The City of Brantford’s New Year’s Eve celebration took place at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts and outside in Harmony Square on Sunday, December 31, 2023.
Over 930 people were in attendance throughout the evening as they came out to enjoy a night of live music to ring in the New Year.
Upon arrival, attendees purchased alcoholic beverages as well as free party favours, hats and glasses for the celebration.
As attendees made their way into the theatre, guests stopped to line up for the free photo booth where they dressed up in festive accessories to capture a memory of the night.
People soon began entering the main theatre space and settled into their seats as they waited for the show to begin.
The band Wicked Truth started off the entertainment for the night and their lively performance quickly got people clapping and singling along.
Headliner SUMMER OF ‘69 (a Brian Adams cover band), took the stage shortly after 10:00 p.m. and kept the party going with hits like “One Night Love Affair,” “This Time,” Straight from the Heart,” and “Heaven.”
The crowd could be heard singing along and requesting their favourite songs from the band, while others took the opportunity to slow dance when they could.
As the set came to a close, the band gave the audience what they wanted and finished off with “Summer of ’69.”
Twenty minutes before midnight, Stephen Wdowczyk, the evening’s host, encouraged the audience to safely make their way to Harmony Square for the ball drop and fireworks.
Guests were sure to pick up several noisemakers on their way out.
With the New Year quickly approaching, nearly 2,500 people celebrated as the ball dropped and the fireworks began, garnering cheers from those in attendance.
Jennifer Middleton, Special Events Supervisor for the City of Brantford, said she was thrilled with the events turnout.
“I am beyond happy right now, I think this is the biggest crowd we’ve had out here in all of my career,” she said. “There was 934 people that were in the theatre and I just can’t believe it how many people are out here now, it’s so awesome.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
