If you're like me and my husband, your most important decisions to make on New Year's Eve are what to order for dinner and what to wear to the couch. We might tune into the midnight ball drop in Times Square if we feel like we're able to stomach Anderson Cooper and his wretched band of colleagues, but that's certainly not a given. We've done the pricy, glitzy ballroom thing before, and, well, it never quite lives up to the expectation.
So, the couch it is.
RELATED: Trump Teases the 2026 'America 250' Celebrations: 'You've Never Seen Anything Like It'
Trump Establishes Task Force to Plan America's 250th Anniversary Celebration
This New Year's Eve, however, there's a new offering for our fellow homebound revelers: a light show spectacular that will be beamed onto the Washington Monument. Even better, it will be patriotic in theme as the United States enters into 2026 and prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday.
The National Park Service took to social media to promote the light show, which begins Wednesday, December 31, and runs through Monday, January 5. It's all part of President Trump's "America 250" initiative, and it looks pretty cool.
Beginning tonight through January 5, a narrative projection will illuminate the Washington Monument every hour on the hour from 7pm-11:30pm. It is the opening of a year-long series of events celebrating 250 years of American independence. Learn more at https://t.co/Ooj2t6PII3 pic.twitter.com/W82XHilzkC
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) December 31, 2025
The Park Service described the event as the first in a "a year-long series of marquee national events celebrating the triumph of the American spirit." Here's more:
Watch as Freedom 250 transforms the iconic Washington Monument into the world’s tallest birthday candle in honor of our Nation’s 250th birthday. From New Year’s Eve through January 5th, 2026, a six-night projection-mapping spectacle will illuminate the Monument, creating an immersive, luminous canvas that narrates our Nation’s discovery, expansion, independence, and vision for the future.
This Washington Monument illumination is the opening signature moment of a year-long series of marquee national events celebrating the triumph of the American spirit.
Here are the dates and times:
December 31, 2025: 7:00 PM - 12:30 AM (Fireworks at 12:00 AM)
January 1, 2026: 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM
January 2, 2026: 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM
January 3, 2026: 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM
January 4, 2026: 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM
January 5, 2026: 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM (Fireworks at 7:55 PM)
If you're not in the D.C. area, don't fret. You can watch the show on the Freedom 250 website – all from the comfort of your couch. The New Year's Eve live stream is set to start at 5:50 p.m. ET.
Those in the DC area got to see some previews of what the light show will look like. NASA's brand new administrator, Jared Isaacman, shared this image:
Tonight, @250Freedom_ will ring in the New Year by illuminating the story of America, including our achievements in space, on the Washington Monument, starting at 7 PM! Join us on the National Mall or watch at https://t.co/RDYmFCYcN7 🇺🇸🚀 pic.twitter.com/RyrzjgHdMQ
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) December 31, 2025
Happy New Year, RedState readers!
Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy RedState's conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
Join RedState VIP and use the promo code MERRY74 to receive 74% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member