New Year’s Eve party will light up Ottawa on a scale to surpass all previous years

In 2017 Canada marks its 150th birthday, with holidaymakers invited to join in the countywide, year-long celebrations.

The main focus for national events will be the capital city Ottawa, where 12 epic months of big, bold, immersive and moving experiences will be on offer. 2017 is set to kick off in style with city organisers planning a huge New Year’s Eve party that will light up Ottawa on a scale to surpass all previous years.

Events on 31 December will begin in the early evening with a vast family-friendly New Year’s Eve party that will see the lighting of a symbolic and spectacular gas-powered cauldron in Marion Dewar Plaza in downtown Ottawa. The cauldron, which runs on clean energy, is approximately 16 feet high and 13 feet wide and will burn continuously throughout 2017. The tri-sided installation – an artistic adaption of the Ottawa 2017 logo, will be located in a garden bed that lines the city’s memorial fountain next to the historic Laurier Avenue. Ahead of the lighting, students will form a human chain through Ottawa’s downtown core to symbolise youthful optimism.

Later that evening, official proceedings will move to Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, where a series of special events to welcome in the New Year will take place. ‘Canada 150 Kick Off’ will see crowds gather on the Hill for live music and entertainment that will be broadcast live across Canada. Then at precisely 8.17pm; or on a 24 hour clock 2017, a 20 minute long a pyromusical fireworks display will light up both sides of the Ottawa River.

Also planned is a free Scottish themed New Year’s Eve Hogmanay party, set to take place at Ottawa’s Lansdowne’s Aberdeen Pavilion. It will feature traditional and modern Scottish music, Highland dancing, Scotch tasting sessions, outdoor skating and a fireworks display at midnight. Or for those in search of a black tie event, the Ottawa New Year’s Charity Ball at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre will offer dancing and an elegant four course meal.