Parking and Logistics

 

On December 31st, all on-street parking and municipal lots are FREE.

With the exception of the E.J. Gare Downtown Parking Garage, which will charge it’s usual rate. The usual rate for the E.J. Gare Downtown Parking Garage is free for the first hour, and $0.75 for each additional hour. From 4:30–6:45 PM: access to/from the E.J. Gare Garage and Armory Street municipal lots will be restricted for the fireworks display.

Here are a few more details about the EJ Gare garage rates:

  • Daily Maximum: Around $15.00

  • Lost Ticket Fee: $20.00

  • The garage is open 24 hours a day and accepts both cash and credit cards.

Additional free parking is available at:

  • Smith College parking lots and the Smith College Garage (West Street) – open to the general public.

  • Forbes Library lots

  • Northampton Senior Center lot

  • Northampton Community Arts Trust (33 Hawley Street) lot

Please Note:

  • 4:30–6:45 PM: Access to/from the E.J. Gare Garage and Armory Street municipal lots will be restricted for the fireworks display.

  • After 8:00 PM: Parking is restricted near the Hotel Northampton to allow space for the Midnight Ball-Raising (see graphic).

  • Do NOT park at bagged meters or in areas marked as restricted.

Parking & Street Closures

To ensure pedestrian safety during evening celebrations and the midnight ball-raising at the Hotel Northampton, temporary parking restrictions and street closures will take place in central downtown Northampton on New Year’s Eve. Plan ahead, arrive early, and use municipal garages and peripheral surface lots.

Downtown Parking Exclusion Zone

No On-Street Parking or Traffic: Thursday, December 31, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM (1900) through 1:00 AM (0100) on January 1, 2027.

Vehicles parked in the designated red exclusion area (in the graphic above) after 7:00 PM are subject to ticketing and towing by Northampton Police.

The central crossroads of downtown—the intersection of Main Street, King Street, and Pleasant Street—is closed to vehicular traffic and street parking to accommodate heavy foot traffic and outdoor gathering:

  • Main Street (Westbound): Closed to on-street parking and traffic from the central intersection back past Gothic Street (in front of City Hall and the historic courthouse).

  • Main Street (Eastbound): Closed from the intersection down toward the railroad overpass (fronting Fitzwilly’s, Toasted Owl, and the Old Northampton Train Station).

  • King Street: Closed from Main Street north to the bend near the Hotel Northampton.

  • Pleasant Street: Closed from Main Street south past the crosswalk near CVS, McLadden’s, and Marathon Sports.

Where to Park


Directions to E.J. Gare Parking Garage (85 Hampton Avenue) — The most central, covered multi-level parking facility in downtown Northampton. Features elevator access, dedicated ADA spaces, and EV charging stations, located a 3-minute walk to Main Street venues through Pulaski Park.

E.J. Gare Parking Garage

  • Location: 85 Hampton Avenue

  • Type / Access: Multi-level covered garage (hourly rate)

  • Walking Distance: 3-minute walk to Main St

Roundhouse Parking Lot

  • Location: Old South Street

  • Type / Access: Large municipal surface lot

  • Walking Distance: 2-minute walk to Main St

Masonic Street Lot

  • Location: Masonic Street

  • Type / Access: Surface pay-and-display lot

  • Walking Distance: 2-minute walk to Main St

Gothic Street Lot

  • Location: Gothic Street

  • Type / Access: Surface municipal lot

  • Walking Distance: 3-minute walk to Main St

James House Lot

  • Location: 42 Gothic Street

  • Type / Access: Surface municipal lot

  • Walking Distance: 4-minute walk to Main St

Forbes Library Lot

  • Location: 20 West Street

  • Type / Access: Surface lot

  • Walking Distance: 7-minute walk to downtown core

Tip: Drivers parking in the E.J. Gare Parking Garage or Roundhouse Lot can walk directly through Pulaski Park or down Hampton Avenue to reach Main Street without navigating closed traffic intersections.

Accessible Parking (ADA)

Designated accessible parking spaces are available inside the E.J. Gare Garage on Hampton Avenue and within municipal surface lots on Masonic Street and Gothic Street. All official First Night venues are fully ADA-compliant and feature accessible entrances.

Public Transit & Drop-Off Recommendations

  • PVTA Bus Service: Routes servicing Northampton will drop off at the Academy of Music or Sheldon Field hub depending on local detours. Check updated holiday timetables on the PVTA website before departing.

  • Rideshare Drop-Off Zones (Uber / Lyft / Taxi): Set drop-off and pick-up destinations to Hampton Avenue (near the Gare Garage) or Center Street to avoid downtown pedestrian roadblocks and police barricades.