It’s almost here! Thursday Dec 31st is right around the corner and lots of us want to get out there and celebrate a little bit (or a LOT). Here is a round up of some things to do locally as well as nearby if you want to venture out!
NIAGARA FALLS
If you want music and action locally the free outdoor concert at Queen Victoria Park by the falls is the place to be! Who needs it to be televised to have a great time!
Headliner act is Tom Cochrane and Red Rider. Here is the band performing their hit “Big League”
The opening act is is Down with Webster, followed by Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea), The Beautiful Gypsies and finally founding member lead vocalist and keyboardist of rock band Styx: Dennis Deyoung, who will perform some of the band’s hits.
Two fireworks shows will take place — at 9 p.m. and midnight.
ST. CATHARINES
The St. Catharines New Year’s Eve Family Celebration will be held at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre where free glow-in-the-dark public skating from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., face painting, children’s games, crafts and more will be in full swing followed by a ginger ale toast and a mock countdown at 6 p.m. Free swimming is also part of the program from noon to 2 p.m. at St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre.
If sports are your thing, why not check out the Niagara Ice Dogs as they play host to the Kitchener Rangers in a New Year’s Eve OHL game that starts 6 p.m. at Meridian Centre. Tickets are $15 to $35.
On New Year’s Day at the Lake Street Armoury, Mayor Walter Sendzik, city councillors and members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment and the 10th Battery Royal Canadian Artillery will raise a glass of bull’s milk when they host the annual new year’s levee, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The mayor, Lt. Col. Bruce Mair, RCA Capt. Jim Hill and Maj. James Walker will toast the new year at 11:45 a.m., followed by a firing of the cannon at noon. Visitors can explore the messes, or gathering areas, on the second floor.
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada host the 26th annual New Year’s Day levee at Navy Hall from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m featuring the music by the Fort George 41st Regiment of Foot Fife and Drum Corps, refreshments, a fire and a cannon firing across the Niagara River.
WELLAND
The Welland Children’s New Year’s Eve Bash takes place at both Welland Community Wellness Complex and Welland Main Arena from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
At the wellness complex there will be an inflatable bouncer and nine-hole mini-putt course, paddle boat rides in the pool, crafts, balloon fun, wagon rides by the recreational canal, hot chocolate and cotton candy treats, a 4:30 p.m. magic show, a tea party with Cinderella and Belle, and visits from a Minion, Batman and Spider-Man.
The arena features a fantasy hockey inflatable, Monster Mural Madness, a reptile petting zoo, Mad Science, popcorn treats, glow-in-the-dark family skating, and a variety show by Smudge Fundaes that starts at 5 p.m.
Fireworks along the bank of the recreational canal start at 5:50 p.m.
PORT COLBORNE
The Port Colborne New Year’s Eve Family Celebration runs 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Vale Health & Wellness Centre and there will be swimming from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., gym activities, cookie decorating and crafts, inflatables, face painting, signing of a 2016 community banner, public skating on Rink 1 from 2 p.m. to 5:50 p.m., youth shinny hockey from 2:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. on Rink 2 followed by a family skate from 4 p.m. to 5:20 p.m., a Mad Science show at 3 p.m., and a Niagara Windriders Kite Flyers Association indoor kite fly from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Fireworks will start about 6 p.m. behind the Vale centre.
On Sunday, the mayor and city council new year’s levee takes place 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. inside city council chambers on the third floor of city hall.
GRIMSBY
The Peach King Centre from 2- 6 pm will be the scene for a New Year’s Eve Celebration with free skating, a Grimsby Museum activity table and laser tag arena. Fireworks start at 6 p.m.
WAINFLEET
The mayor’s annual new year’s levee takes place Sunday, Jan. 10, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Wainfleet Motel and Restaurant at Chambers Corners.
No official town events are planned for: Pelham, Thorold, Fort Erie, Lincoln, or West Lincoln.
