Download Photos

Fireworks Show Will Ring in New Year, Launched from Six Downtown Bridges from Franklin St. to Columbus Dr.

CHICAGO—Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced today the return of the New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular on the Chicago River to ring in 2025. In partnership with ART on THE MART, the New Year’s Eve celebrations will include a custom ART on THE MART projection, beginning Sunday, Dec. 31, at 10 p.m. leading up to a countdown to midnight projected onto THE MART’s massive façade.

At 11:55 p.m. a clock projected onto the façade of THE MART will begin the countdown to midnight, when the riverwalk will erupt in a fireworks display launched from a series of bridges along the river.

“New Year’s is a time when we gather with friends and family to reflect on what’s been and what’s yet to come,” said Mayor Johnson. “We’re inviting residents and visitors to come together along the Riverwalk and welcome the New Year with a celebration of what makes Chicago the most beautiful, iconic and vibrant city in the world.”

The fireworks show can be best viewed along the Chicago River from Upper Wacker Drive. Fireworks will be launched from the Orleans Street, La Salle Drive, Clark Street, Dearborn Street, State Street and Columbus Drive bridges spanning the Chicago River. To support the fireworks display, the following street closures are planned:

• Bridges will be closed to traffic and pedestrians at Orleans, La Salle, Clark, Dearborn, State & Columbus on December 31st from 11:45 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
• Note that additional streets and bridges may close as the countdown to midnight draws close
• Spectators are encouraged to use public transportation for the best experience.

“I’m thrilled we’re able to again bring back Chicago’s fireworks along the river to ring in the New Year,” said DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “It’s a fantastic spectacle worthy of our great city, and a way to turn the page on 2024 while we look forward to all that 2025 will offer. On behalf of all of us at the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special events, we also want to wish the best for you and yours in the upcoming year.”

Beginning at 10 p.m., ART on THE MART will present a selection of past projections leading up to the official countdown clock projection, which begins at 11:55 p.m. This year’s projections will feature pieces by:

• Obscura Intro
• Jonas Denzel
• Yuge Zhou
• Black Dance Legacy Project
• Yiyun Kang
• Cory Arcangel
• Brendan Fernandes

The Riverwalk will be closed beginning at 11 p.m., with only a section from Wells Street to Orleans Street open until 12:15 a.m. for spectators to enjoy the full audio/visual projection program for the ART on THE MART show.

For more information on the New Year’s Eve celebration, visit Chicago.gov/NYE and follow on Facebook at ChicagoDCASE, on Twitter @ChicagoDCASE and Instagram @ChicagoDCASE.

Revelers are also invited to take in Navy Pier’s nationally award-winning, free fireworks show, which starts with a countdown to midnight, followed by 10-minute celebratory fireworks display visible up and down the Lakefront. Visit NavyPier.org for information on their NYE fireworks display and visit ChooseChicago.com for a list of other NYE celebrations citywide.

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is reminding everyone to be safe and vigilant especially in crowds and report suspicious activity and suspicious packages to 9-1-1. OEMC will monitor all citywide activities, traffic, and weather conditions and coordinate public safety resources with the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and City of Chicago infrastructure departments. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on hand to direct flow and impacts from heavy traffic. Public transportation is encouraged. For more information on CTA services and reroutes, visit TransitChicago.com or call 312-836-7000 from any area code/1-888-YOUR-I CTA. To receive weather, traffic and emergency alerts from OEMC, download the Chicago OEMC App at Chicago.gov/OEMC (OEMC).

Suspicious Activity: If you See Something Say Something. The city reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. If you notice something suspicious, notify onsite security or call 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city—to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city—serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

ART on THE MART
ART on THE MART, presented in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), is an innovative digital art project that transforms a Chicago architectural landmark into a larger-than-life canvas, spanning over 2.5 acres of THE MART along the city’s Riverwalk. Founded in 2018, ART on THE MART is a platform for cutting-edge moving image work by renowned local, national and international interdisciplinary artists. Under the direction of Cynthia Noble, the program has commissioned work by celebrated names like Nick Cave, Barbara Kruger and Charles Atlas, along with projections by Chicago based artists and local organizations that elevate voices and artists from underrepresented communities.

The program is a result of a 30-year commitment by THE MART owner Vornado Realty Trust, in close collaboration with the City of Chicago, with a shared goal to provide public access to innovative contemporary digital art for thousands of visitors traversing the Chicago Riverwalk each day. The project marks the first time a projection of its size and scope is completely dedicated to digital art with no branding, sponsorship credits or messaging. The permanent projection system illuminates THE MART with 34 state-of-the-art projectors totaling almost one million lumens. The program content rotates seasonally and is selected with the assistance and expertise of the Curatorial Advisory Board, along with the support of a guest digital art curator initiative that was founded in 2023. For more information, visit artonthemart.com or follow us on social media:

Instagram: @artonthemart

Facebook: @artonthemart

X: @artonthemart

THE MART
THE MART (formerly The Merchandise Mart), located in the center of the sought-after River North submarket, is interwoven into the fabric of Chicago as an innovator in business, technology, culture, art, media and more. As the largest privately owned commercial building in the United States, it is also one of the world’s leading commercial buildings, wholesale design centers and the preeminent international business location in Chicago. Encompassing 4.2 million gross square feet, THE MART spans two city blocks, rises 25 stories and is visited by an average of 30,000 people each business day and nearly 10 million people annually. Offering continuous innovation and creativity from leading manufacturers and design forward showrooms, THE MART serves as the home to Chicago's most creative and technologically innovative companies including Motorola Mobility, 1871, PayPal, Avant and MATTER, as well as Fortune 500 companies ConAgra Brands, Allstate, Medline Industries, Beam Suntory, IPG and Grainger. For more information, visit themart.com.

# # #