New Year’s Eve celebrations return to Halifax

Transit is free starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday and will run later than usual

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Groff

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With pandemic protocols behind us, Haligonians won’t need to ring in 2023 virtually.

Halifax Regional Municipality’s celebrations return to Grand Parade this year with lots of live entertainment starting at 9:30 p.m., including JJ Wilde and Devon Cole, and fireworks at midnight.

It will be broadcast on Eastlink Community TV.

The event will also be part of CBC’s national New Year’s Eve broadcast.

Transit will be free

There will also be several New Year’s Eve parties throughout the municipality, and Halifax Regional Police are encouraging everyone to plan ahead and be safe.

They say if you’re going to be drinking or consuming cannabis or other drugs, don’t drive. You can call a cab, arrange a designated driver, take public transit or stay the night.

Halifax Transit will be free starting at 6 p.m. and will run later than usual.

The Woodside ferry won’t be running, but the last Alderney ferries will depart Alderney at 1:30 a.m. and Halifax at 1:45 a.m.

Access-A-Bus riders also get free fares after 6:00 p.m. until regular service hours end.

Prepare for the weather

And if you’re heading out to celebrate, prepare for wet weather.

As of early Friday afternoon, temperatures are expected to be warmer than usual, but rain is in the forecast for New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s Day.

Expect a lot of businesses to be closed New Year’s Day

Many businesses, including grocery stores, malls and NSLCs, will shut down early on New Year’s Eve and stay closed New Year’s Day.

You can find more details on what’s open and what’s closed by clicking here.

But there will be several New Year’s Levees on Sunday, including at Halifax City Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and at Government House from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Both are open to the public.