SPOKANE, Wash. — Thousands of people are expected to gather at Riverfront Park Tuesday evening for one of the Inland Northwest’s largest New Year’s Eve celebrations, featuring fireworks, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.
The parks department estimates that 5,000 to 10,000 people will descend on Riverfront Park tonight as final preparations are underway across the region to welcome 2026 with a bang. The celebrations kicked off with the winter light show at the Gesa Pavilion.
The highlight will be a fireworks display at 9 p.m., timed so kids are able to watch the show. Fireworks will be launched from two different locations within the park to provide optimal viewing for attendees.
“Every new year, it’s your opportunity to start afresh again,” said Jon Moog, director of Riverfront Park. “We had a fabulous year as a city together. We come down together, celebrate together and just welcome in a great new year and start again a refresh.”
Moog encouraged families to arrive early for the best experience. “It should be a great family experience. Come down here. You know, get here early. Get your spot. And that will be a great experience for family,” he said.
For those wanting to celebrate at the official local midnight, the pavilion will have another countdown that will go from 11 to 12.
The evening’s festivities include the winter light show at the pavilion, which will light up the sky until 10 p.m. At the Numerica Skate Ribbon, a live DJ will help get the party started at 6:30. The same DJ will serve as master of ceremonies for the fireworks show.
Several vendors will be stationed throughout the park for the New Year’s Eve celebration. Mark Epps, owner of Gypsy Java, is one of the vendors in prime location to watch the firework show.
“I guess to me, free entertainment, you know?” Epps said. “It’ll be really active tonight. Especially in this part.”
Many people plan to watch the fireworks light up the sky from locations beyond the park. Ben Marek said he and his family have wedding celebrations earlier in the evening but hope to watch the show.
“For New Year’s Eve this year, we have our lovely cousins getting married. And they’re married at five. So we’ll have, you know, we’ll be drinking cocktails and watching fireworks by nine,” Marek said.
Preparations for the evening’s events at Riverfront Park started early in the morning. No matter where people are watching the show from, they’ll all be ringing in the New Year together.
“Happy New Year,” Epps said.
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