‘First Night Ocean County’ in Seaside Heights to Feature Music, Carousel, Fireworks on the Boardwalk

Fireworks. (Credit: jeff_golden/Flickr)

Seaside Heights will play host to the annual First Night Ocean County celebration on New Year’s Eve next week, the culmination of a banner year for the borough and a Jersey Shore-style sendoff of 2024.

The celebration begins at 12 noon Dec. 31, 2024 when the historic carousel opens for rides at its home in the Carousel Pavilion, on the boardwalk between Sampson and Carteret avenues. The “First Night” celebration as a whole begins at 1 p.m., where wristbands ($6 for kids) includes game cards and prizes at all participating arcades, rides up and down the boardwalk, a trackless train, and a “First Night Passport” making kids eligible for extra prizes.

The wristbands can be purchased at Lucky Leo’s, Coin Castle, Casino Pier Arcade, the Shake Shoppe Arcade and the Ocean County Connection store in the Ocean County Mall.

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Entertainment ranging from music, magic shows, a caricature artist, and character appearances will occur during the afternoon at all of the locations, with the carousel open for rides until 5 p.m. Two trackless trains will circulate up and down the boardwalk during the event.

Just after 5 p.m., fireworks will light up the sky at dusk to celebrate the New Year.

Those seeking more information can find it at the borough’s tourism page.