Saying goodbye to 2019 with a bang
A New Year’s Eve Countdown party in Nelson City will be farewelling the decade with a family-friendly event and a band certain to ask the question, Why Does Love Do This To Me?.
Upper Trafalgar St is hosting the free celebration to help visitors and locals say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020.
The Church Steps will come alive with performances and entertainment from 8pm, with a children’s countdown and fireworks at 10pm. Then it will be time for those allowed to be up after dark to groove to rising local band Rabbit Hole, followed by the Jordan Luck Band.
Nelson City Council events team leader Axel de Maupeou said the New Year’s Eve party was geared to everyone, while also giving children a chance to count down so they would feel like ‘‘part of a big party’’.
He said there would be ‘‘elements of show’’ from 8pm, including acrobatic acts the Twisty Twins and 3
Ring Riot and a DJ to get partygoers dancing and singing.
‘‘It gives a good warm-up start to get people in the mood.’’
Nelson three-piece Rabbit Hole will take the stage from 10pm, playing original music to get the crowd moving. ‘‘They’re very getup-and-dance,’’ de Maupeou said.
The Jordan Luck Band, performing in the run-up to midnight, would be ‘‘the cherry on the cake’’, he said, with a repertoire that included hits from Luck’s former band, Kiwi pop legends the Exponents.
De Maupeou said organisers were expecting a crowd of between 3000 and 5000. He said the event had always been ‘‘well behaved’’.
‘‘People come here to have a good time in a respectful manner to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one.’’
Meanwhile, the Riwaka Rugby Club is throwing its own ticketed New Year’s Eve party at Cooks Reserve. Top Kiwi bands Shihad, Salmonella Dub Soundsystem and Stellar* will rock the crowd into 2020.
Hotel Motueka has cover band the Dead Kings, playing rock hits from the likes of Alice in Chains, Kings of Leon and Soundgarden from 9.30pm. Golden Bay’s Mussel Inn, another popular spot to ring in the new year, has entertainment including Dr Reknaw, Hummucide and Zak Crackalaka.
Back in Nelson, the Vic Mac’s Brew Bar on Trafalgar St has multiinstrumental duo the Gypsy Pickers. Meanwhile, Annesbrook’s Flip Out Trampoline Arena is hosting a New Year party with a difference from 7.30pm to 12.30am, with bouncing, games and competitions.