This is how Boston counted down the last few seconds of 2019 and began 2020. Fireworks burst over the harbor as Single By Sunday performed “Auld Lang Syne” at First Night.
Fireworks lit up the sky over Boston Common and Boston Harbor and music echoed through Copley Square as the First Night celebration rang in 2020.
With ice sculptures, musical acts, fireworks displays and much more, it was the biggest New Year's Eve celebration in New England.
"We've lived in Boston our whole life, but this is our first time," said Tania Powell of Dorchester. "It's fun, it's nice, the weather is nice, we got our fried dough."
"It's actually super mild," said Patty Rechberger, visiting from New York. "We're afraid of being cold, and it's been phenomenal, it's been fantastic, we're very comfortable."
The events began at 11:45 a.m. and went into the new year, with NBC10 Boston, NECN and Telemundo Boston broadcasting parts of it live.
With just hours away to the start of the new year, people descended upon Boston for a multitude of First Night celebrations which included a parade, live music and ice sculptures.
Mark Garfinkel/NBC10 Boston
Mark Garfinkel/NBC10 Boston
Fireworks over Fairmont Copley at the stroke of midnight.
Mark Garfinkel/NBC10 Boston
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Mark Garfinkel/NBC10 Boston
Mark Garfinkel
Mark Garfinkel
Boston Common during First Night Boston 2020.
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Fireworks over Boston Common for First Night Boston 2020.
Fireworks over Boston Common for First Night Boston 2020.
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People watch fireworks at First Night Boston 2020.
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The parade at First Night Boston 2020.
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The parade at First Night Boston 2020.
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The parade at First Night Boston 2020.
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Scenes from the First Night Boston 2020 parade.
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Scenes from the First Night Boston 2020 parade.
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NBC10 Boston meteorologist Pete Bouchard at the First Night Boston 2020 parade.
Mark Garfinkel
Mark Garfinkel
Singer Josh Ladds performs with Single By Sunday at First Night Boston 2020.
First Night Boston is also live on NBC10Boston.com and necn.com and in the free NBC10 Boston and necn apps from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and on TelemundoNuevaInglaterra.com and the free Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra app from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
"It's always exciting going into a new year," said Sarah St. Germain of Somerville. "I always want to start with a new cookbook and go on some new adventures with my family."
"A new decade just raising my son the best way I know how," said Kelly Ferguson of Medford. "And have a lovely life with my family."
Entertainment and special attractions are focused in Copley Square, with local artists and musical performances spanning different cultures and fantastic ice sculptures.
The full events schedule is available here, including performances by Maddi Ryan, Daniel Laurent, Najee Janey, Sons of Levin and headline act Single by Sunday.
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@FirstNight
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Mark Garfinkel
Singer Josh Ladds performs with Single By Sunday at First Night Boston 2020.
Preparations continued early Monday afternoon ahead of First Night Boston 2020. Festivities in Copley Square will include live music and fireworks.
The Skating Club of Boston put on a Skating Spectacular at the Boston Common Frog Pond at 5:30 p.m., featuring local Boston skaters and a very special guest star.
Colton Bradford stops by First Night music auditions where local artists performed for a chance to score a spot on the Copley Square stage.
The People's Procession was held at 6 p.m. from Copley Square to Boston Common, followed by a Family Fireworks display at 7. Before midnight, there was a "Copley Countdown" with live music followed by a pyrotechnics show to ring in the New Year. Afterward, fireworks shot over Boston Harbor.
The Boston Public Library is bathed in snowflakes lit from the rooftop of the Fairmont Copley hotel.
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Newlyweds engage in a First Night kiss at Copley Square.
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First Night attendees enjoy the fireworks in Boston, as 2019 begins.
Mark Garfinkel
Mark Garfinkel
The setting sun frames Boston as the city readies for #FirstNightBoston.
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Marlboro, Massachusetts firefighter CJ Ahearn proposes to his girlfriend Nicole Bigley during the live coverage of First Night in Boston.
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The people's procession is underway.
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People congregating for First Night at Copley Square
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Musician Chad Stokes discusses his upcoming First Night performance.
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NBC10 Boston's JC Monahan and Chris Emma host the festivities.
Pat Patriot made the trip from Foxboro to celebrate First Night in Boston.
Festive lights in the foreground and the Prudential building light up the sky.
NBC10 Boston
Ice sculptures adorn Boston.
NBC10 Boston
Ice sculptures adorn Boston.
NBC10 Boston
Ice sculptures adorn Boston.
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A parade reveler at First Night.
Fireworks light up the sky over Boston.
The Speakeatery
The parade at First Night.
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The parade worked its way through Boston.
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NBC10 Boston meteorologist Pete Bouchard greets the crowd watching the parade.
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston's Jackie Bruno with police officer and "Red Sox Bullpen Cop" Steve Horgan.
