CUMBERLAND — New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cumberland Historic City Center began in 1999 with a disco mirror ball and have grown to include a ball drop, fireworks and music.
Ed Mullaney and Sue Cerutti served as downtown managers then, and the two determined that it was time to create a downtown Cumberland New Year’s Eve celebration.
“It started with a simple idea, and it’s exciting to see that it’s grown through the years and has become a Cumberland tradition,” Mullaney said.
In 2013, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department added fireworks to the celebration.
This year, the city will ring in 2026 with its annual New Year’s Eve celebration and ball drop Wednesday night at the Liberty Street Plaza.
The celebration begins at 10 p.m. with music by DJ Jimmy Hook. Free party favors will be handed out at the Downtown Development Commission table.
The ball drop will take place off the Cumberland Arms building at midnight, accompanied by fireworks from the Casper R. Taylor Bridge on Baltimore Street, near the railroad tracks.
An open container exemption will be in effect from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. throughout Historic City Center, including Baltimore, Liberty and Centre streets. Streets will be closed throughout downtown in preparation for the event.
Traffic will be temporarily restricted on the Casper R. Taylor Bridge beginning at 9 p.m. with a detour in place for the fireworks display.
For more information, visit www.c https://cumberlandalive.com/nye-ball-drop/.