Credited with first coining the phrase “ring in the New Year,” Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote in his most well-known poem “In Memoriam”
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, right in the true.
There might not be snow, but plenty of “ringing” will be going on this New Year’s Eve as Baltimore says goodbye to 2011! Kick off the evening at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater with regional funk and soul band the 8 Ohms at 9 p.m. The club scene more your style? Make your way through all of 10 participating bars and clubs as part of the Power Plant Live New Year’s party or dine-in at many local restaurants offering celebratory specials.
After the ball drops, look to the skies over Baltimore as the world renowned artisans from Pyrotecnico bring the boom with their choreographed fireworks spectacular! To learn more about the fireworks display we caught up with Bill Gilmore, the Executive Director at Baltimore’s Office of Promotion & the Arts.
Visit Baltimore: What makes Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular the best place to ring in 2012?
Bill: The fireworks display in Baltimore is the largest in the region, making it a great event for families.
VB: Is there anything new in store for this year’s celebration?
Bill: In addition to the fireworks and live music from the 8 Ohms, there are a few special surprises to coincide with the 175th anniversary of our presenting sponsor, the Baltimore Sun. Watch our website for more information coming soon.
VB: Is there a “best seat in the house” vantage point for the fireworks display?
Bill: Anywhere, really. Two barges anchor out in the Inner Harbor and the result is a fireworks display visible from many downtown attractions, restaurants, hotels, residences and surrounding areas including Fell’s Point, Harbor East and Federal Hill.
Want to know more about BOPA and other events they have planned throughout Baltimore? Check out their website and social media profiles listed below.
Baltimore 
Office of Promotion & the Arts
7 E. Redwood Street, Suite 500, Baltimore MD 21202
Photographs by Leslie Furlong - December 31, 2010
Source: bop.org
