Old Sacramento won’t have New Year’s Eve fireworks, third consecutive holiday without display

If you were eyeing a fireworks-filled New Year’s Eve along the Old Sacramento Waterfront you’ll want to look elsewhere to ring in 2023.

For the third consecutive year, the fireworks show has been canceled — this time because of “logistical challenges” and “no viable launch site,” according to Sacramento city officials.

“The city and Visit Sacramento had been actively working with West Sacramento to identify a safe launch site for the fireworks,” Tim Swanson, a city spokesman, said in a news release. “However, multiple large-scale events scheduled for the evening, as well as traffic and other concerns, have created operational issues that we unfortunately have not been able to overcome.”

The usual spot for launching pyrotechnics — on the West Sacramento side of the river — isn’t available due to another holiday event at Sutter Health Park, home of the River Cats. Other locations the city scouted were not safe due to anticipated crowds or traffic, the news release said.

The fireworks show, which first launched in 2001, was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The event was city-funded in partnership with Visit Sacramento and in coordination with West Sacramento.

New Year’s Eve events in Old Sacramento

There won’t be fireworks but there will be plenty more to do in the historic district, including special dinners, dancing and comedy shows.

“There are dozens of ways people can go out and celebrate this New Year’s Eve, both on the Old Sacramento Waterfront and in downtown Sacramento,” said Scott Ford, economic development director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, in the news release. “It all depends on what you want to do.”

Visit Sacramento events can be found at sacramento365.com.

This story was originally published December 14, 2022 at 2:24 PM.