Ringing in New Years Eve in Calgary 2016
There are a number of things to do in Calgary for NYE (thanks again Okotoks for the sweet ass slogan). The economy might not be the best it’s ever been, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go out and get hammered as we bring this crappy year to a close. January 1st is a Sunday too, so unless you’re hardcore religious and will be hitting up church, or one of the poor souls doing call centre work, you should have a full day of recovery available to you. Use it! Here are some things to do on New Years Eve in Calgary.
City of Calgary Stuff
2017 is actually Canada’s 150th birthday, which means the new years eve party in Calgary is going to be awesome. The city got a whole bunch of money to throw a pretty cool family party, with lots of stuff for kids to do. Usually it’s pretty ho-hum, but this year it’ll have a bouncy castle, crafts, an ice slide, a magician, free ice skating at Olympic Plaza, fire spinning, live ice carving, free hot chocolate, a glow in the dark family dance party, and more. There’s a kids NYE countdown at 9:00pm so you can get them home to bed with time leftover to do some shots when the real thing happens. If you stick around, the band 54:40 will be playing from 11:00pm – 11:55pm. Of course there will be fireworks at midnight too, hosted by Nenshi.
Southland Leisure Centre
Another good one for the kids. The Southland Leisure Centre will be host to art, crafts, games, an obstacle course, a bouncy house, a selife photo booth, then a DJ belting out tunes while families swim and hang out in the wave pool. Regular admission applies, which isn’t all that much.
Zoo Year’s Eve
This will be a good one for the kids, even though this year they will not have fireworks. That’s okay though! We took mini to this when she was just a baby and the fireworks scared the crap out of her. If you have infants, not a bad choice. Regular Zoolights will be happening, with some extra stuff added on top. There will be ice skating, a dance party with the Grinch, a DJ with professional dancers, free face painting, and the first 500 kids 12 and under get cool sparkly hats. Regular Zoolights tickets will be valid, if you’ve already purchased them.
Telus Spark
They’re having a NYE countdown at 11:45am, for the kiddos. It’ll be set to hydogen balloon explosions. Then? Then there is a bubble wrap dance party. Hundreds of feet of bubble wrap for kids to just go nuts on. How cool does that sound? It’s regular admission too.
- All the info: http://www.sparkscience.ca/experience-telus-spark/events/noon-years-eve/
Flames Game
Hockey is never a bad choice. The flames will be hosting the Coyotes at the dome, starting at 8:00pm. There are some pretty cheap tickets available, starting at around $40 for the nosebleeds. Cheaper tickets means more cups of their special crack-riddled dome beer. Drink enough of it and you won’t care how crappy your seats are. Plus, when the game is over, you’ll be out in time to checkout fireworks, and your chances of getting arrested for being drunk in public go way down.
- All the info:
http://www.ticketmaster.ca/calgary-flames-v-arizona-coyotes-calgary-alberta-12-31-2016/event/110050EB9A59593E
Endless Pie
Something a little different for New Years Eve in Calgary, Pie Butt is throwing an ALL YOU CAN EAT pie dinner on Dec 31st. It’s $45 per person, which includes a dinner of savory pies, a glass of champagne, and then an unlimited amount of dessert pies. This is their last time ever doing this. As you can imagine, reservations are required, and it’s going to sell out. It might even be sold out by the time you read this, sorry.
- All the info: https://www.facebook.com/piebutt/
Esenta: an Intimate New Years Affair
Le Cirque de la Nuit is presenting this one. They’re a local kickass circus/entertainment group? I don’t really know how to explain what they are, but there will be dancing, fans, hooping, juggling, that kind of thing. It’s being held at Habitat Living Sound, and they’ll not only have a bunch of in your face circus-type entertainment but a nice lineup of DJs as well. Lots of tribal, house, groovy music. Should be fun. Tickets are $35/$45 and include entry and a mini bottle of champagne.
- All the info: https://www.facebook.com/events/217779835327197/
Glitter & Gold at the Grey Eagle
Porter Robinson, Audien, Robotaki and TKO will be playing at the Grey Eagle on NYE. I personally haven’t heard of these artists before, but my musical tastes pretty much start and end with Moist. You might recognize this track from Porter Robingin and Madeon though. Ticket prices vary. Looks like a good party. If you’re a cigarette smoker, you can smoke indoors at the Grey Eagle. If you’re not, well, you’ll live. Go win some money before the show. I call dibs on 10% of your winnings.
