BY JACOB PACHECO
Despite the freezing cold temperatures that made the City of Brampton feel like a frigid minus 30 degrees, festivities were still on to celebrate the New Year.
(Photo by Jacob Pacheco/Sheridan Sun)
Brampton urged anybody going out to celebrate the New Year to bundle up. In downtown Brampton, the festivities began with a “skate” through the park which looked like a light show with all the trees lit up to celebrate the holidays. Surrounded by these bright trees is the pathway used for walking through the park, but transformed into ice.
With skate rentals onsite, it was a great opportunity to skate with the family while enjoying the great outdoors with songs from local radio station 103.5 DJ Scott Fox. And if it got too cold, visitors could warm up near the fire pit in the centre of the park.
The festivities in downtown Brampton continued with a free concert from three-time Juno award-winning Canadian rock band The Sheepdogs, the opening act, followed by Pryde, a Canadian rapper. If you’re not an outdoors person, or can’t stand the cold, other events were held in the City Hall Conservatory with a dance party and various kids’ activities with crafting stations.
“This is a great place to take the family for a bit of outdoor fun, not just now, but all year around. It’s great for all ages,” said visitor Ryan Prashad.
The city offered multiple free parking spots nearby to Gage Park as well as the whole city of Brampton offering free Brampton Transit bus rides any time after 7 p.m. with extended services hours on selected routes around the city. Gage Park also had dozens of food trucks including The Food Dudes and M.E.N.U.
The festivities ended with a free fireworks show over the Rose Theatre, lasting about 30 minutes to lead into 2018. “This is my first time attending, but probably won’t be my last,” said Aaron Metivier.
Despite the cold weather, the celebration had to be cut a bit short ending all festivities at just after 12:30 a.m. It was a great turnout and a success for the city with many hoping they to do it again next year.
