Event Schedule
| 5–9pm | Activities & vendors open Event emcee, Scott Jackson |
|---|---|
| 5:30–6pm | The Munich Layover |
| 6:30–7:15pm | Barstool Confession |
| 7:50–8:55pm | Kim Mitchell, multi-platinum, JUNO award winning Canadian rock icon |
| 8:55pm | Greetings from dignitaries |
| 9pm | Fireworks finale over Heritage Park |
This year, we’ve shifted the event time to make it easier for everyone to come together and kick off the New Year. Over the past two years, attendance has shown that our biggest crowds gather for the early evening festivities—proof that families love having a place to start the New Year together.
For those who want to keep the party going until midnight, join us for the Barrie NYE Celebration early on, then head to one of our vibrant downtown spots to ring in the New Year with friends and neighbours.
Activities
- Inflatables
- Interactive games
- Face painting
- Button making
- Roaming and busker performances, including Kalen Davidson's circus stunts
- Bonfire warming zone
- Food trucks ($)
About the Entertainers
Transit & Parking
Barrie Transit service will be free on New Year’s Eve starting at 5pm, and all routes will operate until 3am. Extended schedules will be available at MyRide.Barrie.ca.
Downtown parking is FREE after 5pm and available within walking distance, (including the Collier Street Parkade).
Road Closure
To accommodate the Barrie NYE Celebration, Simcoe Street (Bayfield to Dunlop/Mulcaster) will be closed on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2–11pm. Emergency services will have access to respond within the closure, but not to travel through. Details will be posted at barrie.ca/RoadClosures. Local Traffic Only for access to Lakeshore Mews & Heritage Parking Lots.
Event Sponsor
Barrie NYE Celebration is generously sponsored by:
Since 1998, Barrie’s New Year’s Eve festivities have drawn thousands from near and far to welcome the New Year, and we can’t wait to celebrate 2026 with you!
Celebrate New Year's Eve in downtown Barrie with an evening of free family-friendly fun at Meridian Place from 5pm to 9pm! The new location provides an opportunity to showcase Barrie’s beautiful waterfront, our vibrant downtown core, as well as Meridian Place.
The event will feature the same free family-friendly activities you know and love! Enjoy live music, amazing busker performances, inflatables and games, and delicious eats from food trucks. Warm up by the cozy bonfire zone, then cap off the night with a spectacular fireworks finale lighting up the sky.