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston's Jackie Bruno is on the scene at Copley Square.
Mark Garfinkel
A dragon celebrates First Night in Boston.
NBC10 Boston
A look behind the scenes in the NBC10 Boston production truck.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh shares a special New Year's message for the city of Boston on First Night.
MBTA subway, commuter Rail service, buses and RIDE service will resume on New Year’s Day on a Sunday schedule. Ferry services will be suspended for the day.
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A young person watches confetti fall during a New Year’s celebration in New York’s Times Square, early Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.
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People celebrate the New Year in Times Square in New York, early Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.
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A boy spins a burning steel wool with a sling performing light painting during the New Year celebrations in Rajpura town, India.
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A man watches fireworks exploding over Copacabana Beach during the New Year’s celebrations, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.
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Fireworks explode over Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate in the New Year on Jan. 1, 2020, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
JURE MAKOVEC
Fireworks explode over Ljubljana castle during New Year’s celebrations in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by JURE MAKOVEC/AFP via Getty Images)
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Fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye in central London during the New Year celebrations. (Photo by Kirsty O’Connor/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Two men wearing Santa dress are seen near an illuminated sign reading “2020” as waves hit the beach of Gaza shore within new year celebrations in Gaza City, Gaza on January 01, 2020. (Photo by Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
JORGE GUERRERO
People in light-costumes welcome the new year in Coin, near Malaga, Spain, on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)
FAROOQ NAEEM
People stand in front of a “2020” sign as part of the New Year celebrations in Islamabad early on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP via Getty Images)
MARTIN BUREAU
A couple kiss in front of the Eiffel tower during the New Year’s celebrations in Paris, on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images)
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The Arc de Triomphe is illuminated as DJ’s Mademoiselle Caro and Mr Bonus play as Paris prepares to welcome the New Year as thousands descend on the Champs Elysees for a light and firework show centered around the Arc de Triomphe on Dec. 31, 2019, in Paris. (Photo by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
Kiran Ridley
Paris prepares to welcome the New Year as thousands descend on the Champs Elysees for a light and firework show centered around the Arc de Triomphe on Dec. 31, 2019, in Paris. (Photo by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
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Fireworks erupt over the Hotel Indonesia, in Jakarta during New Year’s celebrations on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images)
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Fireworks illuminate the night sky near Ortakoy Mosque and July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge within the new year celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey on January 01, 2020.
LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI
People watch fireworks erupting in the sky of Colombo during New Year’s celebrations on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)
FAROOQ NAEEM
People watch fireworks as part of the New Year celebrations in Rawalpindi on Jan. 1, 2020. Billions around the world are set to cheer in 2020 after a tumultuous year dominated by demonstrations calling for political upheaval and action on climate change. (Photo by FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP via Getty Images)
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Fireworks go off at the Burj Khalifa on New Year’s Eve 2019 on Jan. 1, 2019, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by WIN-Initiative/Getty Images)
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Fireworks go off in front of July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge within the new year celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
DIMITAR DILKOFF
Fireworks explode over the Kremlin in Moscow during New Year celebrations, on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)
People celebrate the arrival of the year 2020 at a New Year’s Eve countdown event near the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic headquarters in Beijing, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Revelers around the globe are bidding farewell to a decade that will be remembered by many for the rise of social media, the Arab Spring, the #MeToo movement and, of course, President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sydney Harbour during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)
Dave Rowland
Crowds watch the fireworks from the SkyTower during Auckland New Year’s Eve celebrations on Jan. 1, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
Steve Thomson
Fireworks are seen exploding from Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and Sky Tower during the Auckland New Year’s Eve celebrations for 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Steve Thomson/Getty Images for ATEED)
Crowds watch a fireworks display during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Brisbane, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019.
An Indian student gets her face painted during an event to welcome the New Year in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A woman prays in front of lanterns to welcome in the upcoming New Year at the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A woman hangs a paper note bearing her New Year wishes to a wire at Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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Stock traders wear New Year’s 2020 party glasses at the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. Stocks slipped globally in quiet New Year’s Eve trading Tuesday with many markets closed.(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Akos Fulop cracks his whip during the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Kecskemet, Hungary, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 when shepherds, horseherds and story-tellers wave farewell to the year 2019 with singing and whipcracking. (Sandor Ujvari/MTI via AP)
People gesture to show “five demands” as they form a human chain on New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. Months of pro-democracy protests have brought “sadness, anxiety, disappointment and even rage,” the city’s leader Carrie Lam said in a News Year’s address Tuesday. Protests that began in June over a proposed extradition law have spread to include demands for more democracy and other grievances. Hong Kong was setting off fireworks later. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
A woman smiles during New Year celebrations in Manila on Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by MARIA TAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Fireworks light up the Taiwan skyline and Taipei 101 during New Year's Eve celebrations on Jan. 1, 2020 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
People wait in pens for the stroke of midnight in Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
