PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia is preparing for a high-voltage sendoff to 2025, pairing waterfront fireworks, a first-of-its-kind Parkway concert headlined by LL Cool J, and widespread transit schedule changes as tens of thousands are expected to flood Center City for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The Visit PA New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront will light up the Delaware River twice on Tuesday night, with shows scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and again at midnight. Fireworks will be visible from Penn’s Landing and surrounding waterfront areas.
City and transit officials are urging residents and visitors to avoid driving due to heavy congestion. SEPTA recommends using the [L] Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street Station or Bus Routes 5, 12, 17, 21, 25, 33, or 42 to access the waterfront.
Adding to the spectacle, Philadelphia will host its first-ever outdoor New Year’s Eve concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Hip-hop icon LL Cool J will headline the event near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., with the concert beginning at 8:00 p.m. The show will also feature DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone, Dorothy, and Technician The DJ.
SEPTA will operate under modified service schedules to accommodate New Year’s Eve crowds. On Tuesday, Regional Rail trains will run on a weekday schedule with special late-night service added on the following lines: Chestnut Hill East, Fox Chase, Lansdale/Doylestown, Manayunk/Norristown, Media/Wawa, Paoli/Thorndale to Malvern Station only, Trenton, Warminster, West Trenton, and Wilmington/Newark to Marcus Hook Station only. Riders are advised to check individual New Year’s Eve train schedules for specific departure times, fare zones, and wheelchair accessibility.
All Metro lines will operate on a weekday schedule. SEPTA will add extra trains on the [B] Broad Street Line and the [L] Market-Frankford Line before and after the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Penn’s Landing, with late-night service available.
Select bus routes will run on a modified weekday schedule, with downloadable PDF schedules available at septa.org. All other bus routes will operate on weekday-level service, excluding school trips.
Transit disruptions will extend into Wednesday morning as preparations begin for the Mummers Parade. Starting at 8:15 a.m., bus routes 4, 16, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 48, 62, 124, 125, B1 Owl, and L1 Owl will be detoured on 15th Street between JFK Boulevard and Chestnut Street. SEPTA officials advise riders to consult the Alerts and Detours page for the most current routing information.
On New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Regional Rail, Metro, and bus services will operate on a Sunday schedule. Bus Route 204 will not operate on New Year’s Day.
With fireworks over the Delaware, a Parkway concert headlined by a hip-hop legend, and citywide transit adjustments in place, Philadelphia is bracing for one of its most ambitious and crowded New Year’s Eve celebrations in years.
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