Vancouver Fireworks by Jon Rawlinson

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. Another year, another reason to celebrate. Seems like we’ve barely finished with Christmas gifts and we’re stuck trying to figure out what to do on the craziest night of the year. This NYE’s events offer a surprisingly diverse mixture of parties, fireworks, traditional sleepovers, great food, and fabulous drinks. Whether you want to dress to the nines and head out to the last glamourous party of this year or you want to spend the night with your family, you have plenty of options to choose from. This article brings you a list of the most interesting events and venues to go to on this NYE.

New Year’s Eve for Families

Robson Square Ice Rink

Robson Square Ice Rink by Casey Yee

Robson Square Ice Rink has always been one of the most popular places to visit in Vancouver. Last winter, over 8,300 people visited this wonderful venue, bringing fun to Vancouverites and their children. Like every year without exception, Robson Square is going to host the 2012 new Year’s Eve celebration. You can look forward to live music, stilt walkers, witches, sorcerers, and a magician’s stage show. The early countdown at 8:00 P.M. will hopefully be a satisfactory compensation for the youngest children who have to go to bed early, and free noisemakers and glow sticks won’t bother their parents too much in 2012!

14th Annual Bright Nights in Stanley Park

Bright Nights in Stanley Park
by Marcin Chady

The Vancouver Park Board and British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund prepared this night full of lights and magical atmosphere for you once again. The train ride through the forest decorated with two million lights, various animated displays, and Christmas songs will ride from 3:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. on NYE. Creations brought to you by Mortal Coil’s will make this ride even more enjoyable for you and your children. This most spectacular display of lights in Canada has over 200,000 annual visitors, so make sure to purchase your place in the ride in advance. Tickets cost $9 for adults and $6 for children. You can buy tickets through 1-855-985-5000 or by visiting Ticketmaster’s website or any of its sales locations. If you happen to be at Stanley park, you can get tickets at the ticket booth in the train Plaza.

Vancouver Aquarium New Year’s Eve Sleepover 2011

New Year’s Eve Sleepover 2011

Vancouver aquarium celebrates the 25th anniversary of their sleepover program, and no fan of the ocean should miss this event. More than 70,000 residents of the aquarium are looking forward to host this unique “whale of a year” celebration. The cost of the event is quite reasonable, as opposed to some other similar events organized over the past years: $190 for adults and youth between 13-18 years ($152 for members) and $140 for children between 6-12 years ($112 for members). You can look forward to a 4-D Theatre presentation, a special beluga show, a unique behind-the-scenes tour, including the aquarium’s research area, retro sleepover activities, a gourmet dessert buffet and breakfast, and many other amazing activities. To register, call 604-659-3552 Monday to Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. or send an e-mail to

NYE Party Vancouver

Solid NYE with Tiesto

Place: Pacific Coliseum, 100 North Renfrew St.
Time: 8:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M.

DJ Tiesto has decided to end the year 2011 in a big style. Prepare to be blown away by the vastest party of the ending year. Pacific Coliseum, the 5,000-capacity home of the Vancouver Giants, promises “the most trance-inducing light show this side of Ibiza.” Tickets are currently sold at $180 and up.

New Year’s Eve Club Crawl

Place: Roxy Nightclub, 932 Granville St.
Time: 7:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.

This is not the party for everybody. It might get unexpectedly crazy! Tickets run for $30 and up. You start at the Roxy, then make your way to Shark Club and Blarney Stone. You’ve never experienced such a ride in your life — all without paying any covers or lining up!

Pan Pacific NYE 2012 Grand Gala

Place: Pan Pacific Hotel, 300-999 Canada Place
Time: 8:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.

Are you a tuxedo/gown type? Do you like to dress extremely fancily and be with people with similar taste? Than you want to hit the Pan Pacific Hotel’s NYE party. Pan Pacific has prepared a red carpet-paparazzi-style photo shoot, live music in the Grand Ballroom, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, and many other high-class surprises only for $90.