Thousands flock to First Night

Large crowds descended today on Boston for day-long New Year’s Eve festivities ranging from parades to firework shows.

Fireworks lit up the sky over the Soldiers & Sailors Monument on the Boston Common tonight

Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

Fireworks lit up the sky over the Soldiers & Sailors Monument on the Boston Common tonight.

Boston, MA: 12-31-2011: Fireworks over Boston Common during the First Night celebration of New Year's Eve Dec. 31, 2011. (These are the early,

John Blanding/globe staff

These are a prelude to the midnight fireworks over Boston Harbor.

Boston 12/31/2011 2012 Parade on Boylston Street at First Night Boston Celebration. Jonathan Wiggs Boston Globe Staff / Photographer Reporter:Section: Metro:Slug:Reporter:

jonathan wiggs/globe staff

First Night celebrations continued tonight with several events, including this parade on Boylston St.

Boston 12/31/2011 2012 Members of The Graeter Boston Chinese Cultural Association during First Night Boston Celebration. Jonathan Wiggs Boston Globe Staff / Photographer Reporter:Section: Metro:Slug:Reporter:

jonathan wiggs/globe staff

Members of the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association were also part of the parade.

Boston 12/31/2011 Jada Andrade (cq) left and her sister Dasia Andrade (cq) right at 2012 First Night Boston Celebration. Jonathan Wiggs Boston Globe Staff / Photographer Reporter:Section: Metro:Slug:Reporter:

jonathan wiggs/globe staff

Organizers anticipated roughly 1 million people would flock to First Night's 40 venues scattered across the metropolitan area.

Boston, Mass. -12/31/11 - First Night celebrations took place in Copley Square and at the Hynes Convention Center. Eric Fontecchio(cq) with the Brookline Ice Company works on Glass Icicles, an ice scupture in Copley Square which he said was a tribute to glass artist Dale Chihuly. Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (metro)

John Tlumacki/globe staff

Workers prepared an ice sculpture in Copley Square this afternoon.

Boston, Mass. -12/31/11 - First Night celebrations took place in Copley Square and at the Hynes Convention Center. Carol D. Carter(left) paints the face of Cailin Duffy, 10 from Cromwell, Conn. Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (metro)

John Tlumacki/globe staff

A young girl got her face painted for the occasion.

Boston, Mass. -12/31/11 - First Night celebrations took place in Copley Square and at the Hynes Convention Center. Items to celebrate were for sale at the Hynes. Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (metro)

John Tlumacki/globe staff

Plastic trumpets were on sale at the Hynes Convention Center today.

Boston, Mass. -12/31/11 - First Night celebrations took place in Copley Square and at the Hynes Convention Center. Drums from the group IntaAfrika play on stage. Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (metro)

John Tlumacki/globe staff

Drummers from the group IntaAfrika played at the Hynes Convention Center.

Boston, Mass. -12/31/11 - First Night celebrations took place in Copley Square and at the Hynes Convention Center. Scarlett O'Hamlon(cq) , 11 months from Cumberland, R.I. wears her first night oufit as she waits with her family in the face-painting room. Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (metro)

John Tlumacki/globe staff

Scarlett O'Hamlon, 11 months old, from Cumberland, R.I., appeared ready to celebrate her first New Year's today.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Fireworks light up the London skyline and Big Ben just after midnight on January 1, 2012 in London, England. Thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames in central London to see in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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