Barrie Downtown Countdown

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 | 6:00–11:59pm

Location

Barrie City Hall

Did you know? Downtown Countdown is one of four City events named to the 2025 Top 100 Festivals list by Festivals and Events Ontario!

Downtown Barrie is the place to be to ring in the New Year! Since 1998, the Downtown Countdown has brought thousands together from near and far to celebrate the arrival of the new year at Barrie City Hall.

This year’s free, family-friendly celebration include a great lineup with a country twist featuring Madeline Merlo, Sully Burrows, Sonshine and Broccoli as the children’s performer, and local artist Kyle Wauchope. The show goes on, rain or snow!

Every year, the City of Barrie invites local bands to submit for the opportunity to perform on the Downtown Countdown stage. From over 35 submissions, Kyle Wauchope was selected to perform with his band at this year’s event!

In addition to the musical performances, the Downtown Countdown celebration will include family activities, roaming buskers and two fireworks shows – the first at approximately 8pm and the second at midnight.

Event Schedule

*Times are approximate and subject to change. Due to illness, The Redhill Valleys are no longer able to perform.*
6pm to midnight	Activities & vendors open
7pm	Busker performance featuring Bex In Motion
7:10pm	Sonshine and Broccoli
8pm	Family countdown & fireworks
8:30pm	Kyle Wauchope
9:30pm	Sully Burrows
10:40pm	Madeline Merlo
11:55pm	Greetings from dignitaries
Midnight	Countdown & fireworks

Activities

Between 6pm & midnight, under the twinkling lights on the arch of Old City Hall, enjoy:

Skating on the Circle at the Centre rink (weather-dependent)
Roaming performers
Family fun: face painting, inflatables and more!
Bonfire warming zone
Vendors including: Beavertails; Captain Cook de Fries; Drizzled By Adrienne; Foodiez Barrie; Lalonde’s Maple Syrup; Moonwalk Entertainment; Smoke’s Poutinerie; Space Station Sweets; and Urban Grind Coffee Co.
Two fireworks shows! The first at 8pm following the family celebration and the second at midnight to ring in 2025. Fireworks will be viewable from various vantage points along the waterfront, but best viewed closer to Barrie’s downtown.

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 can be found on MyRide.Barrie.ca.

Downtown parking is FREE after 5pm and available within walking distance, (including the Collier Street Parkade).

Road Closures

The following road closures are in effect for the Downtown Countdown:

*Emergency services will have access to respond within the closures, but not to travel through. No access for residents & businesses within the closures.*
Road Segment	Closure Period
Collier Street, Owen to Mulcaster	6am Dec. 30 to noon Jan. 1
Collier Street, Mulcaster to Poyntz	3pm Dec. 31 to 2am Jan. 1
Mulcaster Street, Dunlop to Worsley	3pm Dec. 31 to 2am Jan. 1

About the Performers

Madeline Merlo is a rising country star with an old soul and a new school style. After signing a record deal at 18, Merlo earned the CCMA Rising Star award in 2015, competed on Season 2 of songwriting reality series Songland with Champagne Night becoming a Platinum-certified No. 1 for Lady A, she was named to CMT Next Women of Country class of 2024, and her country/funk and soul single “It Didn’t” has more than 10 million Spotify streams. Merlo’s new project ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door), including single Broken Heart Thing (feat. Dustin Lynch), is her most emotionally insightful project yet and finds her offering a message of encouragement to her younger self – and all those who feel a little different.
Sully Burrows is a rising talent in the world of country music hailing from Parry Sound, Ontario. Recently signed to Partners Record Label in Toronto, Burrows’ thoughtful lyrics and soulful melodies are capturing the hearts of country fans across Canada and beyond.
His debut single, titled "Youth," released on October 4th, 2024—just a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday. With "Youth," Burrows conveys a powerful message about cherishing the present moment, drawing from personal experiences of loss, growth, and nostalgia.
The track was co-written with chart-topping country artist Owen Riegling and happens to be Sully’s first co-writing experience. Burrows connects with listeners on a deep and meaningful level, sharing personal struggles and moments of relection with honesty and vulnerability.
Join Sully Burrows on his musical journey and experience the heartfelt storytelling of "Youth," available on all major streaming platforms.
For 20 years, families across Canada have been singing and dancing along with Sonshine and Broccoli, the Juno-nominated duo from Toronto who know how important it is for children to have music they can call their own. With infectious energy and interactive performances, Lisa Sonshine and Brock Burford have always made their fans feel like part of the family. Having met in the Musical Theatre program at Sheridan College, the two have become leaders on Canada’s music scene for children, releasing several albums, performing at events across the country, appearing on both local and national television and radio, and opening for the likes of Fred Penner. With six albums, Sonshine and Broccoli continue to share music that builds confidence, celebrates differences, and encourages kids to allow their own unique star to shine.
It’s been just over 2 years since Kyle Wauchope released his first single “NOT EVEN”, and he has shown no signs of slowing down. Having started his solo career in 2022, Kyle has had over 200 gigs while keeping his day job. Having been an audience member for numerous Downtown Countdowns, he cannot wait to have his shot at rocking Barrie into the new year. It’s not often Kyle performs his music with a full band, but audiences are in for a treat as he works towards bigger opportunities in 2025.