Out of Town Ideas!
If you are looking for some fun outside of Niagara to ring in the New Year, there is lots to do as well! Starting off with the freebees:
Join the celebration and ring in the New Year on December 31, 2015 at Nathan Phillips Square with Toronto’s largest dance and skating party! This free event, hosted and produced by the City of Toronto, will end at midnight with a spectacular fireworks display to music.
The Festivities begin at 8 pm with a DJ Skating Party featuring DJs MelBoogie and P-Plus sponsored by Tim Hortons. If the music and skating doesn’t warm you up, hot chocolate and coffee, and a variety of other food trucks will also be on-site. The skating party will continue until 10 pm, alongside roaming atmospheric performances.
The Dance Party portion of the evening continues from 10 pm and will go until midnight to the music of DJ P-Plus followed by DJ Starting from Scratch.
A fleet of food trucks caters to over 50,000 guests throughout the night leading up to midnight fireworks. Details click HERE
New Year’s Eve Skating Party (Dec. 31)
This Harbourfront bash is a tried and true option. You’ll get to brush up on your skating skills while a DJ plays 2015’s greatest hits – remember not to pre-game too hard or you’ll be falling more than usual.
NYE @ Dundas Video (Dec. 31)
If you want more of a party atmosphere (or just aren’t that good at skating) head to Dundas Video for New Year’s Eve bash with no cover. King Rustic and Firkin on King are also hosting free soirees, if you want to party hop.
TOP PICKS FOR OTHER NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES: EVENT SPACES, HOTELS, CONCERT HALLS + ALTERNATIVE VENUES in TORONTO
Majestic New Years Eve 2016 | Fairmont Royal York | 6:30 p.m. | $50-$120
If you’re looking for a truly luxurious way to kick off 2016, head to the Fairmont Royal York. The hotel is hosting one of the largest parties in the city, with around 3000 people expected to attend. The event will fill three rooms with musicians, live cabaret shows and more. If you feel like throwing down some extra cash, you can head to the venue early for a three course meal.
Cirque New Year’s Eve | 99 Sudbury | 10 p.m. | $30
99 Sudbury is one of the most popular event venues in the city, so it’s no surprise that it’s going all out for New Year’s. The annual end of year soiree has a reputation for being anything but ordinary and features everything from confetti cannons to LED light shows. The soundtrack for the evening will be house, hip-hop, mashup & top 40 – so expect to sing along to 2015’s greatest hits.
NYE | 159 Manning | 10 p.m. | $10-$15
Purchasing a $200 outfit and spending half a pay cheque on bottle service is not for everyone. For those who like a more laid-back atmosphere, try the annual 159 Manning house party. You may be sipping on PBR instead of champagne when the clock strikes midnight, but there’s no shame in that.
Down-town Abbey | Gladstone Hotel | 7 p.m. | $57.53
The Gladstone reigns supreme when it comes to theme parties, and their New Year’s bash is no exception. You’ll find costume-clad guests, themed cocktails, and Edwardian-inspired characters wandering the venue. You won’t have to worry about the soundtrack being too stuffy, it will feature everything from 20s jazz classics to hits spun by DJ Carmelinda, DJ Joe Blow and Kaleb Roberston.
FIVE + : A NYE EXPERIENCE | Secret Warehouse Location | 8 p.m. | $32.40-$53.60
Want to go off the beaten trail? FIVE+ takes place in a yet-to-be-revealed Queen West warehouse and has all the makings of stellar bash. A culinary marketplace, curated art, meditation sessions and live music are all on tap for the evening.
Royale Gala New Year’s Eve 2016 | Palais Royale | 9 p.m. | $40-$60
Want to get dolled up and spend the evening dancing to the top pop hits of 2015? Grab a ticket for this event. You’ll spend the evening looking out onto Lake Ontario, sipping champagne and counting down to 2016 in style.
Whatever you do, be safe and HAVE FUN!!!!!
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