Hoping to ring in the New Year in style? Here are some suggestions from East to West…
Halifax - Check out the New Year's Eve celebration at the new and extremely popular Emera Oval, the long track speed skating oval on the Halifax Commons.
Quebec City - Invites the world to experience the wonder of the Holiday season with QuébecAdabra!, offering exclusive and unique entertainment in the evening, including “architectural projections”. Visitors are invited to be part of the numerous gatherings, including the famous countdown.
Several hotels are offering New Year's Eve packages including dinner on December 31st as well as breakfast on January 1st .
- Le Chateau Frontenac offers two packages, one with dinner at the Ballroom and the other with dinner at the gastronomic restaurant le Champlain
- The Hilton Québec
- The Palace Royal
- The Auberge Saint-Antoine offers a two-night stay package, including a horse-drawn carriage tour of snow-covered Old Québec, snuggled under warm blankets
Ottawa - Is promoting two brand new New Year's Eve events this year.
The first is hosted by the Scottish Society of Ottawa and is called the TD Hogmanay Party (Hogmanay is a Scottish New Year's tradition). It is a free event held outside Ottawa City Hall between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m. and features:
- Skating on the new Rink of Dreams (a refrigerated outdoor ice rink that ensures skating even when Mother Nature doesn't freeze the Rideau Canal Skateway)
- Celtic bands including headliners the Barra MacNeils
- Highland dancing
- Bagpipes
- Scotch-tasting
- Fireworks
The second is the 'Sparks Street New Years Eve'. A free outdoor event running from 8 p.m. until after midnight along Canada's oldest pedestrian mall, just a block south of Parliament Hill. Billing itself as a true Times Square experience, the event offers:
- Music by bands like the Arkells
- Balloons and confetti
- A “ball drop” - though the organizers have been mum as to what exactly will drop - we're told to expect “a big surprise” at midnight
Toronto - Check out the New Year's Eve Comedy Extravaganza at Massey Hall, which is billing itself as a high-octane night of hilarity courtesy of Canada's top comedians and sketch artists, all handpicked by Yuk Yuk's founder Mark Breslin.
Niagara Falls - The Niagara Parks Commission and Niagara Falls New Year's Eve event partners are pleased to announce an exciting roster of musical talent for Canada's largest televised live New Year's Eve event featuring Dragonette, Hedley and Nelly Furtado. This highly anticipated free show begins at 7:30 pm in Queen Victoria Park overlooking Niagara Falls. The nationally-televised, free concert draws more than 40,000 people to the Park each year.
Banff - The traditional Mt Norquay Torchlight parade has become a winter classic in the Bow Valley. It starts at 7 p.m.at Cliff House and can be seen from the Town of Banff. The Lake Louise Ski Area is also doing one with a special Torchlight Dinner.
Whistler - For celebration of the family-friendly sort, take in the evening's roster of festivities throughout Whistler Village. You could keep it cosy, and head to one of two indoor parties (one of which includes a Youth Dance), or opt instead to take it outside for skating on Whistler Olympic Plaza, views of the Fire & Ice show, a NYE kid's countdown and a Village Square dance celebration that's topped off with a dazzling fireworks display at midnight.
Vancouver - Spend your New Year's Eve 3,700 feet above the twinkling lights of the city with Grouse Mountain's New Year's Eve Gala. The event features a multi-course dinner, live DJ and dance floor, party favours and complimentary glass of bubbly. First seating at 5:30 p.m. includes a four-course dinner ($70 per person, plus tax); second seating (8:30 p.m.) includes a six-course dinner ($100 per person, plus tax). Complimentary Skyride gondola ticket provided for both seatings. To book, call 604.998.5045.
