17 things to do at Concord's New Year's Eve Vancouver's Fireworks Celebration

Dec 29 2016, 7:10 am

Forget all other New Year’s Eve parties in the city, the free Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver Celebration in downtown Vancouver is the place to be on the evening of Saturday, December 31, 2016.

“This year’s celebration will take place rain, snow or shine and we’re expecting a record turnout of guests from Vancouver and surrounding areas,” said Dani Pretto, Chair of the Vancouver New Year’s Eve Celebration Society, in a statement.

Last year’s inaugural celebration was the largest New Year’s Eve party in Canada in terms of attendance, and this year’s could be even bigger. In anticipation, organizers have significantly expanded this year’s entertainment lineup with a second free outdoor stage, the biggest indoor NYE party in the city held inside the Vancouver Convention Centre ballrooms, and more and bigger fireworks for both the 9 pm Family Fireworks show and the 12 am Midnight Finale Fireworks show.

“With over 80,000 individuals in attendance last year, we’ve expanded our footprint this year to ensure everyone traveling to the downtown core for the celebration has a spectacular view of the fireworks show from both the free outdoor and ticketed viewing areas,” Pretto continued.

Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver is an official event of the federal government’s year-long festivities celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.

Daily Hive is proud to be the founding organization of New Year’s Eve Vancouver. Here are 17 things to do to ring in 2017 at Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver:

Countdown Clock

New this year to Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver is a multi-faced, 30-foot-tall countdown clock counting down to the final hours, minutes, and seconds to 2017. The clock, supporting United Way, is located on Canada Place Way near the 102.7 The PEAK Main Stage.

20 Food Trucks

Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver will boast a major congregation of some of Vancouver’s most unique and best food trucks. There will be a food truck festival within the New Year’s Eve street party; the food trucks can be found between Thurlow and Burrard streets on Canada Place Way.

Festival map of Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver (Image credit: New Year’s Eve Vancouver)

Family Fireworks at 9 pm

Staying up until 12 am can be a bit difficult for the young ones, which is why organizers are also putting on a Family Fireworks display at 9 pm. It also helps keep the rhythm of the night going, building up to the anticipation of the midnight moment.

The shorter five-minute-long display, slightly longer than last year’s inaugural Early Eve fireworks show, will be launched from a barge in the middle of Coal Harbour.

Photo credit: Gabriel Lam / New Year’s Eve

Spectacular Midnight Finale Fireworks

To properly bid farewell to 2016 and ring in 2017, there will be an intense, spectacular fireworks display at the stroke of midnight. The Midnight Finale fireworks show will boast more and larger shells that explode higher and bigger in the night sky.

This 10-minute-long display is also launched from a barge in the middle of Coal Harbour, and it will be synchronized to music on local radio stations 102.7 The PEAK FM and 93.7 JRfm.

Both the Family Fireworks and Midnight Finale Fireworks can be viewed from:

  • RE/MAX Family Zone at Canada Place
  • Outdoor Fireworks Viewing Zone along the Vancouver Convention Centre’s North Seawall
  • TRUE NORTH Indoor Party inside the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building
  • Vancouver Convention Centre East Plaza near that 102.7 The PEAK Main Stage
  • Coal Harbour Seawall
  • Stanley Park Seawall facing Coal Harbour from the Rowing Club to the 9 O’Clock Gun

Happy New Year, #Vancouver! #NYEVAN #NYE #fireworks #VancityBuzz Video by @iamkenjchan

A video posted by NYE Vancouver (@nyevancouver) on

RE/MAX Family Zone

Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver’s RE/MAX Family Zone at Canada Place has some of the best views of both fireworks displays at 9 pm and midnight.

More importantly, it offers a more comfortable, less crowded and controlled experience, especially for those with the little ones. Two ballrooms inside Canada Place will be transformed into a fun activity zone with face painting, arcade games, and other fun activities for the family. Access to indoor washrooms is also offered.

While the fun activity zone is indoors, the fireworks viewing area is outdoors and uncovered, located along the length of the West Promenade of the Canada Place pier.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Photo by: Gabriel Lam / New Year’s Eve Vancouver

Outdoor Fireworks Viewing Zone

The fireworks barge in Coal Harbour is strategically positioned to provide revellers from the Outdoor Fireworks Viewing Zone, located along the North Seawall of the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building, with the best views of both fireworks shows. Consider this the front row experience to the fireworks, with less crowds and without having to wait for hours.

For more information and tickets, click here.

TRUE NORTH Indoor Party

Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver organizers have partnered with BRANDLIVE, the local event production company behind Squamish Festival, to transform the beautiful wood-clad, high-ceiling West Ballrooms of the Vancouver Convention Centre into a memorable indoor New Year’s Eve experience.

