Last year amid the pandemic, Boston’s New Year’s Eve festivities went completely virtual. This year, First Night Boston — ice sculptures and fireworks included — is back.
With a recent surge in COVID cases, however, some events planned for indoors have been moved outdoors or shifted to online.
Centered around Copley Square, this year’s First Night will include a parade, and performances by Ayla Brown, the Puppet Showplace Theater, and Chu Ling Dance Academy, among others. (A complete lineup and schedule is available at firstnightboston.org).
Fireworks return at 7 p.m. and again at midnight to mark the new year.
T.K. Skenderian, a spokesman for First Night Boston, said most events will be held outdoors to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
”We’ll be working with the city and state as we have been just to make sure it’s a safe event for everyone,” Skenderian said.
Masks are suggested but not required for outdoor First Night events. Masks are mandatory for indoor performances, however.
Two indoor shows are scheduled at Boston’s Trinity Church and First Church, as of Tuesday evening. But a Pipes and Pops concert, originally scheduled as three hybrid shows at Old South Church, has moved to one online concert.
The event will adjust its COVID-19 protocols to adhere to city and state recommendations if changes come before New Year’s Eve, according to the event’s website.
Tiana Woodard can be reached at tiana.woodard@globe.com. Follow her @tianarochon.