New Year’s Eve to feature ‘mesmerizing’ drone show plus fireworks at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

A “mesmerizing” drone show will take over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on New Year’s Eve, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts announced Friday.

The custom display will be choreographed by Image Engineering, a Baltimore-based event company that specializes in “laser entertainment,” according to a BOPA news release, and paired with fireworks at midnight.

Mayor Brandon Scott will lead a countdown to ring in the new year on the evening of Dec. 31 at the event co-produced by BOPA and the city. The drones will launch from Pier Six Pavilion and the fireworks from a barge.

“As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the new, the skies over Baltimore will be illuminated like never before,” BOPA said in the announcement.

“This addition of drone technology to Baltimore’s annual New Year’s Eve celebrations is in alignment with Baltimore’s designation as a federal tech hub, showing how technology can be leveraged in creative ways across sectors — from healthcare to arts and culture — for the betterment of Baltimore.”

The festivities will start in the Inner Harbor Amphitheater at 8 p.m., with a set from Baltimore-based party performer DJ Curtis. At 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., Baltimore hip hop band Soul Cannon will perform, featuring Eze Jackson, Matt Frazão, Jon Birkholz and Charles Wilson. Entertainment company Media Minds will take charge of beats between performances.

The Inner Harbor Ice Rink hours will extend to midnight on New Year’s Eve, and City Cruises will offer New Year’s Eve brunch and dinner cruises at noon and 9 p.m. Watermark will host its annual New Year’s Eve yacht party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.