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From downtown city clubs to drizzly county fireworks, Windsor-Essex residents rang in the new year with a wide range of festivities this weekend.
Hours before the clock struck midnight, hundreds hit the ice at the WFCU Centre on Sunday for free public skating.
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Windsor resident Jim Murphy watched from the sidelines while his two young grandchildren zipped around the rink in glittery hats that read “Happy New Year.”
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“It’s actually going to be their first time staying up till midnight on New Year’s Eve, so we wanted to keep them busy until the countdown starts,” Murphy said. “I just like to watch, since my knees aren’t what they used to be.”
In LaSalle, Maryam Hussain and her three children braved wet weather to watch fireworks at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex, which had a packed parking lot. After each colourful explosion lit up the sky, nearby geese could be heard honking, bringing a smile to Hussain’s face.
“It is very nice that we have such wintertime activities for families,” she said. “We have our hot chocolate and the kids love to see the fireworks.
“We’re looking forward to a great 2024.”
The Town of Kingsville also set off fireworks at Kingsville Arena to mark the passage of time.
Ongoing holiday light shows, such as Bright Lights Windsor, Amherstburg River Lights, Lasalle Holiday Lights and Heritage Nights, and Kingsville Fantasy of Lights welcomed visitors on the last night of 2023. Those light shows will continue to dazzle for several days into the new year.
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In Windsor’s core, some packed clubs and danced away the remaining minutes of 2023, while others enjoyed live music and comedy at bars and pubs.
“Surrounded by good people and dancing to good music — I can’t think of a better way to end the year,” said Nick Ioannidis while he walked along Ouellette Avenue with friends Sunday night. “Tomorrow I’ll sleep in.”
Among the local places that hosted events were Disco Inferno, the Barbershop Bar, Phog Lounge, Riverside Sportsmen Club, Fionn MacCool’s, Ariius Nightclub at Caesar’s Windsor, Panache Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, Vito’s Pizzeria, 29 Park, Harrow’s Daisy & Co., Wineology Kingsville and much more.
The Caboto Club, Ciociaro Club, and Fogolar Furlan hosted New Year’s Eve galas and offered dinners, midnight toasts, and late-night bites.
Most businesses and services in the region that paused operations for the holiday long weekend will resume or reopen on Tuesday, including city parking enforcement and the public drop-off depot at the corner of E. C. Row Expressway and Central Avenue.
All public school boards that serve Windsor and Essex County will reopen on Jan. 8.
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