At a Glance
- 20th year of Fireworks by Grucci on the Las Vegas Strip
- 10th hotel added: Fontainebleau Las Vegas
- Archive photos trace the Strip’s growth from 2001 to 2022
Why it matters: The fireworks show has become a staple of Las Vegas celebrations, and the new venue marks the brand’s expanding reach.
For two decades, the glittering pyrotechnics of Fireworks by Grucci have illuminated the Las Vegas Strip every New Year’s Eve. This year, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary and welcomed the Fontainebleau Las Vegas as a new host, expanding its long-standing partnership with Strip resorts.
A 20-Year Legacy
Grucci’s first show on the Strip began in 2001, and since then the company has become known as America’s First Family of Fireworks. The 20th-anniversary celebration underscores the enduring popularity of the display and its role in Vegas nightlife.
- 2001 – First show
- 2002 – First photos
- 2004 – Expansion to new hotels
- 2008 – Inclusion of Wynn and Venetian
- 2009 – Coverage of Trump International
- 2022 – Bureau stops sending photographers
The Strip Through the Lens
Archive photos from the Las Vegas News Bureau Collection capture the Strip’s transformation over two decades. They show iconic resorts like Wynn, Venetian, and the now-gone Riviera, Stardust, and Frontier, as well as the rise of the Encore tower and Resorts World.
| Year | Hotel(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Grucci first show | 20th anniversary this year |
| 2002 | – | First photo archive |
| 2004 | Riviera, Stardust, Frontier | Iconic Strip resorts |
| 2008 | Wynn, Venetian | New hotels rise |
| 2009 | Trump International | Featured in photos |
| 2022 | – | Bureau stops sending photographers |
Downtown and Beyond
The archive also documents Downtown Las Vegas, with early fireworks at Union Plaza and the Fremont Street Experience before its 1995 canopy. Photographs show the transition from black-and-white to color and note the bureau’s closure in June 2022.
- Union Plaza fireworks in 1983, 1986, 1990
- Fremont Street Experience canopy added 1995
- Sassy Sally’s gloves relic
- Bureau ceased sending photographers June 2022
Key Takeaways
- 20th anniversary of Fireworks by Grucci on the Strip
- Fontainebleau Las Vegas joins the lineup of host hotels
- Archive photos illustrate the Strip’s evolution and iconic celebrations
As Las Vegas lights up again for the New Year, the 20th-anniversary fireworks show reminds residents and visitors alike of the city’s vibrant history and the enduring magic that fireworks bring to the Strip.
