America's Party: Las Vegas New Year's Eve 2016
This year's spectacular fireworks show theme will be "On Top of The World" and will feature a special tribute in the finale to Frank Sinatra. The show will clock in at 8 minutes and 18 seconds. Fireworks, done by Grucci, will be shot off seven hotel rooftops along the Las Vegas Strip. They are (north to south):
- Stratosphere
- Venetian
- Treasure Island
- Caesars Palace
- Planet Hollywood
- Aria
- MGM Grand
Best vantage points
The best fireworks viewing locations are near the hotels who are launching them. You'll get even better views if you can get up higher at rooftop bars, clubs and restaurants. For example Drai's pool deck has a great view of Caesars's fireworks, while the Cosmopolitan's roof top ice rink lets you see the fireworks of Planet Hollywood. The Stratosphere Tower parties give you a prime spot for seeing the fireworks across the Strip. Even just going up a few stories will improve your view.
Downtown Countdown
Toast the New Year during the Downtown Countdown Dec. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. at the Fremont Street Experience. The street party is themed TributePalooza and features 13 of the world’s greatest tribute bands including: 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).
Schedule
4:00 p.m.– The Fremont Street Experience, the pedestrian mall will be closed to the public
5:00 p.m.– The Fremont Street Experience gates open for ticketed guests with valid event wristbands.
Concert Time: 5:30pm - 3:30am
Tickets
Tickets: $30 through Dec. 25, 2015. After Dec. 25th tickets are $40. Tickets can be purchased online, in-person at any of the Fremont Street Experience member hotel-casinos, or at the event gates on Dec. 31.
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 Fremont Street Experience member hotel-casinos, or at the event gates on Dec. 31.
Things to consider
It's going to be freezing! Temps are supposed to be in the low 30s that night. So bundle up.
It also helps to have a plan 3 or 4 hours before midnight. If you plan to celebrate indoors, remember once it hits 11:00pm all the hotels stop letting people in. They re-open their doors around 12:30am. Actually it's their way of keeping the crowds inside the casino within occupancy limits set by the Clark County Fire Department. You don't want to find yourself stuck outside and have to use the bathroom.
If you are going to the Strip, get there early, around 5 or 6 p.m. Earlier if possible because they will close the strip down around 6 p.m.
Just because you are in Las Vegas doesn't mean there are no laws. Take a minute to read the Las Vegas New Years Eve Ordinances to understand what you can and cannot get away with. The cops here do not play and the famous, "I'am a tourist" excuse does not work for them.
Beware of the city's general curfew and the Fremont Street area curfew. Anyone under 18 years old must now be accompanied by an adult.
Transportation
The Las Vegas Monorail will be the only public transportation operating on the strip. Trains will be running until 3 a.m. Jan. 1.
Bus Routes 201 (Tropicana Avenue), 202 (Flamingo Road), and 203 (Spring Mtn. Road / Desert Inn Road / Lamb Blvd) will provide the closest possible access to the Strip but will not stop on the Strip.
If you are planing to get to a particular hotel on the Strip after the strip closure, here are buses and New Years Eve bus stops close to the Vegas strip.
All other streets, roads and alleys leading Westbound onto Las Vegas Blvd (Strip) between Sahara Avenue and Mandalay Bay Road from Koval Lane will be closed at 5:45 p.m..
All streets, roads and alleys leading onto Las Vegas Blvd (Strip) between Sahara Ave. and Mandalay Bay Road will be closed with all barricades in place at 6:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) along with all inbound roads leading onto Las Vegas Blvd. will be fully closed to vehicle traffic at 6:30 p.m.
Moving walkways, escalators and elevators on the Vegas Strip are set to be turned off at 6:30 p.m. Las Vegas Boulevard fully opens to pedestrian traffic at 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy, drink responsibly, have fun and Happy New Year!!
