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No More New Years Fireworks in Downtown Tempe

No New Year’s Eve fireworks in downtown Tempe?

It’s true. Thousands of people have rung in the New Year at the Mill Avenue New Year’s Eve Block Party for years, marveling at the fireworks and enjoying the national bands booked for the occasion.

It was a big party, recognized as one of the best New Year’s Eve bashes in the country by several national publications.


Thanks to fewer people attending, that’s changing.

The Downtown Tempe Authority, which has organized the event for the last three years, won’t sponsor a single, unified event. The street will still be blocked off and individual restaurants and bars will organize their own parties. But there won’t be national musical acts or fireworks – instead, each establishment will host its own individual specials and parties. Food trucks and porta-johns also will be on-site.

Officials cited declining attendance since the Fiesta Bowl – which sponsored and organized the party downtown for almost 30 years – moved to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale as the reason for the changes. (The game formerly was played at Sun Devil Stadium.) At one time more than 100,000 people attended the event, but that number has dropped in recent years.

“Our organization will continue to promote Downtown Tempe as a destination for New Year’s Eve and still do so under the guise of the ‘Mill Avenue Block Party,’ as the various activations the bars and restaurants are planning will still create a ‘block party’ type atmosphere, the Authority said in a statement. “However, Downtown Tempe Authority isn’t programming or producing entertainment that night. We have committed to scheduling several food trucks to be available as late-night food options and will place some porta-johns and ATMs on the street as well – these items will be added value to what the bars/restaurants are already doing for NYE 2017.”