Parking Information: austintexas.gov/paidparking
- Neighborhood NO PARKING restrictions are in effect. Signed “no parking areas” are actively enforced on event day(s).
PARKING GARAGES:
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORATION:
- Getting Around Austin
- CapMetro
- Get There ATX: Walk - Bike - Ride - Share
- Parks and Recreation Trail Directory
PARK ACCESS:
- Road closures will significantly affect public recreational use of the park during event hours.
- Park road closures are associated with this event.
- Due to the number of participants on site, and the nature of the activities, access to park areas, parking lots, waterway and/or docks are impacted during event hours.
- In addition, event set up activities will occur in advance such as infrastructure delivery and includes a significant amount of traffic in the park.
DOCK/RAMP IMPACTS:
- Due to the number of participants on site, and the nature of the activities, access to waterway and/or docks are impacted during event hours.
- SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PARK USE AREAS: Zilker Park, Duncan Park, Pease Park
- Off Leash Areas
ALERTS:
- Parking on the grass or on unauthorized park grounds during a special event is a $250 parking fine.
- Illegal vending or commercial activity is a Class C Misdemeanor with a minimum $200 fine.
- Glass, Styrofoam and Smoking are prohibited in all parks.
- Event Tips
-
- 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
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) INFORMATION:
- City of Austin Americans with Disabilities Program Office
- Request ADA Accommodations – To ensure a timely response and arrangements, please submit requests at least four (4) days before the event start date.
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 & Prohibited Items and Activities
-
For everyone's safety - All guests and their belongings will be subject to a search upon entry into the event
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)
- Austin’s New Year Made Possible By:
.png)
Austin’s New Year is a family friendly event and visitors 21+ who choose to enjoy alcoholic beverages should do so responsibly.
Please make plans to get home safe - alternative transportation options: