A two-day celebration of the New Year, First Night First Day Boston 2017 takes over Boston Common and Copley Square for a seasonal spectacular of sights and sounds. A tradition for more than four decades, Boston’s First Night arts festival once again includes the colorful People’s Parade from Copley Square to Boston Common at 6 p.m. At the same time, the Common also hosts a figure skating exhibition at the Frog Pond, and soon after, at 7 p.m., a family-friendly fireworks display. Other highlights include an outdoor concert with a host of local bands in Copley Square, followed by a countdown to midnight and pyrotechnic extravaganza that is launched from the roof of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel (above). If that’s not enough New Year’s frivolity, then come back to Copley the next day for more music and fun beginning at noon. And the best part? It’s all completely free.