Our guide for Edmontonians looking to ring in 2019
Ring in 2019 with a festival-like series of events
Ringing in 2019 in a festival setting will be a blast in the Edmonton area with a choice of fireworks and other New Year’s Eve activities on Monday. Here are some of the scheduled attractions.
DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL AND FIREWORKS
Where: Federal Building, 9820 107 St., and Capital Plaza When: Activities: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fireworks: 9 p.m. Monday What: Inside the Federal Building, family-friendly activities include live music, roving performers, games and lanternmaking. The celebrations continue at Capital Plaza with mainstage performances, ice carving, fire pits and bannockmaking.
At 9 p.m., the pyromusical fireworks show takes place at the Alberta legislature grounds. The city recommends viewing the show at Capital Plaza and in front on the north side of the Alberta legislature.
The City of Edmonton will be livestreaming the show on its Facebook page.
The skating rink on the legislature grounds will be closed starting at 4 p.m. due to its proximity to the fireworks.
Festivities will also mean multiple road closures, so plan commutes accordingly. At 9 a.m., there will be a full closure of 99 Avenue from 107 Street to 109 Street. As of 4 p.m., there will be full closures of 106 Street from 96 Avenue to 97 Avenue; 96 Avenue from 105 Street to 107 Street (local residents will have access to the back alley); Fortway Drive north of the Royal Glenora Club; 107 Street from 99 Avenue to Fortway Drive; 107 Street from 96 Avenue to 99 Avenue; and the Terrace Building access off of River Valley Road.
There will also be a number of parking restrictions and pedestrian detours. To help ease the restrictions, the city is offering free bus and LRT service starting at 5 p.m. and running until 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
From 5 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, ETS will run a free shuttle service from 102 Avenue and 100 Street southbound to Government Transit Centre. Shuttles will run every five minutes, stopping at all bus stops along Jasper Avenue.
Buses will also be available from the Government Transit Centre after the fireworks show.
The last Capital Line trains depart Century Park and Clareview at 3:10 a.m. Tuesday. The last Metro Line trains depart Health Sciences/Jubilee at 2:41 a.m. and NAIT at 3:03 a.m. Tuesday.
A number of other communities are holding their own fireworks events to ring in the New Year with a bang, including St. Albert, North Millbourne, and Greenfield.
NOON YEAR’S EVE
Where: Telus World of Science Edmonton, 11211 142 St.
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
What: Staying up until midnight is sometimes hard for little ones, so the Telus World of Science is ringing in New Year’s early — at noon. There will be two chances to take in the celebrations: on Monday, Dec. 31 and Tuesday, Jan. 1. The event includes a “unique version of fireworks,” and the chance to take in delicious chemistry by tasting candy cane liquid nitrogen ice cream. Admission for Noon Year’s Eve is the regular price to enter the Telus World of Science Edmonton.
HADDOW PARK
Where: Haddow Park, 2099 Haddow Drive
When: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., fireworks at 8 p.m. Monday What: The Ridge Community League is hosting its annual family New Year’s Eve celebration Monday. Activities include snowshoeing for kids, bannock making, hot chocolate and cookies. End the night with a fireworks show at 8 p.m.
MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH NEW YEAR’S EVE CONCERT
Where: McDougall United Church, 10025 101 St.
When: 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (doors at 6:45 p.m.) Monday What: Celebrate New Year’s with the 10th anniversary concert tradition featuring music by Edmonton City Fiddlers, Back Porch Swing, Bill Bourne, Travis Matthews, Harmonic Flamenco, Braden Gates and Celtara.
Activities for kids will be offered in the church basement with refreshments and goodies for sale. Admission is free with a donation for the food bank.
HERITAGE PARK FAMILY FEST
Where: Heritage Park,
5100 41 Ave., Stony Plain
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday What: The New Year’s Eve Family Fest in Stony Plain features skating, horse drawn wagon rides, crafts, snacks and live entertainment. To top off the evening, there will be a fireworks show beginning at 8:45 p.m. Food bank donations are encouraged.
STRATHCONA COUNTY NEW YEAR’S EVE
Where: Sherwood Park Arena Sports Centre, Festival Place and Broadmoor Lake Park,
2015 Oak St., Sherwood Park When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday What: Families can enjoy numerous indoor and outdoor activities including snowshoeing, sleigh rides and ice sculptures. There’s also arts and crafts and at 8 p.m., head to Broadmoor Lake Park for the early fireworks show.