You and kids can have fun ringing in 2018 while it’s still 2017
Family-friendly New York New Years event features live music, games, fireworks
You can party like a New Yorker on New Year’s Eve and still be back at home and tucked into bed by 10 p.m.
Kelowna’s New York New Years will celebrate the arrival of 2018 at New York time, which is three hours ahead, thus 9 p.m.
It’s billed as the perfect familyfriendly way to ring in the new year.
The free lineup of festivities starts at 6 p.m. in Stuart Park and at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and culminates at 9 p.m. with fireworks over Okanagan Lake in front of the park.
You can skate on the outdoor ice at Stuart Park while listening to the live acts on the stage set up just below the huge bear sculpture.
Blues trio Poppa Dawg will entertain from 6 to 6:55 p.m., rockers Cosmic Brew take to the stage from 6:55 to 7:50 p.m., and then contemporary country quartet Nice Horse performs until the fireworks start.
The sixth annual New Year’s Eve bash also features games in the kids’ snow zone, karaoke and a warm-up zone at the community theatre with more games, cartoons and crafts.
There will be free hot chocolate courtesy of ReMax and food trucks.
Last year, 10,000 people came out to the party.
As many, or more, are expected this year with the weather expected to be clear and cold, around -10 C.
New York New Years is presented by Festivals Kelowna, the nonprofit society funded primarily by the City of Kelowna. It also produces other free outdoor programs such as Parks Alive, Kelowna buskers, Pianos in the Parks, Arts on the Avenue and Celebrate Canada Day.