Austin getting ready to ring in the New Year

The stage is set for Austin’s New Year’s Eve celebration. On Tuesday, fireworks will light up the sky over Lady Bird Lake. 

Organizers are expecting about 10,000 people to celebrate the end of 2019 at Auditorium Shores. 

“We're going to be launching Austin's New Year at Auditorium Shores. This is, in this location, going to be 10 years that we're celebrating Austin's New Year,” said Lindsey Sokol, event director for Blue Norther Live.   

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The free family-friendly event will include music, fireworks and plenty of food options for all who attend. The Peterson Brothers and Shinyribs will keep the party going from 7:30 p.m., when the gates open, until 10 p.m. when the fireworks light up the night sky, but the celebration ends before the countdown actually begins. 

“Something that ends at 10 instead of midnight allows families to either go home early if you have small kids or if you have plans for later in the night, it gives them various options,” Sokol said.  

Blankets, chairs, umbrellas, and leashed dogs are allowed, while weapons, fireworks, drones, smoking, and alcohol are not.

Austin police and event security will work to keep everyone safe. 

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Officers encourage people headed downtown to be aware of their surroundings, travel with a friend or in a group and plan a sober ride home. 

“If you are planning on using a rideshare, one of the things we want to make sure to get across to everybody is to make sure when your rideshare comes to pick you up, you know it's your rideshare,” said Lt. Chris Gwaldo with Austin Police Department’s downtown unit.  

Sixth Street will be closed between the I-35 frontage road and Brazos. Rainey Street will also be closed between River Street and Driskill Street. 

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“There are going to be a large amount of pedestrians outside of those closed-off areas… like there normally are on every weekend night and that includes scooters, people on bicycles, basically people everywhere, right? So by that, we want people to stay safe by using crosswalks,” Gwaldo said.   

CapMetro will offer free rides on buses and the Metro Rail after 5 pm Tuesday. 

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Because of the New Year celebration, there will be closures on Cesar Chavez, South First Street and Riverside Drive near Auditorium Shores. 

Parking is available at the Convention Center, City Hall, and One Texas Center, but organizers encourage people to take Cap Metro, bike or rideshare instead.