Crowd at Queen Victoria Park.
ANNIE SILVESTER/Bullet News
Niagara Falls New Year’s Eve celebration brought in thousands to Queen Victoria Park for the musical extravaganza that is billed as the largest celebration in Canada.
Perfect weather conditions didn’t hurt either as folks crammed themselves together for the ultimate party that featured an impressive lineup of talent that included electronic band Dragonette, pop-punkers Hedley and headliner Nelly Furtado.
The Mudmen perform.
To get things livened up Canadian Celtic rock band the Mudmen opened their show with a frenzied bagpipe act that got everyone moving. The act takes piping to a whole new level combining tradition with good old rock n’ roll.
“It doesn’t get much better,” said piper Robbie Campbell. “I think this is Canada’s New Year’s Eve celebration. As much as Ottawa is branded for Canada Day, Niagara Falls is branded for New Year’s Eve.”
Folks in the crowd seemed to agree with the sentiment with many out-of-towners attending the festivities, although lots of locals made their way out as well, excited to see their favourite bands.
Tristin Marchard and her friend April Barbera from Niagara Falls where thrilled to check out crowd darlings Hedley.
“We are huge Hedley fans. We love them and are so excited to see them. They have a lot of great acts this year and we are music lovers but it’s unbelievable that Hedley is so close because we have travelled so far to see them.”
Hedley fans.
The CAA Winter’s Festival of Lights and two rounds of fireworks also added to the energy in the crowd.
“The Niagara Parks have come alive,” said Niagara Parks Commission chairwoman Janice Thomson. “Young, married, old, single, families… Everyone is happy and everyone is having a wonderful time. You see the generations of people that are out here and we are all feeling the same rhythm, the same music and it’s bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.”
Thomson also acknowledged the huge success of the winter event that brought an estimated 40,000 plus people to the park saying that “the Niagara Parks really belongs to all of the people.”
“It’s a tourism asset and it’s a tourism driver so I think it’s very appropriate that we gather people from around the province as well as the wonderful national exposure we are getting tonight on television.”
The spectacular event which seems to get bigger and better every year was hosted by ET Canada and broadcast on Global.
For video highlights, please watch Bullet TV this week.
One Comment on "HAPPY NEW YEAR: Thousands welcome 2013 during free concert in Niagara Falls"
I and my wife decided to go for New Year celebration in Niagara ,following all sorts of Tv commercials
and other news.
Dear my fellows, thanks God that You all, had no comparisons to the similar events in the world.
It was disaster.
1.long,longer, the longest breaks between showtimes
2. sound technicians gave for three first songs of Nelly Furtado so much low frequency , high powered
sounds , that completly damaged spirit of the show.
3.firewoks after midnight, last few minutes and neons shut-off even ealier.
4.twenty minutes after midnight, show was ended.
5.drive-out from any parking around event, was impossible for over two hours.
Finnally:
first – look at, how other nations organize that kind of events and take the lessons with the right direction.
second – be more humble- we are not the best ( if You have some doubts, check on line . how people around the world, celebrated 2012).
sincerely
Marek