Finale Revealed for Space Needle New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Security is tight across much of the country this New Year’s Eve. Seattle Police say they do expect to be very busy, though they have “no upgraded security threat level” and “have no concerns about unplanned events.” The department did tell KOMO News that many officers will be working on their days off and that they will be working on large events in the city, plus traffic concerns and looking for impaired drivers.
In advance of the evening festivities and midnight celebration, KOMO took a tour of the preparations at the Space Needle, to give you a sneak peak at the new fireworks show for this year.
For the first time, they’ll be shooting fireworks off the very top of the needle, where all this month, we’ve been enjoying the lit tree.
“This year we’re shooting literally from 84 different locations on the space needle. And it’s technically pretty challenging for us each year,” said Ian Gilfillan, Executive Vice President of Pyro Spectaculars. They’ve been putting this show on for more than 20 years now.
It took a full crew of 12 strong guys, to move it all in place. One by one, they hoisted blocks of wood, filled with pyro-technic tubes up narrow ladders to the top of the needle.
Of course, the planning for this fireworks extravaganza started months ago, with the bed of music that will be used.
The show is completely choreographed to music chosen by KEXP, starting at 11:59.
“The opening sequence is kind of a space, NASA kind of countdown sequence,” said Gilfillan.
And with the stroke of midnight, he said the music lets lose for 7 solid minutes of spectacular pyrotechnics, the grand finale; a local tune from a familiar name. Gilfillan revealed the final tune will be ‘Downtown’ from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.