Still trying to decide what to do for New Year’s Eve? Lots of local restaurants have special menus and music (though some are already booked up), and staying home with takeout is always an option (order really early!), but we found some fun events happening that still have availability.
Celebrate the New Year and Help Fellow Burlingtonians at AB Sports Bar
Burlington Helping Burlington is wrapping up their 90-day food drive and fundraiser with the help of AB Sports Bar: they’re throwing a big New Year’s Eve party complete with three-course meal, champagne, and dancing. Live music by Matt Stevenson and Mark Gunn will get everyone on their feet. This charity event is for those 19 years and older; the price is $59, and dinner will be served at 8 p.m. Call 289-222-2525 for reservations.
Get glam for New Year’s Eve at the Burlington Convention Centre
Put on your dancing shoes and head over to the Burlington Convention Centre’s New Year’s Eve Party to ring in 2024 with a bang. Doors open at 7 p.m. Blue Frog Entertainment will be spinning on the ones and twos at this 19 years and older event; a dinner buffet, champagne at midnight, and a late-night buffet will fuel all that dancing! Tickets are $160 per person; call 905-319-0319.
Attend a White Crystal Masquerade at the Good Magpie in Downtown Burlington
Topowe Events is hosting a White Crystal Masquerade Dinner at the Good Magpie starting at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. Dress according to theme, and enjoy cocktails, a midnight champagne toast, and wine pairings across a five-course (at least!) dinner. At the time of writing, there were some tickets left, at $175 per person plus fees/taxes.
Calling All Singles for A Midnight Soiree at Jackson’s Landing
Single in the City is hosting A Midnight Soiree at Jackson’s Landing for New Year’s Eve, with music, food, and mingling. The dress code is semi-formal, a DJ will be spinning top 40, old school, hip hop and more, with charcuterie boards, pizzas, sliders, nachos and more from 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are available from $60 plus fees/taxes here.
Put on Your Bowling Shoes at Splitsville Burlington
Splitsville is offering New Year’s Eve packages with bowling, pizza, pop, party favours and arcade game cards for groups of up to five people per lane. There are still earlier time slots available (day time and up to 8:15 p.m. for 90 minutes of bowling per reservation), starting at $149 per package.
Celebrate with fellow board game-enthusiasts at Nostalgia Games Cafe
From 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Nostalgia Games Cafe (2178 Mountain Grove Ave.) will be celebrating the new year with a special New Year’s menu and some fun surprises. Wait for 2024 to arrive while you sip tea, snack, and play a couple of Nostalgia’s 100-plus board games! Try your hand at Battleship, Clue, Settlers of Catan, or one of the many others. Walk-ins are welcome, but we suggest calling 289-337-9752 to reserve your spot.
(P.S. Nostalgia Games Cafe is looking for happy customers to send them letters of how they benefit the community to append to a zoning-change application to the City of Burlington — if you can help, email your letter to info@nostalgiagamescafe.com.)
Howl in the New Year at Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Park naturalists will guide guests on a 30-minute after-dark hike to learn about coyotes on New Year’s Eve. After the walk, gather around a bonfire to roast marshmallows, then celebrate an early kids New Year countdown at 8:30 p.m. No reservations are required for this outdoor event. Daily rates for the park are in effect ($18 for a daily vehicle permit; see website for more details).
Sing along to the tunes of Grease at BPAC
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) still has tickets left for their interactive sing-along screening of Grease. Burlington Student Theatre’s Rainer Noak will get you ready to sing out loud, and walk you through the “Magic Moments” goody bag that is included in the ticket price (from $39.50 to $59.50 for non-BPAC members). Sparkling wine, a costume contest, and access to a photo booth are also included in the price. Lyrics will be displayed on the big screen for you to sing along with your favourite hits from the 1977 classic movie. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are available here.
If you’ve got kids and fancy tiring them out, there’s always the Burlington Festival of Lights at Spencer Smith Park: head down, let them run around and enjoy the spectacle, then see if your local Tim Horton’s is open to grab a hot chocolate on the way home. Choose a different country and do a countdown for their New Year’s Eve (we like to countdown with England, at 7 p.m. our time), then get them in bed at a reasonable time for your family — and decide if you’re staying up til midnight or turning in yourself. Whatever you do, we wish you a wonderful 2024!
