Spend New Years Eve at Niagara Falls, Canada - Free Concert & Fireworks Over the Falls!

Canada's equivalent to New Years at Times Square is the event at Niagara Falls. Since this event is televised across Canada, there are two fireworks shows over Niagara Falls, at 9:00 p.m. and midnight. The broadcasters use clips of the ongoing concert and the first fireworks show to entice viewers to tune in at 11:00 p.m.

This year's performers include Foreigner, Colin James and Justin Hines. This free outdoor concert takes place in Queen Victoria Park, just across the street from Niagara Falls, and begins at 7:30 p.m.

Queen Victoria Park is located along the Niagara Parkway in Canada, and sits right in the middle of best views of Niagara Falls.

You can park at the Falls Parking Lot, located on Niagara Parkway, south of Queen Victoria Park. The City of Niagara Falls has several municipal parking lots on Murray Street and Stanley Avenue.

Over thirty thousand New Years Eve celebrants are expected to attend this free outdoor concert. Niagara Falls, Canada wants celebrants to remember that the area surrounding Niagara Falls is colder that outlying areas and to dress accordingly. Food and beverage vendors will be placed throughout Queen Victoria Park and they will be serving a variety of alcoholic beverages.

If you are driving in from the United States, plan to arrive early to allow time for the long lines at border crossings. The distance from the United States border to Queen Victoria Park is within walking distance and will result in a faster return trip at the end of the night. Because new passport regulations will not go into effect until January, you will still be able to cross under old identification regulations. Links to the United States and Canadian border and customs offices can be found in the additional information section of this article.

Canada markets this event as family-friendly and having experienced it firsthand, I agree. Three years ago, we took our children to see Smashmouth perform at the New Years Eve event at Niagara Falls, Canada. It was amazing. It was only after Smashmouth came out the second time that people got so rowdy that we needed to work our way towards the outer edge of the crowd. Before that, we were only twenty-five feet away from the stage.

Our hotel was in the United States because the rates were much better and we walked over to Niagara Falls, Canada each day. Our hotel was just a few blocks from the border, so we even left our car in the hotel parking lot. There are many parking areas adjacent to the border, which is information we filed away for future trips.

Hotel rates vary greatly for New Years Eve weekend, and can be found as low as $40.00 or as high as $400.00. I recommend budget conscious visitors stay on the United States side, park in the Niagara Falls, US municipal parking lots and walk across the border into Canada.

Performers:

Foreigner

This 80's band celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2002 and is back on the road after a two year break. Best known for the hits "Feels Like the First Time," "Urgent," and "Head Games," Foreigner is touring promoting new material.

Colin James

This Canadian born performer will be promoting his newest album "The Little Big Band 3" which is a collection of blues, both in the jump and rhythm and blues fashion. James is a six time Juno award winner.

Justin Hines

The show opens with this local talent who has just released his second album entitled "Sides."