Heading out to a local restaurant or pub, staying home with friends and family – residents of Bradford West Gwillimbury found plenty of ways to ring out the old year, and ring in the new.
The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury hosted its Family First Night celebration on New Year's Eve - an all-ages event that provided live entertainment, inflatables, free skating and swimming, and free hot chocolate.
At least two other local celebrations provided revellers with options at opposite ends of the scale, on New Year’s Eve.
It was all elegance at the Portuguese Cultural Centre, where a black, gold and white décor provided the perfect setting for a dinner of hors d’oeuvres, steak, chicken breast and shrimp, side dishes and dessert – with a late-night buffet, champagne, and dancing to live entertainment.
Tickets were $85 per person for members, $100 for non-members, with a discount for children. “That’s it – it’s a family event. We always have families,” said one organizer.
Parents and grandparents could dispense with babysitters, letting the kids stay up late, just this once, to ring in the new year at a gala celebration.
Over at the Bradford legion, things were more casual. Guests could pay only $10, if they brought a favourite dish for the potluck buffet – and nearly 90 revellers brought 75 dishes to share.
“There’s so many meatballs, cabbage rolls! There’s so much food!” said organizer and legion director of entertainment Nicole Theriault.
The legion provided the party hats, noisemakers and DJ, at a party that felt more like a gathering of friends and family. Some dressed in their festive best; others wore blue jeans and comfortable shoes, determined to have a great time on a slim budget.
“I’m here for $10 to eat my face off!” said a grinning Mike Webster.
