Watch CBS News

Baltimore rings in 2025 with New Year's Eve celebration and fireworks show

Baltimore City rings in the New Year at the Inner Harbor
Baltimore City rings in the New Year at the Inner Harbor 02:16

BALTIMORE -- Baltimore rang in the new year with its annual New Year's Eve celebration and fireworks show over the Inner Harbor on Tuesday, December 31.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) and Baltimore City collaborated for a dazzling fireworks display to welcome 2025. The celebration got underway at 7 p.m. 

Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts looks forward to New Year's Eve countdown celebration 03:42

The festivities started at the Amphitheater Stage with music by DJ Oji. The NYE celebration also featured live music by The Experience, a band that fuses blues, rock, soul, funk and gospel. 

"We are really excited to be here," said Cockeysville resident Chamath Senevirathna. "I heard about this drone show and fireworks tonight. My kid is also very excited about that."

"I'm from New Jersey so I'm used to the New York vibe, so I came out here to enjoy how it is in Baltimore," added Willie White.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott led the New Year's countdown ahead of the fireworks show.

"Baltimore will be jumping just as big as the Big Apple," said Robyn Murphy, BOPA's interim board chair CEO. "We will be converging primarily down at Harborplace. The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts and the Mayor's Office are just doing all the things. There are two sections of fireworks so you will be able to have a great viewing experience if you are looking from the southeast or if you are looking from the northwest, or anywhere in between. There are lots of places where you will have great views of the fireworks."

Preparations for fireworks display

Crews over at Curtis Bay put the pieces together for Baltimore's New Year's Eve fireworks display.

"We've got the barge set up going on for New Year's Eve tonight," said Tim Small, the pyrotechnics director with Image Engineering.

Small said several mortar tubes with shells that were wrapped under plastic throughout the day make the show go off.

"This shell is going to be a silver spinning ring with a white strobe pistol," Small said. "So, that means it's going to go up and there's going to be a beautiful ring. It'll kind of give a little spin. Then, you'll see it kind of white strobing as it flitters out."

Small said he and his team hand-wired each shell into a firing system for the fireworks.

"We have to make sure the connection is read by the computer," Small said.

Without spoiling too much, Small said the 11-minute show will be high-energy and engaging.

"You might see a wave of colors that go throughout," Small said. "You'll see some cool shapes up in the sky this evening."

Turning over a new leaf in 2025

As 2024 comes to a close, some are preparing to turn over a new leaf in 2025.

"After a month of indulgence, eat more green things," said Kate O'Connor, who is visiting Baltimore with her husband Henry and her children.

"By doing what I'm doing right now, getting in shape," Edward Henson said. "Be healthy and wealthy."

At Federal Hill Park, several families enjoyed the last day of the year exercising, playing and, most importantly, gearing up for the big changes coming in the new year.

"We're actually looking at moving to the area," Henry O'Connor said. "So, we're thinking about what does that mean for us in terms of lifestyle changes."

"You gotta be prepared," Henson said. "You gotta be ready for the changes. There'll be a lot of changes."

O'Connor plans to stay home with her family on New Year's Eve.

"It might make me sound like a party pooper," she said. "I wouldn't mind going to bed before midnight."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.