Sing, dance and feed your sweet tooth this New Year's Eve at London's Victoria Park
Free New Year's Eve event will have live music, family-friendly activities, and fireworks
Londoners can say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025 at a free New Year's Eve celebration in Victoria Park on Tuesday evening where they can enjoy local food and entertainment.
New Year's Eve in the Park will feature live music, with a special focus on local acts, along with family-friendly activities and performances for children and fireworks.
"We're really excited because it's the region's biggest free New Year's Eve celebration, and we're really happy to be able to create an event where the entire community can come together, and you don't have to really spend a dollar if you don't want to," said Mario Circelli, the event's co-chair.
Here's what you can expect to see at the event:
Performances by London's top musicians
The evening will have two segments. The first will be a children's concert from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m that will feature veteran performer Paul Stock and Nick Gordon, who will use costumes, magic tricks, and music sure to get both children and adults moving, Circelli said.
The second will have audiences jam to various genres of music from London's homegrown talent, such as singer-songwriter Tyrone Traher.
Music producer IM'PERETIV will DJ the event. His set will also include performances from the region's top hip-hop artists and rappers.
Local bands like Mark Swan's Good Hang and Forest City London Music Awards All-Star Band are set to keep the crowd singing and dancing by playing top hits until midnight.
"We're showcasing London's unique and prolific hip-hop community and we'll have 10 of the hottest musicians and vocalists in Ontario who will play nothing but hits — songs that everyone will know, and that's how we'll ring in the new year until midnight," Circelli said.
Satisfy sweet and savoury cravings
The first set of fireworks will take place at 9 p.m. for families to enjoy, followed by another one at the stroke of midnight.
Partygoers can stay warm and enjoy free hot chocolates and marshmellows that Circelli said are quite popular and always in demand.
There will also be a variety of food trucks at the event like Big Daddy Bacon and Donut Diva for Londoners to enjoy late night snacks and desserts.
Families can also shred the ice at Victoria Park's skating rink, which will be open until 9 p.m. Although attendees are encouraged to bring their own skates, rentals will be available at the Kiwani Memorial Bandshell concession for $8 per person.
Free parking, transit rides
London Transit will provide free transit rides from 8 p.m. until the end of service. Its holiday ride schedule can be found online. There will be free on-street parking downtown after 6 p.m., which will continue all day on Jan. 1, the City of London said.
Bike parking is available around Victoria Park at the following locations:
- The south side of the Kiwanis bandshell, at the corner of Richmond Street and Central Avenue.
- Along Wellington Street north of Dufferin Avenue.
- Outside City Hall under the west overhang.
Secure bike lockers can also be rented and are located at the north end of Clarence Street beside Victoria Park. The bike lockers can be opened with the Movatic app, and the first two hours of the rental are free, the city said.