Middleboro welcomes 2026 with second annual New Year’s Eve celebration
A bonfire roars at the Middleboro New Year's Eve celebration held at Battis Field, Wednesday, Dec. 31. Photos by Sam Tucker
New Year's revelers surround the large bonfire that was fed with a pile of Christmas trees throughout the evening.
Dozens of attendees are illuminated by the fire after a volunteer placed another tree on.
Revelers march in the "noise parade", where parade-goers made as much noise as possible with a slew of noisemakers and instruments.
The noise parade takes a short jaunt down Main Street.
A parade-goer plays a violin while they march in the noise parade.
Crowds watch the bonfire.
A child eats a s'more at the Middleboro Fire Department's specially-made s'more cooking station.
Revelers gather at the s'more station to toast their sweet treats.
Fireworks fly overhead while the bonfire burns below.
Event organizers said they hope to continue the annual event and expand its festivities in the future.
A bonfire roars at the Middleboro New Year's Eve celebration held at Battis Field, Wednesday, Dec. 31. Photos by Sam Tucker
New Year's revelers surround the large bonfire that was fed with a pile of Christmas trees throughout the evening.
Dozens of attendees are illuminated by the fire after a volunteer placed another tree on.
Revelers march in the "noise parade", where parade-goers made as much noise as possible with a slew of noisemakers and instruments.
The noise parade takes a short jaunt down Main Street.
A parade-goer plays a violin while they march in the noise parade.
Crowds watch the bonfire.
A child eats a s'more at the Middleboro Fire Department's specially-made s'more cooking station.
Revelers gather at the s'more station to toast their sweet treats.
Fireworks fly overhead while the bonfire burns below.
Event organizers said they hope to continue the annual event and expand its festivities in the future.
MIDDLEBORO — Christmas trees burned, fireworks flew and noise rang through Middleboro at the second annual Celebrate Middleboro New Year’s celebration on Wednesday.
During the evening of events on Dec. 31, New Year’s revelers gathered at Battis Field for free festivities and fun to kick-off 2026. From a noise parade to fireworks booming overhead — the evening closed the year with a bang.
Starting the event off with a bonfire that was fed with dozens of Christmas trees, revelers watched as sparks glittered through the sky. The warm roar of the fire was felt over 20-feet away from the towering flames.
Select Board Chair Mark Germain, Town Manager Jay McGrail and Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson lended a hand in feeding trees to the bonfire. Germaine said the town-sponsored celebration is becoming one of the many classic Middleboro events.
“It's a great event to have locally, so people don’t have to go very far. It’s a free event and who doesn’t like a bonfire, some fireworks and a noise parade?” Germain said.
“This is going to be an annual event every single year, and I'm hoping it gets bigger and better,” he added.
Select Board Member Bill Pike said the free event offers something different for area residents wanting to celebrate the holiday.
“In Middleboro, nothing ever happened on New Year’s. Now, there’s this unique event where it starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m., and everybody can still enjoy their New Year's Eve festivities,” Pike said.
Before long, instruments of every make and size were tooted on, played and drummed during the “noise parade,” a short marching parade where revelers made as much noise as they could as they walked around the block on Main Street.
After the noise parade, revelers made their way back to the large bonfire and smaller campfires to roast marshmallows. The Middleboro Fire Department came to the event equipped with their specially designed marshmallow roaster as well.
To wrap up the festivities, a firework display exploded overhead as hundreds of attendees watched. An electronic manufacturing company soon to occupy West Grove Street, Rexa, and their construction developer, VMD, paid the $5,000 price-tag for the firework display.
Steve Minichiello, director of sales at Rexa, said the gesture was a way to pay back the support they’ve received in relocating their business to Middleboro.
“The community has been really good to us, and we want to help support the community in every way we can,” he said.
Middleboro resident Krissy Coffin brought her family members Noah, 6, and Kaylan, 3, to the celebration. Noah said he attended last year’s event and was thrilled with this year’s festivities — especially the bonfire.
“The fire is so cool. It’s smoking so [much] it’s making clouds,” Noah said.
Middleboro residents Ashlyn and Heath Heger said they missed last year’s event but were glad to have attended on Wednesday. The Plymouth natives said they never had something like Middleboro's New Year’s event growing up, and it's a welcome change to their celebration routine.
“We usually spend New Year's Eve with friends, so this is our first year we just did our own thing,” Ashlyn Heger said.
“The fact that where we grew up, they never had something like this — it's nice we had something unique to do,” Heath Heger added. “Middleboro has been a great place for me … it’s so much better community-wise compared to other towns.”
