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**Obsession** · 02-01-2011, 02:52 AM

What's the attraction to Times Square if there are no fireworks?

**A Cousin** · 02-01-2011, 04:44 AM

(02-01-2011 02:52 AM)Obsession Wrote: What's the attraction to Times Square if there are no fireworks?

Beats me, and I live here! If there were fireworks, I'd be there every year. Wink

Its the largest celebration in the US and it is a long standing tradition dating back to Guy Lombardo's radio broadcast in 1928. Bands play. Dick Clark and his New Years Rockin' Eve TV show airs. They have a very boring and very anticlimactic Tiffany ball that drops. Beautiful glass though.

If it helps, NYC does a fabulous fireworks display over the East River on our Independence Day. Maybe they just blow their budget in July? I *think* they can only do big fireworks displays over the rivers (with special permits and licenses and balderdash) and you wouldn't be able to see that from Times Square.

Fireworks are illegal in many US states. Is that the case other states/provinces/shires/etc?

**JHyde** · 02-01-2011, 04:58 AM

God no. Some local councils even have fireworks, there are regional towns and coastal communities especially that have their own. They're the sort that I would go and see, less craziness. I also know some people who set them off in their backyards. And judging by what one of my friends in Durham had happen, I'm guessing the same thing happens in the UK.

Jokes about Dick Clark and ball dropping are so much fun Smile

**A Cousin** · 02-01-2011, 04:52 PM

(02-01-2011 04:58 AM)JHyde Wrote: Jokes about Dick Clark and ball dropping are so much fun

LOLOL! I can only imagine. He has passed the mantle to Ryan Seacrest (host of American Idol) - lord help us.

I fear I have a hard time making any jokes about Dick Clark these days. Dick Clark only does about 5 minutes and even then in about 30 second increments. After his stroke, it is pitiful to watch. You have to give it to the guy though, he keeps on keeping on.

watchstrap · 03-01-2011, 12:13 AM

A Cousin, we are the home of fireworks here in the UK as we celebrate Guy Fawkes and his Gunpowder Plot on Bonfire Night every November. They are massively popular along the South coast of the UK at the seaside places, where they have a big display each weekend. In fact any old excuse and someone whips out a box and lights them up!
Recently, those chinese lanterns have become popular that float up into the sky and away. I first noticed them in Thailand a couple of years ago where they try and sell them to you along the beachfront restaurants in the evening. Our local party shop was selling them for New Year, although watching them float away whilst freezing to death in the garden didn't really appeal.
I didn't realise that fireworks weren't popular in the US. Aren't they part of the Disney Logo? I do remember some nice ones which we watched from Sarasota airport whilst waiting for a hirecar to be sorted out. It was 4th July and Mr WS hadn't taken this into account when booking our travel/hirecar arrangements. Needless to say I handle these duties now! They could only offer us something called a 'snugtop' which I discovered was a pickup truck with a hard cover. Spent a fortnight pretending I was Daisy Duke! Had a lovely time though.

YourFutureMuse · 03-01-2011, 02:21 AM

I love clubbing but the two nights a year I refuse to go out on are NYE and Valentine's Day, pretty much for the same reason as there are two many desperates everywhere trying to get a midnight kiss, and everything is so expensive. I had a quiet night of drinking games at my house, of course watching the London fireworks on the TV and then drunkedly singing auld lang syne down the phone to people I barely know! Good night. I want to go up to London one year but my ideal place to spend news years would be Edinburgh, noone can do a pissup like the scottish!
I went out on New Years Day this year which was dire, hardly anyone out and most of the places shut (and we deliberately went to a bigger city as we predicted that it would be the case in my home town Sad

)

**expat** · 03-01-2011, 03:59 AM

Fireworks are actually hugely popular in the US. While consumer sale is restricted in several states, the places with the fewest restrictions sell quite a lot. And many, many cities, towns and neighbourhoods have fireworks displays. Not to mention the stuff that has been bought by individuals and gets set off in backyards.

However July 4 is the big day for fireworks. Other holidays, like NYE get more spotty treatment.

lottanyman · 03-01-2011, 11:54 AM

I think here in Germany New Year’s Eve is the biggest occasion for fireworks and there are so many people who are only too willing to spent quite a big amount of money for bangers, firecrackers etc. (Streets are looking accordingly messy the next day...)

I’m usually not the NYE enthusiast and actually intended to spent the evening at home, watching DVD and going to bed early but then ended up at my neighbour’s and had a really nice evening eating, drinking and laughing with some people I really really like. Not a bad way to start a new year…

Saerwen · 10-01-2011, 09:40 PM

New Years eve was very quiet for me, I watched the Scottish Hogmanay program with my 19 year old cat tabby torte Darcey sat beside me, it was quite moving for me as she was diagnosed with kidney failure in February 2010 and I didn't think she would be here with me now but she is and she's quite stable so fingers crossed and a day at a time.