The City of Toronto is promising a spectacular New Year's celebration on the waterfront, featuring high-altitude fireworks, music and pop-up performances to usher in 2025.
The festivities start at 10 p.m. and will culminate in a countdown starting at 11:45 p.m. led by Mayor Olivia Chow and drag entertainer Sanjina DaBish Queen.
“New Year’s Eve is a time to come together as a community and celebrate the hope and possibilities of the year ahead," Chow said in a release.
To get a good in-person vantage point for the 10-minute fireworks display — which will be synchronized to music as it lights up the inner harbour — revellers were being encouraged to go to one of seven designated viewing areas:
- Toronto Music Garden, 476 Queens Quay W.
- Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Dr.
- Sugar Beach Park, 11 Dockside Dr.
- HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay W.
- HTO Park West, 375 Queens Quay W.
- Harbour Square Park, 25 Queens Quay W.
- Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W.
Pedestrians are encouraged to use York Street, Jarvis Street, Spadina Avenue and Bay Street to get to the viewing points.
Performances start at 10 p.m. with a DJ collective at Bathurst Quay Common and dance music at Sherbourne Common, where attendees are invited to join in and dance.
Incirque performers will entertain at various locations, while short films from the National Film Board of Canada will be projected on the side of the Canada Malting Silos, visible from the Toronto Music Garden.
There will be many ways to get around to these events, but the city encourages the use of public transit.
Road closures will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. eastbound on Queens Quay West and on Bay Street and York Street from Front to Queens Quay West, according to the city - though be warned that additional road closures may be added at any time, if necessary.
Free service is available on the TTC, GO Transit and UP Express from 7 p.m. New Year's Eve until 8 a.m. New Year's Day. All customers should tap at fare kiosks as usual, but will not be charged during the free ride period.
The subway will run until 3 a.m., with the last trains leaving Union Station at around 2:30 a.m. Overnight buses and streetcars will run until 8 a.m. For schedules and departures, visit the TTC webpage. TTC riders were encouraged to use King, Queen, St. Andrew and Osgoode stations to avoid crowds at Union.
GO Transit and UP Express are also offering free service. Find details on the GO Transit website.
To prevent overcrowding at Union Station after the fireworks, starting at midnight customers will be redirected to the east side entrance.
For those wanting to avoid crowds altogether and celebrate from home, a live webcast begins at 11:45 p.m. on the CultureTO YouTube channel.
Residents not taking in the city's fireworks show are being reminded that they cannot set off their own fireworks without a permit.
