New Year’s Eve events to kick off 2024 in Calgary

The year 2023 is coming to a close, and what better way to ring in the new year than to take in the fireworks with family and friends?

But that’s not all on the docket in Calgary.

Here is a list of things to do to finish off 2023:

New Year’s Eve fireworks

The City of Calgary has fireworks at midnight launching from Prince’s Island Park, and it will be synchronized to music on CJSW 90.9 FM, which it says will highlight Canadian artists.

The fireworks can be viewed from any location with a view of the park, or from home through the city’s livestream.

Listeners can also tune into CJSW at 11:55 p.m. for a blessing from Indigenous Elder Clarence Wolfleg, which will be followed by a midnight countdown from Mayor Jyoti Gondek and the fireworks soundtrack.

Airdrie is also offering a fireworks display — which starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Ed Eggerer Athletic Park.

Skating at Olympic Plaza

The long-standing Olympic Plaza skating rink will continue to operate right until midnight for the occasion.

It will open at 10 a.m., and skate rentals will also be available from 2 p.m. until midnight.

If skating isn’t really your thing, then some ice hockey might be more your jam.

The Calgary Flames take on the Philidelphia Flyers at the Saddledome at 6 p.m., and King Eddy has its “Hockey Happy Hour” from 4-6 p.m.

The Wranglers are also playing on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m. as they take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds

Festivities at the Calgary Zoo

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is keeping its Zoolights going as 2024 rolls in.

Families can take Calgary Transit’s blue line to the station for its “Zoo Year’s Eve: Family Night” for “extra special activities.”

There will be a crafting station, a chance to carve ice sculptures, and some hula hoop dancing to an interactive light display. There will also be an extra light display featuring a ball drop every 20 minutes.

Gates for Zoolights open at 5 p.m., and the last entry is at 8 p.m., with gates closing at 9 p.m.

Read More: Annual Zoolights back at Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

However, for a more adult-oriented night, the zoo will reopen at 10 p.m.

Drinks will be available, along with also having the chance to carve sculptures and dance to an interactive light display. The light show and ball drop happens at midnight.

The zoo will turn away families or anyone with children as it’s meant for those over the age of 18.

In addition, there will be snow globes, a “private oasis surrounded by twinkling lights” available to rent for families early in the day, and for adults at night.

Parking is $13 and is only available at the North Gate, and guests are reminded to dress warmly as it will primarily be outside.

More information on New Year’s Eve at the zoo can be found here and here, along with information on the snow globes.

TELUS Spark’s New Year’s at Noon

Calgary’s science centre has a family New Year’s event at noon.

Noon Year’s Eve at the TELUS Spark Science Centre has a family-friendly disco party and a countdown to “Noon Year’s” at 12 p.m.

The centre says it will have a balloon pop and a “quiet space with sensory-friendly activities, no flashing lights, and soothing bubble wrap.”

Nighttime events leading up to 2024

Many bars and restaurants will be helping to ring in the new year in style with glitz, glamour, and overall good vibes.

Ranchmans Calgary has its “Champagne and Spurs” event at 5 p.m., which will have live music, countdown visuals, a Chuck McEwan show, and even a photographer on hand to help Calgarians capture a good time.

Stephen Avenue also has a few spots hosting New Year’s.

Calgary’s historic Palace Theatre will have 90.3 AMP Radio presenting the “Bright Lights Big City New Year’s Eve 2024” at 9 p.m.

It’s hosted by Kay L and will feature DJ Kav and Brett Jones of DRUM N DJ, DJ AL V, and local violinist Angela Smart, also known as Angela Violinist.

Tickets are $32-$43.

Barbarella Bar is having its inaugural New Year’s Bash starting at 7 p.m., where it says there will be “glitter and champagne.” CJSW’s Rob Faust of “The Electric Company” will be DJing.

Tickets are upwards of $217.

And nearby, Bottle Screw Bills is inviting people to celebrate the new year at 8 p.m., and the Ship and Anchor Pub has two events.

It will be celebrating a “British New Year” at 10 a.m. and then will have a New Year’s Eve Dance Party at 8 p.m. There is no cover for both events.

Meanwhile, Bella Concert Hall at Mount Royal University will have “A Luminous New Year’s Eve,” which will have wine and chocolates on top of the choir singing within the hall. It starts at 7:30 p.m.

In addition, Canadian rock band April Wine will be performing at the Deerfoot Casino at 10 p.m.

Earlier in December, Myles Goodwyn, former lead singer of April Wine, died at the age of 75.

His publicist says Goodwyn stepped away from the band earlier in the year but continued to perform live until not long before his death.

For more events and things to do in the city, click here.

Holiday services in the city

Calgary Transit buses and CTrains will be free on New Year’s Eve.

The Red Line will be running every 10 minutes until about 11:30 p.m., and will then switch to every 15 minutes. The Blue line will run every 13-15 minutes all day. Transit service will end at 4 a.m.

For buses, service will be extended for routes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22, 301, 302, MAX Orange, MAX Yellow, MAX Teal and MAX Purple. Those buses will run every 30-35 minutes, with the last one leaving downtown at around 3 a.m.

On New Year’s Day, buses and trains will be operating on Sunday level of service.

On Demand service will also be operating on Sunday schedule and level of service on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Parking is free in on-street ParkPlus zones on New Year’s Day, with weekend rates applying at all Calgary Parking parkades and surface lots.

Meanwhile, regular rates will continue at the Calgary Zoo, TELUS Spark, and Heritage Park. However, regular rates will be in effect at Calgary Zoo, TELUS Spark and Heritage Park.

Recreation centres will be closed on Jan. 1, same with city landfills.

In addition, the city’s contact centre and impound lot will be closed on Jan. 1. The call centre will be available from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve.

More information on hours for recreation centres and city hours can be found online here.