TRUE NORTH is Vancouver’s biggest indoor NYE party, the only indoor NYE party with a high-calibre entertainment lineup, and the only indoor NYE party with a close-up, direct view of the fireworks. And it comes with complimentary snacks.

One ballroom will offer a concert stage, headlined by The Sheepdogs, and the opportunity to view the fireworks indoors through the three-storey-tall, floor-to-ceiling windows of the convention centre. Another ballroom will be a dance floor with music spun by some of the city’s best DJs.

Revellers will also have the ability to watch the fireworks from a private outdoor space at the Pacific Terrace, the plaza space that is home to the Digital Orca statue.

A VIP Experience to TRUE NORTH is also available for those looking for a more posh night out with friends and loved ones.

TRUE NORTH starts at 8 pm and ends at 3 am.

Indoor Stage Ballroom

  • 9:00 pm – Early Eve Fireworks
  • 9:05 pm – Meghan Patrick
  • 9:55 pm – Yukon Blonde
  • 11:00 pm – The Sheepdogs
  • 12:00 am – Midnight Fireworks Finale
  • 12:10 am – Delhi 2 Dublin
  • 01:35 – Humans

DJ Dance Ballroom

  • DJ Hebegebe
  • DJ Kevin Shui
  • DJ Andy Clockwork

For more information and tickets: http://www.nyevan.com/truenorth

Free concerts at 102.7 The PEAK Main Stage

A massive lineup of free live entertainment presented by Dine Alone Records is planned for the free 102.7 The PEAK Main Stage, located on Canada Place Way near the entrance of Canada Place. Headlined by The New Pornographers, the stage will also feature performances by Wintersleep and Tonye Aganaba.

Both fireworks displays can be viewed from the viewing area for the 102.7 The PEAK Main Stage, where there will be a countdown to both the 9 pm fireworks and the midnight moment here in Vancouver.

  • 6:30 pm – Show Stoppers
  • 7:00 pm – Crystal Shawanda
  • 7:45 pm – Special appearance by The Sheepdogs
  • 8:20 pm – Isabelle Longnus
  • 9:00 pm – Family Fireworks
  • 9:05 pm – Tonye Aganaba
  • 9:55 pm – Wintersleep
  • 11:00 pm – The New Pornographers
  • 12:00 am – Midnight Fireworks Finale

Photo credit: Brandon Klemets / New Year’s Eve Vancouver

Free concerts at 93.7 JRfm Stage

Organizers have added a second free concert stage to this year’s event. The 93.7 JRfm Stage located on Canada Place Way near Jack Poole Plaza will feature live country music headlined by Meghan Patrick.

  • 7:00 pm – Show Stoppers
  • 7:45 pm – Beamer Wigley
  • 8:30 pm – Spencer Burton
  • 9:30 pm – Dan Davidson
  • 10:45 pm – Meghan Patrick

Photo by: Gabriel Lam / New Year’s Eve Vancouver

Street Entertainers

Expect a number of roaming street entertainers that will be offering thrilling performances that will help paint the night along Canada Place Way.

Crowd watching

As experienced last year, the massive and peaceful atmosphere in the streets generated by Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver has not been seen since the Olympics. Revellers descending on Canada Place Way and surrounding areas in Coal Harbour can expect the best party atmosphere in the city all-year.

Sponsor Activations

Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver would not be possible without its sponsors and partners, and many of these organizations will have an on-site presence with fun activities and brand showcases along Canada Place Way.

Global BC’s “News Year’s Eve” Live Broadcast

Local television network Global BC will be setting up an on-site studio at the corner of Canada Place Way and Burrard Streets within the street festival site. They will be broadcasting live at 6 pm for the Global News Hour and again at 11 pm for the hour-long special of Global News.

Photo by: Gabriel Lam / New Year’s Eve Vancouver

Support United Way’s efforts to help kids

The official charity partner of Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver is United Way of the Lower Mainland will have a major on-site presence. United Way provides school-age children, particularly those from low-income families, with a good start in life whether it be through academic support, anti-bullying initiatives, and proper nutrition. It supports 1,600 after school programs assisting over 49,000 kids in the region.

Christmas at FlyOver Canada

A special Christmas-themed version of FlyOver Canada’s virtual flying ride at Canada Place will be open until late evening. Please note that there is no fireworks viewing from FlyOver Canada.

Vancouver Christmas Market

While it is not an official event of Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver, the Vancouver Christmas Market is located at Jack Poole Plaza, adjacent to the New Year’s Eve street party, and will be open on December 31.

However, it will be closing early in the evening, before the fireworks shows, and liquor will not be available at the market on this day.

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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