A crowd of revelers dances in Copley Square as the countdown to midnight, and 2013, approaches.

Tanya Fedan of Boston, a trained fire dancer, spins LED lights while dancing in Copley Square.

Justin Lowery and Julie Dixey of Weymouth sport some festive eyewear as they celebrate First Night in Copley Square.

The Family Fireworks Celebration lit up the sky over the Boston Common at 7 p.m.

The fireworks were launched from the Boston Common ballfield, seen here from the Public Garden. Thousands of people, many of them children perched on their parents’ shoulders, let out cries of “Ooooh!” and “Whoa!” as the early show sent bursts of green, pink, red, orange and blue lights into the air.

The 12-minute show, dazzling thousands for the 14th consecutive year, is seen here from the 17th floor of the Taj Hotel.

Sculptor Wade Parsons, of Wakefield, puts some finishing touches on an ice sculpture called “Unity” in Copley Square.

A crowd on Boylston Street eagerly awaits the Panorama Magazine Grand Procession, which began just after 5:30 p.m.

From left, Eric Plankey, 7, Connor Plankey, 9, and sisters Shannon, 12, and Eva, 10, celebrate during the Grand Procession by blowing plastic vuvuzelas while Grandmother Jean McAuliffe watches.

A dragon puppet, courtesy of the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Associated, appears to dance in midair as it makes its way down Boylston Street.

Mark Chenevert plays the saxophone as part of the Hot Tamale Brass Brand. The Grand Procession featured a dazzling array of musicians, puppets, unicyclists and other entertainers.

Timothy Foley of Phillipston watches the Grand Procession from atop the shoulders of his father, Dennis.

A huge inflatable dinosaur roars in the direction of the Boylston Street crowd.

The crowd in Boston reacts as another dinosaur puppet makes its way down Boylston Street as part of the Panorama Magazine Grand Procession.

A float made to represent the potential dangers of climate change was also part of the display.