Windsor-Essex is ringing in 2026 with free New Year’s Eve events
CBC
Residents across Windsor-Essex will have several free options to ring in 2026, with outdoor skating parties, fireworks celebrations and more planned for Dec. 31.
In Windsor, the city will host its first-ever New Year’s Eve Rink Party at the new City Hall Square ice rink. The free, family-friendly event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and marks the official New Year’s Eve debut of the downtown rink.
The city says music, lights and giveaways will fill the square as residents count down to the new year. The event includes free hot chocolate courtesy of Tim Hortons, a live DJ, food trucks and free skate lending provided by All Saints’ Anglican Church.
Several giveaways are planned throughout the evening, including Tim Hortons gift cards, an Adventure Bay Family Water Park four-pack every 30 minutes and glow sticks while supplies last.
Just west of Windsor, the Town of LaSalle will light up the sky with its annual New Year’s Eve fireworks show at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will launch behind the outdoor pavilion near the splash pad, making them visible from on-site parking lots.
LaSalle asks visitors to arrive by 7:15 p.m. and park only in designated lots. Police will enforce parking rules and the Vollmer Centre will be closed during the event. Portable toilets will be available in several parking areas.
The town says the fireworks are designed to reduce environmental impact and produce less CO emissions than a single car travelling at 100 kilometres per hour for 10 minutes. The fireworks distributor works within Environment Canada guidelines, including tree planting to offset emissions.
In Essex, families can celebrate earlier in the day at a “Noon Year’s Eve” event. The town will host a midday countdown with face painting, crafts, carnival-style games, a New Year’s photo opportunity and a balloon drop at noon, offering a kid-friendly way to welcome 2026.
The Municipality of Lakeshore is ringing in the New Year with a festive fireworks show at the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre starting at 6:30 p.m.
In Kingsville, the town will wrap up its Fantasy of Lights season with a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Kingsville Arena. The event runs from 1:30 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. and includes free skating, hot chocolate, crafts and games.
Multiple skating sessions are scheduled throughout the afternoon and early evening, including a sensory-friendly skate. Each session is capped at 150 skaters, with ice resurfacing between sessions. Fireworks are set to launch at 7 p.m., weather permitting, with a rain date scheduled for Jan. 2 if conditions are poor.
WARNING: This story contains references to missing and murdered Indigenous people. Resources can be found at the bottom of this story.
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