There Will Be Live Fireworks at the Space Needle This New Year’s Eve

Photo by Julie Gentry, licensed under CCO Public Domain

The New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Space Needle will be a physical reality this year, unlike the virtual reality event of last year, but you won’t be able to enjoy them from the grounds of the Seattle Center.

Following the guidance of public health officials, crowds are not allowed to gather at the Seattle Center this year. There won’t be any public events at the Space Needle, and the Monorail’s last trip takes place before 10:30 p.m.

Instead, the live fireworks will be supplemented with a virtual show, similar to last year, but overlaid on the live fireworks. Of course, the best place to view the simultaneous virtual and live event is on a television. The show will be live on KING 5 TV or can be streamed on king5.com or their mobile app.

If you still want to gather with friends and don’t want to stay home, several taverns and bars around the area are holding special viewing events. Locations include South Lake Union, Kirkland, Redmond, and Bellevue. The official viewing party is being held at the Queen Anne Beerhall.

If you feel like braving the cold, there are several good viewing spots around the city, including some iconic spots, like Kerry Park, Gasworks Park, and Volunteer Park. Anywhere along the West Seattle waterfront, from Alki to Jack Block Park, offers excellent viewpoints. Curbed Seattle offers an interactive map of the best places to view the Space Needle from around the city.

The weather forecast calls for temperatures around 24 degrees Fahrenheit at midnight, so bundle up if you opt for an outdoor viewing. Luckily it will be dry, but there will still be plenty of snow on the ground.