Fireworks, family-friendly events to usher in New Year

Calgary is ringing in the new year with several bangs as fireworks will be shooting from the top of the Calgary Tower for the second year in a row.

An explosive display was part of the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration last year along with the city’s first countdown ball drop. But frigid temperatures put a stop to other events, including the live performance event at Olympic Plaza.

This year’s celebrations will kick off at the new Central Library with all-ages activities like a craft station, Indigenous beading and a children’s virtual reality exhibit.

There’s even a kid’s countdown at 9 p.m. with Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Across from the library at city hall, the Municipal Atrium will transform into the Rumpus Room featuring a Calgary Flames indoor hockey rink, a bouncy castle and the Enmax photo booth.

An outdoors skating party at Olympic Plaza will have firepits, ice sculptures and a Tim Hortons truck providing free warm beverages to keep Calgarians toasty.

Food trucks will be parked on 3rd Street S.E. and at all three event locations, along with art installations and roaming performers.

Meanwhile, one of the city ’s largest New Year’s Eve fundraising galas will occur at Hotel Arts. The Calgary Firefighters Charitable Foundation is partnering with the Calgary Herald to host a fundraiser with money raised supporting the foundation and this year’s 12 recipient agencies of the Herald’s Christmas Fund.

Here’s a roundup of the city’s New Year’s Eve events:

Central Library Family Dance Party, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Kids countdown at 9 p.m. with Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Pied Piper story time; family-friendly theatre performances; crafts and activities for all ages, including giant Jenga, Lego pit and button making; teen gaming; baby lounge; Indigenous beading; poetry readings by poet laureate Sheri-D Wilson; Improv NYE Broadway Musical by the Kinkonauts in the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall; Indigenous storytelling, song and drum by Wendy Walker.

Municipal Atrium Rumpus Room, 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.

The Calgary Flames indoor hockey rink; interactive games and simulations; bouncy castle; Enmax photo booth; Fire Fountain outdoor art installation by the Blazin’ Lily Gals.

Olympic Plaza Skating Party, 7 p.m. - Midnight

The KidSport Skate Shack open for free skate rentals with valid ID; Tim Hortons free hot drink giveaway; ice sculpture; roaming performers; firepits; The Door interactive visual art installation; reading by poet laureate Sheri-D Wilson; fireworks countdown at midnight with the mayor.

3rd St S.E., 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Food trucks; The Cube interactive visual art installation; ice sculptures.

For more information on the City of Calgary’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations visit calgary.ca/nye. Public transit will be available on New Year’s Eve and more information on routes visit calgarytransit. com.