Boston New Year's 2019: First Night Guide

BOSTON, MA – For the second year in a row, icky weather could put on a damper on the First Night festivities in Boston. But at least this time you'll be wearing your raincoats instead of your parkas.

There will be a total of three fireworks displays tonight: one at 7 p.m. on the Boston Common and two at midnight in Boston Harbor and Copley Square.>> Watch them live here. Here's what you need to know about ringing in 2019 in Boston.

Schedule of Events

12:00pm

Sonika Vaid - Boston Public Library

DB Studios - Boston Public Library

Chu Ling Dance Academy - Copley Place Mall

12:15pm

Puppet Showplace Theater - Boston Public Library - McKim Building

12:30pm

Sweet Harmony - Copley Square

12:45pm

DB Studios - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

Kennedy Campbell - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

1:00pm

Puppet Showplace Theater - Boston Public Library - McKim Building

ImprovBoston - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

Handel & Haydn Society Jubilee Day Concert - Trinity Church

GBCCA: Arts & Crafts and Cultural Performances - Boston Public Library - McKim Building

1:15pm

Emily Ruskowski - Copley Square

1:30pm

Sonika Vaid - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

Rhema Heywood - Copley Square

1:45pm

Emily Ruskowski - Copley Square

Puppet Showplace Theater - Boston Public Library - McKim Building

2:00pm

BJ Snowden - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

Four Shadow - Copley Square

Boston Sax Quartet - Copley Place Mall

2:15pm

ImprovBoston - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

2:30pm

Lamont Price - Copley Square

Puppet Showplace Theater - Boston Public Library - McKim Building

Responders - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

2:45pm

Alli Haber - Copley Square

3:00pm

Boston Sax Quartet - Copley Place Mall

The King of Instruments - Old South Church

3:15pm

Puppet Showplace Theater - Boston Public Library - McKim Building

DJ Music - Copley Square

3:30pm

ImprovBoston - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

3:45pm

Responders - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

Intelligent Television - Copley Square

4:00pm

BJ Snowden - Boston Public Library - Johnson Building

Organ Concert - First Church of Christ Scientist

4:30pm

Lamont Price - Copley Square

4:50pm

Paco - Copley Square

5:00pm

Busking Brothers - AT&T Boylston Store

5:30pm

Vocal Revolution - Copley Square

Frog Pond Skating Spectacular - Boston Common

6:00pm

People's Procession - Copley Square

6:30pm

Pipes and Pops Concert - Old South Church

7:00pm

Boston’s Family Fireworks Produced by The Mugar Foundation & The City of Boston - Boston Common>> Watch it live here.

7:45pm

STL GLD - Copley Square

8:00pm

Pipes and Pops Concert - Old South Church

8:30pm

Flight of Fire - Copley Square

9:00pm

Sonika Vaid - Copley Square

9:30pm

Menage - Copley Square

10:15pm

Single by Sunday - Copley Square

11:20pm

Chadwick Stokes and The Pintos - Copley Square

12:00am

Midnight Fireworks on the Harbor - Boston Harbor >> Watch it live here.

Chadwick Stokes and the Pintos - Copley Square>> Watch it live here.

First Night Copley Countdown – Midnight Pyrotechnics & Light Show - Copley Square >> Watch it live here.

Traffic Restrictions

On Monday, Dec. 31, Boylston Street, will be closed between Dartmouth Street and Charles Street from approximately 4 PM to 8 PM. Charles Street will be closed between Boylston Street and Beacon Street from approximately 5 PM to 8 PM.

Parking

“Tow Zone No Stopping Boston Police Special Event Sunday-Tuesday” parking restrictions will be in effect from Sunday, 12/30/18, through Tuesday, 1/1/19, as follows.

• Boylston Street, Copley Square side, from Dartmouth Street to Clarendon Street

“Tow Zone No Stopping Boston Police Special Event Monday 12:01AM–Tuesday 5:00AM” parking restrictions will be in effect from 12:01 AM on Monday, 12/31/18, through 5 AM on Tuesday, 1/1/19, as follows.

• Boylston Street, both sides, from Berkeley Street to Arlington Street

“Tow Zone No Stopping Monday” parking restrictions will be in effect on Monday, December 31, 2018 as follows.

• Arlington Street, both sides, from Beacon Street to Boylston Street
• Atlantic Avenue, east side, from East India Row to Commercial Street; west side, from Commercial Wharf to Cross Street
• Beacon Street, both sides, from Charles Street to Arlington Street
• Berkeley Street, both sides, from Boylston Street to Newbury Street
• Blagden Street, both sides, from Dartmouth Street to Exeter Street, not including the BPL parking zone
• Boylston Street, both sides from Exeter Street to Berkeley Street; Public Garden side, from Arlington Street to Charles Street
• Charles Street, Public Garden side, from Boylston Street to Beacon Street
• Charles Street South, odd side, from Park Plaza to Boylston Street
• Clarendon Street, north side, from Newbury Street to Boylston Street; Trinity Church side, from Boylston Street to Saint James Avenue
• Dartmouth Street, both sides, from St. James Avenue to Newbury Street
• Saint James Avenue, both sides, from Clarendon Street to Dartmouth Street
• Trinity Place, Copley Fairmont side, from Saint James Avenue to Stuart Street; both sides, from Stuart Street to the Clarendon Street Parking garage, at/ opposite #40 Trinity Place

MBTA

Fares will not be collected after 8 PM. All subway lines will operate on rush-hour schedules between 3 PM and 2 AM. Bicycles are prohibited on all inbound Commuter Rail trains 10 AM – 6 PM and on all outbound trains after 4 PM, in addition to regular weekday restrictions.

Most Commuter Rail lines have scheduled trains between 12:50 AM – 1:10 AM:

Weather

Forecasters are saying New Year's Eve festivities in the Boston area could be dampened by rain this evening, including during when the major fireworks displays are expected.

The National Weather Service said it will be dry during the day, but "rain will overspread the region during the evening." Weather.com said there is a 100 percent chance of roughly a half-inch of rain Monday.

There is a slight possibility of a wintry mix, but temperatures are expected to stay mild enough in the high 30s. Rain is expected to start picking up around 6-7 p.m., right around when the first fireworks display is set to begin.

The good news: the start of 2019 will be considerably warmer and drier. Tuesday is expected to be partly cloudy with temperatures in the high 50s.

Image via Shutterstock