Yes. As in previous years, a four-mile stretch of the Las Vegas Strip, from Sahara to Tropicana Aves., will be closed to traffic this New Year's, to accommodate the 300,000 revelers anticipated by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. The exact time the Strip closes varies from year to year, and at the time of this writing the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department didn't have a definitive time designated; however, it's estimated that the Strip will be closed from approximately 6 pm until shortly after midnight.
In addition to the numerous casino parties around town, which range from about $65 to $350 per head, the big free spectacular will be America's Party New Year's Eve 2006, the city's sixth annual fireworks event. Masterminded by the world-famous Grucci family of New York, who've been in the pyrotechnics business since 1850, the show will feature 10 hotels, from Excalibur to the Stratosphere, shooting off 40,000 fireworks. The tops of the participating hotels will be illuminated by pyrotechnics in sync to Liberace’s "Chopsticks," turning the Strip into a "giant piano." It's due to go off a little before midnight, at 11.45 pm.
For a full listing of concerts, parties, and other New Year's events around town, click on the Shows and Events link on our home page and select "Temporary Events" for 12/31/05.
The photograph reproduced below, entitled "Big Bang," is a scene captured by local photojournalist Jeff Scheid during the firework display that lit up the Strip for New Year's 2000. The photograph is available as a poster from ShopLVA.com. To view the whole image, click on the link below it.
