LOS ANGELES (CNS) - What organizers bill as the West Coast's largest free New Year's Eve event will be held Wednesday night at Gloria Molina Grand Park with performances by musical artists from a variety of genres and DJs spinning tunes.

The five-hour, alcohol-free Gloria Molina Grand Park's NYELA will begin at 8 p.m. and encompass the six blocks that comprise the park.

The event "will pay tribute to the resilience L.A. showed throughout 2025, celebrating the bravery of Angelenos who uplift their communities, defend their values and build a brighter future that reflects L.A.'s beauty, diversity and strength," organizers said.

The theme is "Power of One," "inspired by the monarch butterfly, an unwavering symbol of migration, transformation and ancestral courage," organizers said.

Monarch butterflies and their pulsing wings will be depicted in the event's countdown to midnight art show projected on City Hall, set to begin at 11:55 p.m.

The Countdown Stage in the park's Block 4 between Broadway and Spring Street will be hosted by Gingee, who describes herself as "a DJ/producer, percussionist and vocalist known for her unique take on global bass." She will spin tunes at 8 p.m., 9:20 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 12:02 a.m.

The first performer will be Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ceci Bastida, a former keyboardist and vocalist with the Mexican ska, rock and punk band Tijuana No! Bardo, the former frontman of Los Angeles-based psychedelic soul band Chicano Batman, will follow her.

The headline performer will be groundbreaking Filipina American rapper and spoken word artist Ruby Ibarra, who is set to begin performing at 10:45 p.m.

The Get Down Stage on the Performance Lawn between Grand Avenue and Hill Street will be hosted by model turned R&B/pop singer Shaun Ross, who is set to begin performing at 10:30 p.m. He will be preceded at 8 p.m. by DJs Clax10 and at 9:15 p.m. by Ashley Younnia who wrote on social media, "We'll be dancing into the New Year and turning the dance floor into a war cry!!"

DJ, record company executive and producer Wayne Williams will take the stage at 12:02 a.m.

The celebration will also include performances by the Bloco Obini dance company and drum ensemble

"Light bites" and desserts will be available for purchase from more than 30 food trucks, organizers said.

Alcohol is not permitted and will not be sold.

Parking will be available at the Music Center garage and the Walt Disney Concert Hall garage for $10 per vehicle.

Attendees are highly encouraged to take public transportation. Gloria Molina Grand Park is located at the Civic Center/Grand Park station on the Metro B (Red) and Metro D (Purple) lines. The park can also be reached by taking Metro's Regional Connector to the Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill, Historic Broadway and Little Tokyo/Arts District stops along the Metro A (Blue) Line and E (Expo) Line.

Metro rides will be free from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 3 a.m. Thursday.

There will be four specially marked entrances to Grand Park:

-- First Street and Grand Avenue;

-- First and Main streets;

-- Second and Hill streets; and

-- Temple and Hill streets.

Additional information is available at grandparkla.org/nyela

Other free New Year's Eve events in Los Angeles County include:

-- The Marina del Rey New Year's Eve Fireworks & Glow Party at Burton Chace Park from 7 p.m. to midnight. It will include music, food trucks, magic shows, face painting, interactive performers such as glowing robots, stilt walkers and fairies, a giant LED screen showing a live feed of the Times Square ball drop.

Ten-minute fireworks shows will begin at 8:59 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.

Tickets and information on parking are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/marina-del-rey-new-years-eve-fireworks-glow-party-tickets- 1976473509472?aff=DBH

Burton Chace Park's 90-minute parking lot will not be available for parking. Marina Lot 4 on Mindanao Way will be closed due to a new construction project.

Traffic delays are expected along Mindanao Way.

-- "New Year's Eve at the Waterfront" in Long Beach will include live music, a photo booth, face painting, interactive games, arts & crafts, food, jugglers and stilt walkers. There will be a "Kids' NYE Countdown" with fireworks at 9 p.m. and another fireworks show at midnight.

-- West Hollywood will continue its practice of co-sponsoring alcohol- and drug-free New Year's Eve experiences begun in 2014 with "BOOM!2026 -- An Evening in Oz" at Plummer Park's Fiesta Hall from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

The event is co-sponsored by the public health organization the Institute for Public Strategies, which describes it as "channeling the spirit of `Wicked' and `The Wizard of Oz."' It will be hosted by drag queens Salinas EsTitties and Pickle and will include a DJ, free snacks and beverages.

The event open to attendees 18 or older. Advance registration is highly encouraged which can be made at www.eventbrite.com/e/boom-tickets- 1968302841785.

In Orange County, "Noon Year's Eve" celebrations for children will be begin at 11 a.m. at the Cypress, and Garden Grove Chapman libraries, at 11:30 a.m. at the Brea, El Toro, Ladera Ranch, Los Alamitos Rossmoor, Seal Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Stanton, Tustin and Westminster libraries.

Gary and Shannon

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