Fireworks show will light up downtown Anchorage to ring in the new year

Friday evening marks the return of New Year’s Eve festivities to downtown Anchorage in a celebration featuring fireworks, food trucks, a beer garden and live music.

The event, hosted by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, will run from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Easy Park Chinook Lot at Third Avenue and E Street. Fireworks begin at 8 p.m.

The pandemic turned last year’s festivities into a drive-in show, with fireworks synced to music streamed on a local radio station. This year, live music is back, with local band Those Guys AK performing plus tunes from a DJ. The music will also be simulcast on KONR 106.1FM.

There will be a meet-and-greet with the newly crowned Miss America, Emma Broyles, who is the first Miss Alaska to win the national competition. The event also includes performances by the Alaskanettes Fire Baton Twirlers, Sankofa Dance Theatre and Underground Dance Company.

In Mat-Su, Wasilla is also ushering in the new year with a fireworks display at 8 p.m. Friday at Iditapark.

In Girdwood, fireworks will cap off the return of torchlight parade skiers to the slopes of Alyeska Resort. The New Year’s Eve festivities get underway with music from the Roland Roberts Band from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sitzmark. The torchlight parade begins at 9 p.m., and fireworks will start after the last torchlight skier descends.