the Big Orange<\/a> \u2014 a 35-foot, 2,000-pound LED sculpture \u2014 will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a 400-foot rise to the top of the InterContinental Miami at midnight. The iconic \u201cMr. Neon\u201d will begin its ascent at 6 p.m.<\/p>\nAn estimated 100,000 people attended last year\u2019s event at Bayfront Park in what organizers called the \u201cbiggest Hispanic New Year\u2019s Eve gathering in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
In true Miami fashion, South Florida didn\u2019t wait for midnight to start the party.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no better place than Miami to celebrate New Year\u2019s, no better place. We had to be here,\u201d said a woman.<\/p>\n
Some came from across the world to celebrate in the 305.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m from Zimbabwe. 20 hours in the plane,\u201d said one woman.<\/p>\n
The Miami skyline will be lit up by thousands of fireworks synchronized with music the second midnight strikes.<\/p>\n
Great views aren\u2019t the only thing partygoers will get to see at night.<\/p>\n
Willy Chirino, Flo Rida, and Marshmello are all scheduled to perform Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a fusion of Latin hip hop, all the talent of South Florida is gonna be out here tonight,\u201d said a man.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very excited to see Marshmello,\u201d said a woman.<\/p>\n
The crowds will have several bites available to eat as they enjoy the beats throughout the night.<\/p>\n
All of the excitement will lead up to the moment everyone is waiting for.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo minutes \u2019til, we\u2019ll raise it to the top,\u201d said Steve Carpenter, the designer of the Big Orange.<\/p>\n
The iconic orange will make its climb up the side of the InterContinental at 11:58 p.m. for everyone to begin counting down.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s free to the public, so anybody and everybody can come down and see it and they have food trucks and they have bands, it\u2019s amazing,\u201d said Carpenter.<\/p>\n
The party in downtown Miami is expected to carry on past midnight.<\/p>\n
In downtown Fort Lauderdale, a 900-pound anchor made of steel and covered in 5,000 LED lights will slowly drop as the clock strikes midnight. The anchor was chosen to reflect the city as the marine capital of the world. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to celebrate the New Year and say goodbye to the old year,\u201d said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.<\/p>\n
As with years past, kids got to start ringing in the New Year early in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll be activities for kids, there\u2019ll be kiosks for food, it\u2019s gonna be a great festival for everyone to enjoy,\u201d said Trantalis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re gonna have a DJ on stage, we\u2019ll have a bunch of inflatables over here in the park. We\u2019re gonna have pony rides, petting zoos, face painting, arts and crafts,\u201d said Todd Stilphen, the Fort Lauderdale community program manager.<\/p>\n
The anchor lit up at 7 p.m. for those that need to be in bed before midnight.<\/p>\n
As the night rolled in, the crowds grew and the excitement escalated.<\/p>\n
For many visiting from out of state, the mild temperatures made for the perfect time to be outdoors for the countdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the best place on earth, I guess, I don\u2019t know,\u201d said a tourist.<\/p>\n
As for some of the youngest partygoers, they shared their New Year\u2019s resolutions with 7News as they wait for the anchor to drop.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanna learn to do times,\u201d said one girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlay outside more,\u201d said another girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cEat more veggies,\u201d said a boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m gonna practice skateboarding more often,\u201d said another boy.<\/p>\n
For anyone looking to head to downtown Fort Lauderdale, officials have Southwest Second Street closed between Southwest Fifth Avenue and Southwest First Avenue, with the surrounding streets restricted to local traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re gonna ring in the New Year, we\u2019ll be safe, we\u2019ll be happy and I hope we\u2019ll be successful for everyone,\u201d said Trantalis.<\/p>\n
Officials also said there will be an enhanced police presence during the festivities to ensure everyone\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n
In the Keys, a giant red shoe will drop outside the Bourbon Street Pub on Duval Street. Year after year, a drag queen sits inside the supersized heel as a rowdy crowd of revelers gather on the street below.<\/p>\n
No matter where you eventually decide to celebrate, officials say they just want you to do it safely. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe best way to stay safe while celebrating New Year\u2019s is by leaving the fireworks to the experts,\u201d Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesperson Erika Benitez said. \u201cIf you decide to celebrate at home, only buy fireworks from approved vendors and always follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n
First responders work to prevent many of the thousands of fireworks-related injuries and fires reported nationwide every year. One way they do this is by reminding revelers to wear protective eyewear, light fireworks on pavement, and keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby.<\/p>\n
Better yet, they say, sit back and leave it to the professionals. <\/p>\n
\u201cMake sure that you have a sober adult, a sober, responsible adult who is in charge of discharging the fireworks. Make sure you\u2019re shooting the fireworks off of a hard flat surface,\u201d Dan Peart, the Director of Government Affairs for Phantom Fireworks, said. \u201cI know a lot of people are shooting fireworks from their lawn. If it\u2019s possible, you can lay down a piece of plywood to give yourself a hard flat surface, and again, you can brace the items in there if you\u2019re shooting aerial fireworks.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, no matter how you decide to celebrate the New Year this year, be sure to do it safely and responsibly.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re going to be outdoors, remember to bring a jacket as temperatures are forecasted to be in the 40s<\/a> by the time the clock strikes midnight in some parts of South Florida.<\/p>\nCopyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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