Space Needle Unveils Hybrid 2021 New Year's Eve Fireworks Plans

SEATTLE — The annual New Year's Eve fireworks show is returning to the Space Needle this year for the first time in two years, but the usual Seattle Center crowds will remain absent.

Organizers detailed the plans for this year's show earlier in the week, announcing a blend of live pyrotechnics and "augmented reality" tailored for television viewing. The Space Needle partnered with Bellevue-based Lightspeed Design to create animations that will be overlayed onto the real show and broadcast on KING 5 and digital streams.

"This year's show will be a stunning and uniquely-blended mixed reality, best seen on your screen," said Karen Olson, the Space Needle's chief operating and marketing officer. "We've assembled a multi-disciplined team of artists and technologists to create a one-of-a-kind enhanced fireworks presentation with a tightly integrated combination of real and augmented imagery. The show will be magical and playful, filled with images for our neighborhoods, artists, culture, music, and — most importantly — our optimistic future."

2021 marks the ninth year for the T-Mobile New Year's at the Needle, and the Seattle landmark will be lit in customary magenta on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31.

While no festivities are planned on the Seattle Center grounds, an official watch party is planned at the nearby Queen Anne Beerhall. For those living elsewhere, the fireworks show complete with digital effects will be broadcast live on KING 5 and KONG and streamed on KING's website.

Read more on the Space Needle's official event page.