NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Residents and visitors to New Brunswick are in for a treat this New Year’s Eve, as the city and local businesses teamed up for yet another to launch fireworks from the roof of a downtown hotel.

But that’s just one of the highlights of an evening that the city’s restaurants, bars, theaters, and clubs hope will bring them big business.

The first event of the evening is the State Theatre’s annual New Year’s Eve concert, “Salute to Vienna,” patterned after Vienna’s world famous “Neujahrskonzert.”

The program will be celebrating its ninth year at the State Theatre, will take place at 6pm, with a light-hearted blend of Strauss waltz, famous operetta excerpts, polkas, and more.

The event features Strauss Symphony of America, The Philly POPS, Andras Deak, conductor (Budapest), Sera Gosch, soprano (Vienna), Christian Baumgartel, tenor (Vienna), and dancers from Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine and International Champion Ballroom Dancers.

Later in the evening, at 10pm, Southside Johnny will be performing a special New Year’s Eve show at the same venue.

Running time of the event will take approximately two hours and twenty minutes including intermission. Tickets are available at the State Theater’s website, with prices ranging from $47-107.

Dinner and a glass of champagne will also be available at any of the following venues: Catherine Lombardi, Clydz, Due Mari, The Frog and The Peach, The Heldrich, Stage Left, George Street Playhouse, State Theatre NJ, Steakhouse 85, Hotoke, The Old Bay Restaurant, and Destination Dogs.

Fireworks will take place across the street from the venues at midnight, located on Monument Square Park in between Livingston Avenue and George Street, New Brunswick. The fireworks are operated by Garden State Fireworks, and sponsored by The Restauraunt Guys. The display is free and will be open to the public. 

Guests are asked to come between 11:30pm and midnight, where a DJ will be spinning tunes to warm everyone up. The display will be shot off the roof of The Heldrich Hotel, and will be visible for miles. For more information, please email: [email protected].

Many of New Brunswick’s bars will be open after the fireworks are over for a post-fireworks nightcap. 

Among the event’s main organizers are Francis Schott and Mark Pascal, owners of Stage Left Restauraunt and Catherine Lombardi’s, located in the heart of New Brunswick’s theatre district, directly across from the Heldrich.

The event is sponsored by New Brunswick City Market, StateTheatreNJ.org, New Brunswick Cultural Center, Inc., George Street Playhouse, Devco, Boraie Development LLC, Magyar Bank, New Brunswick Parking Authority, and The Restaurant Guys.