- All the info: http://www.ticketbreak.com/event_details/11343
Sub Rosa Nightclub
Some nightclub. I have no idea, really. All of the info online is pretty cryptic. “Sub Rosa is hidden beneath the heritage building at the corner of 8th Avenue and 1st Street.Enter under the neon △ symbol.” ooooh spooky! Their website only has a phone number, and even their Instagram account is private. There will be House, 90s, top 40 music played by some DJ called Tofunkah. It’s an ages 25+ event, with a dress code, so it’s unlikely you’ll be slamming jagerbombs with your broskis here. Tickets are a very specific $28.50. Could be fun though, who knows.
- All the info:
https://www.universe.com/events/sub-rosa-nye-2017-tickets-6ZJXC7
Ranchmans House Party
$25 generally admission, doors open at 8:00pm. Or, $50 and it includes a roast beef dinner, but you need to arrive earlier. Will be free popcorn, free cotton candy, a photo booth, a drunken resolution contest (whatever that is), and a $1005 cash money balloon drop at midnight.
Cowboys Legend Party
If you’ve been to Cowboys before, you know what you’re in for. Their general admission tickets are sold out, but they’ve still got dinner tickets up for grabs. $60, includes a pretty decent meal at the Zen 8 Grill. Go check it out.
- All the info: https://www.myshowpass.com/legends_nye2017/
Dickens Hang The DJ
It’s 80’s vs 90’s night at Dickens. Lots of music and good times, Dickens is always a lot of fun. Don’t ever tell the wait staff that they should serve a “Dickens Cider” drink because they’ll get pissy with you, having never heard that before. Worth it.
- All the info: http://www.ticketfly.com/event/1381029-hang-dj-nye-2017-80s-vs-90s-calgary/
Ship & Anchor: British New Year
The Ship is hosting a British New Years celebration. They’ll have a DJ, bubbles, tooters, hats, and a countdown at 5:00pm our time, which is midnight in the UK. Doors open at 10:00am. A little weird.. but hey the Ship is a little weird too. No cover!
- All the info: https://www.facebook.com/events/383095728692612/
Midtown: Champagne and TrapSoul (Presented by 10 at 10)
$25 gets you in. There’s a dress code. There will be a spoken word performance, a DJ, the expected ball drop at 12, and there’s only 100 tickets. From 9:00pm-10:00pm, free appys, with a dinner being presented after that. Complimentary champagne at midnight. Midtown has a killer selection of booze on tap as well.
- All the info: https://www.myshowpass.com/10xnye/
Singles NYE Gala at the EPCOR Centre
It’s a singles event. Kind of pricey at $78.75, but you’ll get to hang out with other single people. Doesn’t sound like there’s much included other than that, just entry and music.. but hey, dropping 80 bucks isn’t bad if you end up meeting someone, now is it? You get a white rose if you’re single, red if you’re in a relationship (why are you going to a singles party if you’re in a relationship??). As you can imagine, there is a dress code. The venue is pretty sweet.
- All the info: https://www.artscommons.ca/WhatsOn/ShowDetails.aspx?show_id=BDCFF133-ABC2-4099-9E51-EB4A1EE161EE
New Years in Miami at Marquee
You’ve all been asking where the hall all the Miami themed events are, wellsir, they’re at Marquee. Tickets are available in various tiers, though I don’t think they include anything different, other than the cost. There is a VIP package that includes canapés and champagne, and a priority entrance.
- All the info: https://www.facebook.com/events/915458811918225/
New Years Eve in Calgary
So yeah, there are some things to do. I realize this is the day before New Years Eve in Calgary that I’m posting this.. but who knows, if even one person finds something to do, right on. There are many other things happening at pretty much every restaurant/bar/club out there. Just check the Facebook page of your favourite digs, you’ll find something.
Personally we’re going to be attending the City of Calgary stuff with the kid. Hoping to see Nenshi get in the bouncy castle.
Happy 2017 Calgary.
Blogging in Calgary.
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