The City of Barrie is helping residents enjoy the holiday season throughout December, ending with a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration to usher in 2022.
In lieu of the traditional Downtown Countdown, the City is celebrating New Year’s Eve this year with activities throughout the city. Residents can choose their location: Downtown, Holly or East Bayfield, and ring in the new year with family-friendly events and busker performances.
Some of the New Year’s Eve highlights include:
- Special programs centered around holiday themes at Holly Community Centre and East Bayfield Community Centre (5-8 p.m.);
- A holiday performance by the Mariposa School of Skating at Holly Community Centre (5 p.m.);
- A skating party at the Circle at the Centre, featuring a live DJ and light show (6-9 pm);
- Leisure skating at the Centennial Park Community Ice Rink (6-9 pm);
- Free transit starting at 3 p.m. until the end of regular service;
- And to conclude the evening’s family festivities, a fireworks show will take place over Kempenfelt Bay at 9 p.m. The fireworks will be able to be seen from multiple vantage points throughout the downtown. There will be no fireworks show at midnight.
All New Year’s Eve activities are free and programs at the community centres are first come, first served. The City takes guidance from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and the Province of Ontario with regards to gathering restrictions and capacity limits, and all New Year’s Eve activities are subject to change. Residents are reminded to review the proof of vaccination requirements before visiting the community centres.
In addition to the events on December 31, the City is also offering other special holiday activities throughout the season, including an interactive light display called “Island of Warmth” installed at Meridian Place from December 13 to January 3. Interactive features of the display include an electrifying campfire, made of 154 incandescent light bulbs, that comes to life to composed music. The display will allow visitors to generate the fire’s sounds and movements through sensors placed under the floor of the platform.
The City will also offer holiday-themed recreation programming at the facilities in December, including underwater pictures with Santa, a free public skate, and a family-friendly holiday craft.
For more details on New Year’s Eve activities and other City events and programs taking place throughout the holiday season, visit barrie.ca/HappyHolidays.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve & the holiday season in #Barrie! In lieu of the traditional #DowntownCountdown, we're celebrating w/ activities throughout the city: https://t.co/VTQeKxYe0s #NYEBarrie #BarrieEvents
— The City of Barrie (@cityofbarrie) December 3, 2021
