After taking a year off, the fireworks will return on New Year’s Eve at the Space Needle.
But organizers are urging the public to watch virtually or from afar.
“There’s no viewing at the Seattle Center, so no crowds are permitted,” said Karen Olson, chief operating officer for the Space Needle.
Olson attributed the decision to the rise in COVID-19 cases across the region.
Olson said because they cannot check vaccination cards — given the wide, outdoor space — they have not been permitted to allow crowds on New Year’s Eve.
Instead of watching from Seattle Center, you can watch in person from one of these locations that are hosting New Year’s Eve guests.
Olson said the fireworks and light show will start one minute before midnight and extend for nearly 10 minutes.
The show will include mixed-reality digital effects that will synchronize to the fireworks and lighting effects.
Olson said they believe it’ll be the first live fireworks show to be augmented live.
Crews were hindered by snow in Seattle earlier this week, but said they’re playing catch-up and the show will go on as scheduled on New Year’s Eve.
“Snow and ice has put kind of a final asterisk or curveball on a year of asterisks and curveballs.”
While there are other events at Seattle Center on New Year’s Eve, including a comedy show featuring Dave Chappelle, Olson said organizers have staggered the exits to avoid people congregating during the fireworks.
Olson said the fence set up at Seattle Center is a pyrotechnic exclusion zone for the engineers on-site.
With more snow headed for Seattle late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, city officials are urging the public to hunker down through the weekend.
“With both the rise of cases and hazardous road conditions, if you don’t need to travel, don’t travel. If you don’t need to gather, don’t gather,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan in a statement.
The office of the Mayor said that all six warming shelters will remain open through the New Year.
“There’s no programming on site [on Seattle Center grounds] and if it’s super cold, I think people want to stay home and see all the thrills, without the chills,” said Olson.
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