Ring in the new year with best bets across NEXT universe
Our lineup of outdoor and online NYE celebrations, so you can celebrate in style.
Before the Omicron variant hit Canada, I, like many, had lofty dreams of what this New Year’s Eve could be. After two years locked inside, I was looking forward to a bit of New Year’s stress relief — but then, when case numbers started skyrocketing, bars and restaurants started closing and cities across the country returned to lockdown, I thought my dreams had been crushed.
As always, though, we persevere! Even on short notice, a variety of online and outdoor NYE events have cropped up in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary that are sure to give you a dose of much-needed holiday cheer. Go out to a fireworks show or outdoor display, curl up inside with a loved one to celebrate in comfort or make use of your out-of-use clubwear and head to a virtual rave. Either way, stay safe — and happy new year!
Toronto
Dwayne Gretzky
Friday, Dec. 31, 10 pm ET
Virtual performance
Free
Iconic cover band Dwayne Gretzky will be going digital once again and livestreaming their annual NYE show on their website and YouTube. They’ll be taking donations for CAMH while streaming from their studio.
City of Toronto Fireworks
Friday, Dec. 31, 10:30 pm ET
Virtual performance and fireworks
Free
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with virtual, pre-recorded performances from various artists across different venues in Toronto, including Walk Off The Earth from El Mocambo, Andy Kim from El Mocambo, Dwayne Gretzky (again) from their studio, Tamar Ilana from Aga Khan Museum and Mesuda Quartet from Small World Music Centre. The event will span 90 minutes, and fireworks will be set off along the waterfront, not Nathan Phillips Square.
Cavalcade of Lights
Until Friday, Jan. 7, 5 pm – 11 pm ET
Free
Nathan Phillips Square
In one of the city’s few outdoor events, Nathan Phillips Square will be taken over by a gigantic, glittering light installation that’s open to the public. It’s sure to brighten your mood!
Walk Off the Earth
Fri., Dec. 31, 10PM EST
Livestream show
Free
https://www.cya.live/event/yDZWBiITI06mtxX9oPiFA
Local indie heroes Walk Off The Earth are celebrating New Year’s with the El Mocambo, and they’re inviting you to celebrate with them. Venues are closed, but the need for good music is stronger than ever, so you can tune in via livestream to hear their year-end tunes. The show must go on!
Vancouver
Rave with the Coolest DJs in Cyberspace
Friday, Dec. 31, 12 pm – 6 am PST
Virtual rave
Free, donations encouraged
One of Vancouver’s coolest digital events collectives has gone global! Bien Agiter, a quarantine-era Zoom rave collective, is hosting an explosive 15-hour new year’s marathon rave featuring three themed rooms and DJs from around the world. If you were craving a new year’s bender, look no further.
Morning-After Movie Marathon
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2 pm – 12 pm PST
Movie screening
Tickets can be bought per movie ($13) or as a package ($25)
riotheatre.ca/movie/monty-python-and-the-holy-grail
If you manage to party a little too hard, you can spend New Year’s Day lounging in the cushy seats of the Rio Theatre as you watch a 10-hour movie marathon. The lineup features Monty Python and the Holy Grail (2 pm), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (4:20 pm) The Big Lebowski (7 pm ) and Pulp Fiction (10 pm).
Local Arts Pantomime
Friday, Dec. 31, 2 pm PST
Livestreamed pantomime
Tickets start at $35; packages available
thecultch.com/event/east-van-panto
Indie theatre the Cultch is hosting a New Year’s Eve afternoon showing of their classic east-side pantomime. The panto is a playfully spot-on satire of the gentrification of the east side and features tons of local references for Vancouverites to enjoy — perfect for a chill New Year’s Eve with friends.
Calgary
Get Crafty
Friday, Dec. 31, til 12:30 am MT
Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co
The grooviest brewery in Calgary’s Barley Belt lives up to its reputation with Kinfolk Deejays supplying sultry tones as you sip craft beer and bubbles all night long. As always, the A1 Burrito booth is in the house — be sure to get there and snag a table early, as there’re no reservations or tickets.
Zoo Light It Up
Friday, Dec. 31, 10 pm – 12 am MT
Calgary Zoo
Outdoor Lights Show
$29.95, add-on a bento snack box for $25 per person
calgaryzoo.com/zoolights-special-nights
Ring in the new year en plein air and (winter) suit up for a glittering evening of sparkling lights and sparkling wine. Every year the zoo gets all gussied up for the holidays, and this time, they’ve banished the babies from the park: From 10 pm on, it’s 18+ so you can celebrate under the stars, drink in hand.
Welcome 2022 with a Bang
Friday, Dec. 31, 11:55 pm – 12 am MT
Live streamed fireworks show
Free
calgary.ca/csps/recreation/events/new-years-eve
Because the only thing worse than running into your toxic ex at a hometown New Year’s Eve party is running into Omicron, the best way to play it safe is celebrating from home. Lucky for all the house dwellers, the city is putting on its dazzling annual fireworks show above the Calgary Tower at midnight. Tune in to CJSW 90.9 and the online livestream to get the full experience set to tunes from local indie musicians.
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