New Year’s Eve Downtown Festival and Fireworks returns to Sir Winston Churchill Square
Returning to Sir Winston Churchill Square for the first time since 2016, City of Edmonton’s 2022 New Year’s Eve Downtown Festival and Fireworks will include an early fireworks show for families at 8:30 p.m., as well as a fireworks display at midnight. The fireworks shows, which will be approximately 12 minutes in length, will be launched into the skies over the pyramids of City Hall.
The New Year’s Eve fireworks were temporarily relocated to the Alberta Legislature Grounds during LRT construction and refurbishments to Churchill Square; they were then cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The evening will include free family-friendly entertainment, skating on the City Hall Plaza ice rink, and enchanting art installations. Programming will be underway from 6:30 p.m. to midnight.
So bundle up, grab your skates and glide the night away to music by DJ Funkasaurus Rex. Let emcee Sissy Thiessen Kootenayoo take you through a wonderful night full of exciting performances, including music by Melafrique, Anishinaabe Singers and Dancers, led by Steven O’Chiese, and Métis fiddler Colton Bear from the Bear Country Band.
Enjoy captivating fire performances by FloWarrior, and special figure skating performances from Ice Palace Figure Skating Club, along with roving stilt walkers, jugglers, acrobatics, and festive songs from a quartet of Kokopelli singers.
Warm up around a firepit, and purchase a warm meal or snacks from on site food trucks. The Hallway Café will also be open for warm drinks and sweet treats, accompanied by the musical talents of Sticks and Stone Percussion. (Please note that, other than the Hallway Café, City Hall will not be open to the public on New Year’s Eve.)
See and experience the immersive light installations by Vignettes for a unique photo opportunity. Explore the enchanting art installations by Canadian artists Ken Hacke and Dylan Toymaker, as their artworks fill Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza with the warm glow of the season. Let your expressive side loose on the Happy Wall, a 17-metre-long interactive public art installation by Copenhagen artist Thomas Dambo.
Then countdown to the New Year’s Eve fireworks at 8:30 p.m., and with Mayor Amarjeet Sohi at midnight.
Please note: High winds or severe weather may result in the cancellation of some outdoor activities. Visit edmonton.ca/NewYearsEve for the most up-to-date event information.
Road Closures
Before, during and after the fireworks, there will be a number of road and sidewalk closures. To maximize traffic and pedestrian flow while maintaining pedestrian safety throughout the event, the following closures will be in effect until approximately 2 a.m. on January 1, 2023:
7:30 a.m.
- Full closure of 103A Avenue, from 100 Street to 99 Street
5 p.m.
- Full closure of 99 Street, from 102 Avenue to 103A Avenue (including bike lane)
- Full closure of 100 Street, from 102 Avenue to 103A Avenue
- Full closure of 103A Avenue, from 97 Street to 101 Street
Sidewalk Closures
To ensure public safety, the sidewalks within the fireworks fallout zone will be closed to pedestrians from 5 p.m. on December 31, 2022 until 2 a.m. on January 1, 2023.
Sidewalk closures will include:
- East and west sidewalks of 99 Street, between 103A Avenue and 103 Avenue
- East and west sidewalks of 100 Street, between 103A Avenue and 103 Avenue
- North and south sidewalks of 103A Avenue, between 97 Street and 101 Street
- CN bus loop (99 Street, between 99 Street and 100 Street)
- Pedestrians wishing to access the Stanley A. Milner Library Parkade during this time should use the underground pedway system, which is accessible via:
- Tix on the Square entrance (elevator available)
- The Churchill LRT Station staircase, located on the southwest corner of Churchill Square, and the west side of 99 Street by City Hall
- Access from the Stanley A. Milner Library Parkade to the pedway system is available on P2 (Parking Level 2)
Free New Year’s Eve Public Transit Service
Edmonton Transit Service is pleased to get you where you need to go, safely and conveniently. Start your New Year by taking transit to and from your New Year’s Eve celebrations. Riders can board buses, LRT and DATS for free starting at 6 p.m. on December 31, until the end of service at around 3 a.m. on January 1.
Riders can plan their trips using real-time tools (Transit app, Google maps), or using the Trip Planner at edmonton.ca/transit.
For regional service information, please contact St. Albert Transit at 780-418-6060, Strathcona County Transit at 780-464-7433, or Leduc Transit at 780-986-7433.
Parking
- Please note: The City Hall Parkade will be closed at 5 p.m. on December 31. NO PUBLIC PARKING OR ACCESS will be available during the event, as the area falls within the fireworks safety zone.
- Parking will be available in the Canada Place Parkade via the 97 Street entrance, and in the Stanley A. Milner Library Parkade for $5/hr ($10 maximum from 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.).
- Both the Canada Place and the Stanley A. Milner Library Parkades have elevator access for accessibility.
ICE District New Year’s Eve celebration
Celebrate the arrival of 2023 in ICE District Plaza. Come for the Tailgate Party (6 to 8 p.m.) and stay for the Watch Party (8 to 10:30 p.m.), as the Edmonton Oilers face off against the Winnipeg Jets. After the game, stick around as ICE District Plaza is transformed into a rocking New Year’s Eve party, headlined by country music legend and proud Albertan, Brett Kissel. The celebration will include giant countdown screens and a pyrotechnic display at the stroke of midnight — followed by even more live entertainment.
Visit the ICE District website for full details.
Celebrate Downtown
Downtown is where diversity and creativity flourish, and arts and culture thrive. There are a number of great downtown venues to explore this New Year’s Eve. Check out the Edmonton Downtown Business Association’s website to see what else is happening in the heart of Edmonton.
