New Year's Eve celebrations not too big this year

New Year's Eve celebrations will be different this year than in previous years. Government anti-coronavirus measures are still in place, and so is the curfew which allows people to be out from their homes only until 9pm. Moreover, on some places it will be forbidden to use pyrotechnics.

Traditional New Year's Eve rituals will be significantly limited this year: concerts, toasts or the firing of fireworks in public. For example, in Stodolní Street, which is a popular place for New Year's Eve celebrations and fireworks in Ostrava, traditionally open pubs and clubs will by replaced only by a few take-away windows this year. In addition, as elsewhere in the Czech Republic, they will close at nine o'clock in the evening. Some cities have set places where firecrackers are not allowed to fire. For example, in Prague, the ban includes the historic center, nature parks, islands, waterfront or the vicinity of the zoo. Fines for violation of these rules my be up to ten thousand crowns. Compliance with the rules will be monitored by reinforced police patrols.

On the contrary, in Karlovy Vary during the New Year's Eve, the use of pyrotechnics is not prohibited. If residents manage to buy fireworks, they can set them off by nine o'clock in the evening anywhere in the city. However, firefighters fear that people will use balconies or gardens to fire their pyrotechnics at midnight due to a curfew after nine in the evening. To use firecrackers in living areas is generally prohibited.