The countdown is on! Only three days remain until the City of Charlottetown’s Canada 150 New Year’s Eve Celebration, Capital New Year – First Night 150.

Kick off the evening with the People’s Night Parade, beginning at 6 p.m. The parade will tell the story of our Island and Canadian People over the past 150 years. The cultural richness of Mi’kmaq, Francophone, Celtic-European, Global Newcomers, and LGBTQ+ persons will be represented. Weaving people and parade together will be light from the handmade lanterns, as well as lit kite-style banners. The lanterns will be featured in the parade as it travels along Great George Street from Back Alley Music (169 Great George Street) to Grafton Street. Spectators are encouraged to line the route on the sidewalk to watch the parade unfold and follow the actors as they move along the parade route to its conclusion at the Capital New Year – First Night 150 mainstage, which will be located at the intersection of Great George and Grafton Streets. Be sure to come early to get a good vantage spot to watch the parade.

The mainstage celebration will continue until Midnight featuring headliners Eighties icon, Alan Frew of Glass Tiger and Canadian singer/songwriter Tyler Shaw. Several local artists will also be featured including Meaghan Blanchard, Island traditional Acadian band Gadelle, Caribbean fusion band I and The Village, and Julia Dunn, a 16-year-old singer/songwriter from Charlottetown who sang a duet with country music superstar Keith Urban and just recently completed her debut self-titled album "Julia Dunn" with music producer David Rashed.

Warm up with indoor, children’s activities beginning at 5:30 p.m., located on the 2nd floor of The Holman Grand Hotel with access from Grafton Street. Anyone with accessibility needs can visit the front desk of the hotel for assistance to the 2nd floor location. Indoor activities will include balloon twisting, crafts, face painting, and performances by The Music Man – Michael Pendergast. Horse and wagon rides and roaming busker performances will also happen along Great George Street. 

A family fireworks display and a special children’s countdown to the New Year will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Great George and Grafton Streets. A dazzling pyrotechnic display at Midnight will bring the celebration to a close and welcome the New Year.

The event will be accessible, using guidelines from the City’s checklist "Creating Accessible Events". There will be a clearly marked accessible viewing area for the mainstage, as well as accessible washrooms. Accessible parking will be available through regularly identified parking spaces in the downtown core. For details on event accessibility, please call 902-566-5548.

Capital New Year – First Night 150 is made possible thanks to the support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada 150 fund.

A detailed schedule is available online at www.charlottetown.ca/Canada150.php. Follow the City of Charlottetown on Facebook and Twitter for the latest event details: www.facebook.com/CityofCharlottetown and @ChtownPEI @ChtownIPE.