The 8-minute-and-18-second fireworks salute to the end of 2015 and welcome to 2016 on the Las Vegas Strip has taken one year of planning. Our annual extravaganza widely hailed as one of the biggest and best in the world will be set this year to the music of Bruno Mars, Imagine Dragons and the late Michael Jackson.
More than 11,000 electrical circuits will be programmed to launch with lightning speed and precision with more than 80,000 pyrotechnic firings from seven hotel-casino rooftops.
For the first time, a new mobile app designed by Fireworks by Grucci will permit Strip revelers to follow the countdown to midnight and listen in to the synchronized music score during the explosions. Download the “Fireworks by Grucci” app for iPhone and Android.
Officials from Las Vegas Events and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority joined city leaders and executives from Fireworks by Grucci this morning at Fashion Show Plaza overlooking the Strip to announce the details for “America’s Party,” the citywide New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31.
From south to north, the firing locations are MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, the Venetian and Stratosphere. The NYE performance will start with 10 seconds of dramatic pyrotechnics rising up from the Stratosphere tower as the clock counts down to midnight.
Fireworks by Grucci technicians will choreograph the performance with the pop-music mix. After the countdown to midnight and, for some, the traditional kiss to “Auld Lang Syne,” Grucci will launch its state-of-the-art performance synchronized to its hit-filled “I’m on Top of the World” music mix.
The sky over the Strip will light up as bright as daylight with flashes, salutes and rapid-fire aerial shells to a soundtrack inspired by the seven participating venues, and a song will be dedicated to each, including “Hollywood” by Michael Jackson, “Treasure” by Bruno Mars and “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons.
Nobody is forgetting this was the 100th birthday year of Frank Sinatra, so the finale will pay tribute to the Chairman of the Board who put Las Vegas on the world entertainment map. His “Luck Be a Lady” will roar against stunning chrysanthemums and brilliant titanium flash salutes that rumble, rock and rattle the night sky.
“We are going to usher in 2016 as only Las Vegas can with celebrations and fireworks across the city,” Mayor Carolyn Goodman said in her official statement this morning. “From the fireworks out on the Las Vegas Strip to the party under the canopy on Fremont Street Experience and the excitement of Fremont East Entertainment District, Las Vegas is the place to ring in the New Year!”
Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson added in the news release: “ ‘America’s Party’ is one of Las Vegas’ memorable events. It is our goal each year to produce a world-class display that will amaze the thousands of revelers on the Strip and those watching around the world. A production of this magnitude would not be possible without the cooperation among LVCVA, Las Vegas Events, Fireworks by Grucci, Clark County Fire Department and Development Services & Fire Prevention, LVMPD, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and the individual resort properties.”
According to LVCVA, Las Vegas continues to be a big draw for NYE. “More than 330,000 visitors will ring in the New Year in Las Vegas because they know there is no better place to be,” said LVCVA Chairman and Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly.
“Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve is the perfect setting for ‘America’s Party,’ and we’re ready for another world-class celebration.”
“Designing shows for events like ‘America’s Party,’ performed on America’s greatest New Year’s Eve stage, the Las Vegas Strip, is perhaps the most thrilling and humbling experience one could have in this line of work,” said Phil Grucci, president and creative director of Fireworks by Grucci. “We take great pride in capturing the joy and electricity of the holiday through the unique artistry of pyrotechnic design. As we bid farewell to 2015 and welcome 2016 with joy and anticipation, we look forward to bringing the Las Vegas rooftops to life with revelry, music and the most spectacular fireworks in the country!”
It’s a round-the-clock, Dec. 30-Jan. 2 party downtown: Revelers can toast in the New Year during the Downtown Countdown New Year’s Eve 2016 Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. at Fremont Street Experience. This year, the ultimate New Year’s Eve street party is themed Tribute Palooza and features 13 of the world’s greatest tribute bands.
The tribute bands include Rio (Duran Duran), Generation Idol (Billy Idol), Fan Halen (Van Halen), No Duh (No Doubt), Red Not Chili Peppers (Red Hot Chili Peppers), The Rising (Bruce Springsteen), Police Experience (The Police), Rockin the Paradice (Styx), Wanted (Bon Jovi), The Who Generation (The Who), Pyromania (Def Leppard), Double Vision (Foreigner) and Don’t Look Back (Boston).
The Tribute Palooza celebration kicks off with a Dec. 30 pre-party featuring seven tribute bands under the FSE canopy. The headliner event is Dec. 31 with 13 bands featured. Then seven bands will continue the four-day party from Jan. 1-2. The concerts will begin at 5:30 p.m. on NYE and 5 p.m. on the other nights.
Admission to Downtown Countdown on New Year’s Eve is $30 per person when purchased online by Dec. 25. Beginning Dec. 26, tickets will be $40 per person and can be purchased online, in person at any of the FSE member hotel-casinos and event gates Dec. 31. NYE is the only night of the year when FSE has paid, ticketed admission. NYE admission is restricted to attendees ages 21 and older, and IDs will be checked at all entrances. To purchase tickets in advance: VegasExperience.com/NYE.
We bid farewell and perhaps good riddance to 2015 and welcome the New Year of 2016 with anticipation and hope for peace. Check back here at Vegas DeLuxe for NYE fireworks coverage.
SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun
