Still not sure how to best celebrate New Year's Eve tonight?

How about free fireworks, a communal countdown to midnight, and a ball drop on Market Square?

In less than five hours, you can officially start saying good riddance to 2015 and welcome in 2016 with a festive, family-friendly downtown crowd.

The grand finale to 2015 Christmas in the City includes fireworks, music, a ball drop and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” - and, of course, plenty of well wishes, horn tooting and earnestly-pledged New Year's resolutions.

Music, courtesy of WNOX 93.1 FM, begins at 9 p.m., and a big screen will be showing images of memorable events from 2015. The countdown begins at 11:55 p.m., with a ball drop and fireworks at the stroke of midnight.

The Holidays on Ice skating rink will be open from 1 p.m. until midnight today. (On Friday, New Year’s Day, the ice rink will be open from 1-9 p.m.)
 


Restaurants on Market Square will be open this evening and offering special New Year’s Eve entrees, but there will not be any mobile food vendors or alcohol sales on the square outside of restaurants.
 
“The New Year’s Eve celebration is the 2015 Christmas in the City grand finale,” says Judith Foltz, the City’s Director of Special Events. “If you’re looking for a family-friendly celebration, this one literally packs a big bang.

“Everyone loves the countdown, the ball drop and ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ And then there’s the kicker – midnight fireworks!”

Visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/christmas for more details on New Year’s Eve on the Square. The event is free, as is parking at any downtown City-owned garages.