In lieu of this year’s fireworks, the city of Cologne has planned “the largest light fireworks display in the world.” The city has called for residents to turn their lights on and off at midnight, making windows light up the city.

Who needs a fireworks display?

As we all know, the sale of fireworks has been banned this year and the use of fireworks has been strongly advised against. So, to usher in the new year, the city of Cologne has organised a new initiative under the slogan: “Lights on. Year out.”

Special New Year's Eve display in Cologne

The city wants to create a stunning light show where residents turn their lights on and off for five minutes at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, turning the city’s windows into a spectacle that could rival any fireworks display.

The city is calling on its citizens to decorate their windows, using anything from paint to wrapping paper to colourful scarves and shawls to create “the most spectacular fireworks display in the world… without any rockets or firecrackers.”