New Year’s Eve is usually all about the Times Square ball drop — but this year, Washington, DC, will host its own end-of-year spectacle. Starting December 31, the Washington Monument will be lit with projections to celebrate the start of the country’s 250th birthday celebration.
From New Year’s Eve to January 5, the monument will be lit each night with a projection-mapping light show that will tell the story of the United States’ “discovery, expansion, independence, and future.”
The show opens on December 31 as part of the District’s countdown to 2026. Running from 7 p.m. to 12:06 a.m., the first showing will illuminate the Washington Monument with a 250-foot birthday candle to kick-start a year full of celebrations.
“The illumination of the Washington Monument marks the beginning of a momentous year for our nation — 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” said Keith Krach, CEO of Freedom 250, in a press release. “We invite every American — and every friend of America — to join this historic celebration of the triumph of the American spirit.”
Following the NYE show, the projections will run from 7 to 10 p.m. until Monday, January 5. This is a non-ticketed event, so each showing is open to the public and free to attend.
Feature image courtesy Freedom 250
