Goodbye 2020, hello 2021 – here’s everything you need to know to celebrate the new year

Many of us will celebrate the end of 2020 with a bang tonight and we will welcome a new year.

Throughout the country there are a variety of festivals, New Years celebrations and spectacular fireworks displays. Here’s everything you need to know about the main displays set up to light up our night sky:

Auckland

Auckland’s night sky will once again be filled with color on Thursday thanks to a five-minute fireworks and light show set to sound in 2021.

Silo Park will be a family-focused area, with a variety of musicians including Che Fu, Frank Booker DJ, Soul9Yards and White Chapel Jak playing from 15:15 to midnight.

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The spectacular New Year’s Eve show begins at midnight from Auckland Harbor Bridge and the Sky Tower.

According to the economic and cultural agency Auckland Unlimited, the best places to see fireworks are the CBD, Little Shoal Bay (Northcote), Bayswater Marina (Bayswater), Mt Victoria or Queens Parade (Devonport), Bastion Point, Harbor View Beach. Parade (Te Atatū Peninsula), Sentinel Beach (Herne Bay) or Mt Eden.

A synchronized soundtrack to the light and fireworks show can be heard at www.vector.co.nz/lights. The Skycity fireworks and vector light display will also air on TVNZ 1, 2 and Duke.

Gisborne

Thousands of people will be watching in the new year at Gisborne at Rhythm and Vines (R&V) this year. The popular music festival runs from December 29-31 and includes a variety of musical acts and artists such as Benee and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Wellington

Wellington Harbor will sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

On Thursday night a whānau-friendly event will take place at the Whairepo Lagoon, and there will be live music, kai, entertainment, and of course fireworks.

A countdown for children will take place at 9:00 p.m. M., Then, from 10:00 p.m. M., The Wellington Orchestra will entertain the crowd until the fireworks display begins at midnight.

Christchurch

A New Years Eve party will be held at North Hagley Park, and will be spearheaded by kiwi band The Black Seeds.

A variety of musical acts will perform starting at 6 pm, and there will be food trucks scattered throughout the park. The countdown for children will take place at 8 pm. The Black Seeds will take the stage at 11pm, before the fireworks show.

Dunedin

Dunedin New Years celebrations will begin at approximately 7pm in the Octagon. There will be live music throughout the night and food stands available, before fireworks light up the rainy night sky at midnight.

Queenstown

A lakefront event is kicking off the new year in Queenstown.

Between 2:00 p.m. M. And 5:00 p.m. M., There will be a pre-entertainment for the whole family that includes face painting and entertainers.

Live music will be played throughout the night on two stages near the lake, and food will be available before the New Year’s fireworks go off at midnight.

Wānaka

Crowds packed at the Rhythm and Alps (R&A) music festival will celebrate the end of 2020 with a bang. The sold-out festival runs from December 29-31 and includes a variety of musical acts and entertainers, including Six60 on Thursday night.