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New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Ring in 2018 with 200,000 people and midnight waterfront fireworks
By - posted 12/31/2017 No Comment

Say goodbye to 2017 and ring in the 2018 new year with 200,000 fellow bundled-up San Franciscans for an annual tradition as the city once again hosts a free waterfront midnight fireworks show on New Year’s Eve.

San Francisco New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Saturday, December 31, 2017 | 11:59 pm
Embarcadero from Mission to Folsom
FREE

Arrive by 11:30 pm and head south of the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero for the best view. Fireworks kick off right at the stroke of midnight.

Best Fireworks Viewing Location:
The fireworks will launch from barges located 1,000 feet out in the bay, just south of the Ferry Building near Pier 14 (Mission Street and The Embarcadero), so the best viewing spots will be south of Sinbad’s Restaurant along the Embarcadero between Mission and Folsom Street.

Please note that standing in front of the Ferry Building will not be a good place to view the fireworks. It’s way too crowded and your view can be blocked by the Ferry Building.

About the Fireworks Show:
Typically, there’s a 15 minute midnight fireworks show. Each year, they unveil a few new and interesting pyrotechnics.

The fireworks are usually synced to music, played out through speakers that are set up along the promenade stretching from Pier 14 down almost to the Bay Bridge. So although there’s no radio simulcast and no live entertainment, if you’re close to Pier 14, you should be able to hear the music just fine.

Other Viewing Locations:

Yerba Buena Island / Treasure Island
As long as you can arrive early, you might squeeze in for an amazing shot from Yerba Buena Island looking towards the SF skyline with the Bay Bridge below you. Just be wary of the steep drop from the cliffs below. Or for a more grounded shot (without peering down on top of the Bay Bridge), you can head down to the flatlands of Treasure Island.

Telegraph Hill
It’s residential and there’s not much space, but two places with amazing views are the end of Alta Street (just off of Montgomery) and the end of Calhoun Terrace (just off of Union). Just keep in mind that it can get crowded. Please be very respectful of the neighbors and pack all your trash and take it with you.