Ok, this is a question for all the Paris experts on this board. I had been reading in another thread - that wasn't specifically about New Years eve - that when it comes to New Years eve, Paris doesn't set off any fireworks. Is this the norm? Are there any sort of special events that happen on 12/31 or 1/1 (doesn't necessarily have to involve fireworks)? The reason I ask is that in December of 2008, two of my sisters, a nephew (12 by that point) and I will be going over to Paris (arriving 12/27) to celebrate New Years. If Paris doesn't celebrate with fireworks, is there another place close by that would? Thanks in advance for any info!

I will say it again and again and again: no New Year's fireworks in Paris except for special events. The last 2 times were: a) 1999 millennium fireworks on the Eiffel Tower, unforgettable b) 2005 fireworks at Place de la Concorde, to support the Paris 2012 Olympic bid.

Let me add that fireworks are quite rare in the middle of the winter anywhere -- there is too much of a chance of the weather being too foul to shoot them off. Don't you think that NYC would have fireworks for New Year's instead of that stupid ball on a stick if fireworks were viable?

You might consider a trip to the southern hemisphere for New Year's fireworks -- they show the coathanger in Sydney every year.

A lot of people ask about that, I don't know why. I don't think I've ever lived anywhere where they did fireworks on NY eve.

However, if you believe Wikipedia (read the article about NY eve), fireworks are common on NY eve in Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Hong Kong (spectacular), Turkey, India and China. I do notice most of those are warm weather locations.

I don't know if it's true, but that article claims they are annual in London.

So London would be a good bet as fairly close to Paris. Sydney has the biggest display.

Thanks to all that replied. Like I said, I know had read something about this in another thread (the topic was not about NYE in Paris), but I just wanted to be sure. Also, should any new people come to the board and inquire, then hopefully they'll find this posting and have their question answered.

But part of my question still remains - Are there any sort of special events that happen on 12/31 or 1/1 (doesn't necessarily have to involve fireworks)?