New Year’s Eve downtown Edmonton
A family-friendly event will be held at the Federal Building at 9820 107 St. from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with fireworks at 9 p.m.
Inside the Federal Building, there will be music, comedians, magicians, jugglers, games, glitter tattoos and other activities.
Outside there will be performances by Rule of Nines, hayrides, ice carving, fire pits and bannock making.
There will also be food trucks between 99 Avenue between 107 Street and 109 Street.
Mayor Don Iveson and Premier Rachel Notley will host the countdown and fireworks show from 8:50 p.m. to 9:12 p.m.
The best place to view the fireworks are from the Federal Plaza and on the north side of the Alberta Legislature.
The show will also be streamed at facebook.com/cityofedmonton.
Roads will be closed on 99 Avenue from 107 Street to 109 Street and 108 Street north of the 99 Avenue intersection starting at noon.
From 4 p.m. on there will be road closures on 106 Street from 96 Avenue to 97 Avenue; 96 Avenue from 105 Street to 107 Street; Fortway Drive north of the Royal Glenora Club; a northbound single-lane closure on 109 Street south of 99 Avenue; full closure of 107 Street from 96 Avenue to 99 Avenue; and the Terrance Building access off of River Valley Road.
Starting at 7 p.m. there will be no pedestrian access on various multi-use trails and sidewalks
The Alberta Legislature grounds skating rink will be closed starting at 4 p.m.
Parking is restricted in the area, but ETS will offer a free shuttle service from 102 Avenue and 100 Street southbound to Government Centre Transit Centre with stops along Jasper Avenue. Starting at 5 p.m., routes 1, 5, 8 and 9 will have increased frequency.
Following the fireworks, buses will be staged at Government Centre and at 109 Street and 99 Avenue.
Free ETS throughout the city starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. Any money collected in the fare box will go towards Donate A Ride.
Capital Line trains will leave Century Park and Clareview at 3:10 a.m. The final Metro Line train will leave Health Sciences at 2:42 and NAIT at 3:03 a.m.
New Year’s Eve Strathcona County
Strathcona County is hosting a New Year’s Festival at Broadmoor Lake Park, the arena and sports centre, community centre at 401 Festival Lane and Festival Place.
Transit is free from the park and ride at Bethel Transit Terminal starting at 3:30 p.m. Buses will run every 15 minutes to Broadmoor Lake Park and back with the last shuttle leaving at 8:45 p.m.
There will be indoor and outdoor activities, fire shows, skating and fireworks.
The exterior tower of Festival Place will be lit up in the Winter Sky Show.
New Year’s Day at the Wilderness Centre
The Strathcona Wilderness Centre at Township Road 530 and Range Road 212 is hosting activities from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be snowshoeing and cross-country skiing with toonie ski lessons from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and a toonie snowshoe ramble at 2 p.m., each with equipment rentals costing extra.
New Year’s Eve St. Albert fireworks
St. Albert is having a fireworks display on Mission Hill starting at 8:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Mission Hill will be closed all day Dec. 31 until 1 p.m. on Jan. 1.
Family Fest at Stony Plain
The annual Family Fest at Heritage Park will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with fireworks at 8:45 p.m.
There will be carnival games, live entertainment, hotdogs, popcorn and hot chocolate, crafts, a photo booth, outdoor skating, a horse-drawn wagon, bonfire, old-time Christmas displays at the Pioneer Museum, face painting and more.
Residents are encouraged to carpool, park offsite and walk as parking at Heritage Park is limited.
Donations to the Parkland food bank are encouraged.
New Year’s Day Levee
Alberta’s Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell and Captain Rebecca Patterson, 1 Health Group, Royal Canadian Navy smile as they meet people at the Levee in 2014.
Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell and Doug Mitchell will welcome members of the public to Government House at 12845 102 Ave. on Jan. 1 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a New Year’s Levee. The levee will include a chance to look at the Government House art collection, music and light refreshments. People will also be invited to write a postcard of thanks and encouragement to Canadian Forces members stationed overseas.
Anything going on that we may have missed? E-mail cgriwkowsky@postmedia.com to have an event included.
