Similar to Canada Day, there will be two fireworks displays in Grande Prairie on New Year's Eve at Muskoseepi Park and the CKC East Football Field (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Abby Zieverink

News year's eve

City unveils New Year’s Eve celebration plans at Muskoseepi Park

Dec 1, 2021 | 2:32 PM

The City of Grande Prairie has released its plans for an in-person celebration this New Year’s Eve.

Last year, the annual New Years’ celebration at Muskoseepi Park was cancelled due to the pandemic, however this year, the city is bringing the event back as the “New Years Eve-ning Out.”

The celebration will again take place at Muskoseepi Park from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. on December 31.

Hayley Kramps, Programming and Events Supervisor at the city says this year’s celebration will look similar to the event pre-pandemic, however, tells EverythingGP they have made slight changes to ensure residents feel safe taking part in the celebration.

“In a traditional year, we would do more (activities) inside the (Ernie Radbourne) Pavilion, but this year we’re really working to bring everything outside so there is lots of room to social distance, nobody will be in anybody’s space and there are multiple activities, so you can go throughout the park and find something to do,” she explained.

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The celebrations will include a plethora of winter activities. Ice skating, free snowshoe rentals with an Indigenous Story Walk, hot chocolate, children’s activities will all be available for free for the public to take part in. There will also be horse and carriage rides, which Kramps says is a staple for the New Years’ celebration.

“The (horse and carriage rides) start at the pavilion, and they go on a special route throughout the trails so there’s less chance of running into pedestrians and they will be able to look at different lights throughout the park.”

Registration is required for the horse and wagon rides.

Kramps adds some of the evening will take place inside the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion. Inside, there will be a New Year’s Resolution Tree for residents to have their resolutions showcased on it for 2022.

Your New year’s resolutions can be sent to programming@cityofgp.com, the Muskoseepi Park Facebook page, or in person at the pavilion, where they will be printed off and placed on the tree.

There will also be a festive, pet-friendly photo booth for families to take holiday photos at in the pavilion, which she says is new this year.

“Pets are allowed inside the pavilion and it’s one of those things that nobody really ever does so, we’re encouraging people to bring all members of their family and participate in the celebration,” Kramps said.

There will also be live entertainment outside the Amphitheatre as well on new years eve which will see Halo Tribal Fire Dancing and Mearon on the stage.

Following the event will see the firework show, which Kramps says is the big event of the night.

“We are encouraging people to stay in their cars for social distancing purposes.”

Designated viewing areas include, over the reservoir and CKC East Field.

“They are visible at a lot of places in town and we’re really excited to be able to offer them again, I think it’s probably my favourite part of the new year’s celebration,” added Kramps.

All provincial health protocols will be in place for the event, including reduced capacity and masking indoors.