It was a festive night at the National Mall as a brand-new photo display lit up the National Monument. FOX 5's Sydney Persing was there for all the excitement.

Washington

Large crowds assembled along the National Mall in Washington, DC, to celebrate New Year's Eve and the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Washington Monument served as the centerpiece, with a multimedia show projected onto its surface, tracing pivotal moments in American history through five chapters: Discovery, Revolution, Westward Expansion, Industrial Revolution, and the 20th century to the future.

Attendees included people of all ages, both locals and international tourists, who described the event as meaningful and educational. The celebration featured a 25-minute show at the top of every hour, a midnight fireworks display, and will continue nightly for several days. The event is free and open to the public.

Ringing in the new year at the Washington Monument

Well, huge crowds gathered to see this. This is cool. This is along the National Mall. The Washington Monument ready for the New Year along with America's 250th birthday or Sidney Persing is there. Well, there are so many folks out here of all ages from all over to bring in the New Year here in our nation's capital and really who needs Times Square when you have the Washington Monument and what a sight it is to see. Right now it is essentially acting as a giant birthday candle for the country with this big multimedia display to celebrate America's 250th birthday here on this beautiful New Year's Eve. The show began here at 7 o'clock tonight, so at the top of every hour, the monument becomes a living canvas of sorts with a 25 minute show projected onto it, tracing pivotal moments in our nation's history. The show it takes you through five chapters of the American story. Discovery Revolution, Westward Expansion, Industrial Revolution, and then 20th century modern day. 20th century modern day and the future, and so many folks wanted to come out and celebrate our country and the new year. Together we've got adults here. So many little kids, locals, international tourists, all who bundled up excited to experience it all. We came to to see the happy New Year on the on the monument. I was like, let's go. It was like all about our country in our state and everything. And everything that's in it. It was great. I mean like they we got to my two kids with us, our friends, two kids. I thought it was really, really cool and that it really showed us what our country is about. A unique and immersive way to ring in the year. No doubt, especially cool to see all these young kids so engaged in our history. Of course, as is tradition on New Year's Eve, I asked all these folks, what are you looking forward to? What are you hoping for in 2026? That I have a great family success. Hope and everything for people. I think good opportunities and for jobs and just have a good year. A good year and we are all certainly hoping for a good year. By the way, this event is free. It's not ticketed so you can still come out tonight if you are close by. And there is a firework show. Of course at midnight. And if you don't want to make it out tonight, bars or you're bundled up in bed or anything in between, the show will continue on for the next several days here starting at 7 PM. Happy New Year.

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