Away from the crowds of the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square, New York City typically rings in the new year with fireworks displays from Central Park to Coney Island. But for 2025, some had to cancel or change their plans due to ongoing drought conditions.

The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first country to ring in 2025, its 133,500 citizens celebrating the new year at 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Aerial fireworks require a pyrotechnic permit under Hawaiian state law. However, only a small minority of attempts to prosecute those violating fireworks restrictions result in guilty verdicts or pleas.