Best places in Ontario to celebrate New Year's Eve

Where to celebrate in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

The GTA offers lots of great places to celebrate New Year’s Eve with family or friends, at events happening across the region—from Mississauga, Brampton and Markham to Scarborough and downtown Toronto.

Find the ultimate New Year’s Eve bash at Toronto’s City Hall. Kick off 2024 at Nathan Phillips Square with free live music, ice skating, food and drinks trucks, and an Instagram-worthy fireworks display that starts at midnight. Check the City of Toronto website closer to the date for this year’s lineup and schedule.

In Brampton, the New Year’s Eve party starts at 9:00 p.m. at Garden Square. The free evening features some of Canada’s top musical talents, local food vendors and family-friendly activities, such as outdoor skating and the Night Lights Projection Exhibit. This will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Check their website for full information on this year’s event.

Spend the most anticipated night of the year at the museum! The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) rolls out the red carpet with live bands, DJs, appetizers and drinks at ROM After Dark: NYE, part of the museum’s ROM After Dark (RAD) series. This 19+ event is an immersive experience that features spectacular live music performances, delicious food and drink, photo booths, and access to all exhibitions in the ROM. Tickets must be purchased in advance online and the event starts at 8:00 p.m.

Take in Toronto’s iconic skyline from the harbour at night. Jubilee Queen Cruise Lines offers a five-hour New Year’s Eve Party Cruise with pizza and finger foods, drinks, DJ party music and dancing, NYE party favours and at midnight, watch the fireworks display from the City of Toronto along the skyline. The event is for ages 19+ only and boarding takes place at 8:30 p.m. Book tickets online.

New Year’s Eve at Celebration Square in Mississauga is a not-to-be-missed annual free event for revellers of all ages. Celebrations include live performances by international recording artists, lots of delicious food trucks, family-friendly activities and show-stopping fireworks at midnight. Tickets and timings for this year’s celebration will be announced shortly.

Toast the New Year in Niagara and Southwest Ontario

Revellers flock to Queen Victoria Park for the annual Niagara Falls New Year’s Eve with entertainment, food and fireworks right next to the spectacular Horseshoe Falls. Book a special New Year’s Eve dinner at the Table Rock House Restaurant and enjoy a front-row view of the Falls. 2024 NYE menu and pricing will be announced soon, so check the restaurant’s website for up-to-date information.

What better way to toast 2024 than with a glass of wine in one of Canada’s favourite wine-growing regions. Check out special drink and dine events at top wineries like Riverbend Inn & Vineyard, Trius or Peller Estates. Check websites for up-to-date information and book early to avoid disappointment—these events often sell out quickly.

Couples looking for an elegant option can ring in the new year on the shores of Lake Erie at the Port Dover Yacht Club’s New Year’s Eve Party. The event begins at 8:00 p.m. on December 31 and celebrations continue until 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. See their website for more information about this year’s event.

Family fun and fireworks in Barrie and Muskoka

One of Central Ontario’s largest annual New Year’s Eve celebrations, Barrie’s Downtown Countdown is a free evening of fun for everyone. There will be skating, live music, family activities and fireworks. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. and continue until the New Year is ushered in.

Consider a weekend or week-long adventure and book one of Muskoka’s New Year’s Eve packages. Celebrate the new year Muskoka-style—with luxurious accommodations, romantic dining, relaxing spa treatments, and winter adventures like skating, stargazing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. 

Deerhurst Resort offers a Muskoka Holiday Magic two-week getaway, with magical family and adult options for New Year’s celebrations and lots of fun activities for the holiday season. Or opt for Bayview Wildwood Resort’s New Year’s Muskoka Getaway package, with three nights in lakeside accommodations, unlimited outdoor family activities, a family New Year’s Eve Party with entertainment, champagne toast, and midnight goodies and fireworks.

Celebrate on the slopes at Horseshoe Resort. Past events have included a torch light parade on the skill hill followed by a light-up-the-night fireworks show. Book your stay at the resort online and check the event website for up-to-date information about this year’s offerings.

New Year’s charm in North Bay

There’s something for everyone in the family during the annual Families First New Year’s Eve Event at Memorial Gardens & Thomson Park, including fun activities, treats and fireworks. The free event takes place between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. on December 31. Check the website for full information.

For all you dreamy romantics, downtown North Bay is the perfect place for a swoon-worthy New Year’s Eve smooch. The film industry has recently exploded in North Bay, taking full advantage of quaint downtown interlocking brick sidewalks, Victorian light posts and charming storefronts in heritage buildings. If you’re picturing a Hallmark romance, you’re not alone—this scenic northern Ontario city has set the scene for over 20 Hallmark movies.