With New Year's Eve kicking off a long-holiday weekend this year, it was announced that firework displays will return to famed Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas Events and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced today that the New Year’s Eve celebration known as America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2010 will include a spectacular fireworks show fired from seven rooftop locations along the Las Vegas Strip.
The firing locations (from the south, heading north) include the following resort properties: MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island (TI), Venetian and the Stratosphere.
Fireworks by Grucci of New York will again coordinate the pyrotechnic display. Locally, Fireworks by Grucci has produced many of Las Vegas’ largest special events and grand openings, including the official Las Vegas Centennial celebration.
In addition to designing the pyrotechnic display, Fireworks by Grucci will work directly with the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services to ensure both fire and structural safety guidelines.
“We are moving the fireworks show back to where it should be,” said LVE President Pat Christenson. “Fireworks by Grucci, the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services and the individual resort properties have worked tirelessly since January of this year to address the fire and structural safety issues associated with firing the show from the rooftops. Our goal each year is to design a show that is befitting of this city and provides a great backdrop for the thousands of revelers on the Strip.”
According to the LVCVA, Las Vegas hosts several hundred thousand visitors for New Year’s Eve.
"Las Vegas continues to be the best venue in the world to ring in the New Year," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the LVCVA. "The fireworks will culminate an evening of celebrity-hosted events at nightclubs, special dining experiences at restaurants, live music at the Fremont Street Experience downtown and much more. There is no other destination that offers the excitement on New Year's Eve."
The pyrotechnic show will display the letters LV along with such effects as blue comets, a golden kamuro, silver palm trees and multicolored peacock tails.
Las Vegas Events president Pat Christenson said this year’s events will take on a theme called “Takin’ it to the Streets” with fireworks that will be fired from ground locations mainly on the Strip, rather than casino rooftops, which had been the tradition in previous years.
“It was partially to get people down to the Strip but also it was to redesign the show, do something different," Christenson said. "Also, in terms of shooting off the rooftops, it was getting more and more difficult to meet the requirements Clark County had."
Rather than having spectators strain their necks by looking up, they’ll be able to look directly out and see the firework display, Christenson said. However, the fireworks won't be visible to those at locations off the Strip.
More than 30,000 effects will be fired from eight locations during the eight-minute, 10-second program.
Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience party will feature "TributePalooza," a collection of classic rock acts playing the music of Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2 and Van Halen. FSE will also have a live fireworks show. The event begins at 6 p.m. and there is a $10 charge for locals. The event was free last year.
"It's a nominal fee. It won't break anybody," Goodman said. "The priority is to have a great party."
Residents will receive free admission downtown with a Nevada ID. Wristband distribution for locals will begin at 10 a.m. Dec. 31 in the storefront next to Walgreens on Fremont Street. Gates will open at 6 p.m.
About 250,000 people are expected to be on the Strip, with more than 30,000 downtown.
