New Year’s Eve Ottawa: Time to celebrate!

Wondering how to mark New Year’s Eve, Ottawa? Here’s the scoop on all kinds of end-of-the-year parties in Ottawa and beyond, including Eastern Ontario, Gatineau and the wider Outaouais. However you want to enjoy the occasion—with a bit of family fun, a concert, a masquerade party, or even a cooking or yoga class—here are LOTS of ideas for your Ottawa New Year’s Eve 2022!

Cover photo: Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay.

New Year’s Eve 2022 in Ottawa

• Hogman-Eh: This is the Scottish Society of Ottawa’a biggest party of the year—in fact, according to the society, it’s the biggest such event outside of Scotland. Modelled on Hogmanay, the traditional New Year’s Eve celebration in Scotland, it features pipers, dancers, bands, food, poetry and more. This year, it’s in a hybrid format: You can choose to celebrate in person at Lansdowne Park or to stream the events online.
• Denim and Diamonds New Year’s Eve: This highlight of this party at the Joint at the Rideau Carleton Casino is a concert by Canadian country star Jason McCoy.
• New Year’s Eve Comedy Night: This is the 11th annual end-of-the-year comedy night at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans. If you’re keen, I’d buy your tickets ASAP, as it often sells out. This year’s headliners are Cassie Cao and Frank Spadone.
• A White Rabbit New Year’s Eve: City at Night, an electronic dance music club on Slater Street, has a big celebration planned with DJs Rick Laplante, Tone A, Brink and ALAMUSIC.
• Come From Away: The smash hit musical about some generous Newfoundlanders and the stranded passengers they helped on 9/11 is running at the NAC from December 27 to January 8. There are two shows on December 31, at 2pm and 8pm.
• Bliss NYE ’23: Lez Go, Ottawa’s lesbian+ events group, is throwing this bash at Queen Street Fare downtown. Entertainment will include comedian Janelle Niles, live music by OK Naledi and tunes from DJ POWERHOUZ.
• New Year’s Eve 2022 with Loverock: In Barrhaven, Greenfields Public House is throwing an end-of-the-year party with hits of your life played live by Loverock. Reservations recommended.
• Midnight Oasis Ottawa 2023: This glitzy event (Stan’s Diner on Newmarket Street will be glammed up for the occasion) is the Ottawa version of a popular Montreal bash. Energy Squad (with Anthony G and Vipa), Selecta Gallis, Kenny Bling, DJ Upngone and 416 Sound will be providing the tunes.
• Buffet at Wilfrid’s: At the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, there’s a festive buffet on New Year’s Eve and a posh brunch on New Year’s Day.
• Awaken NYE 2023: An Intentional New Year’s Gathering: This event in Westboro includes yoga, live music, ecstatic dancing, aromatherapy, inspirational talks and other activities.
• Cozymeal cooking classes: Don’t feel like dancing the night away? You can cook it away instead, with separate New Year’s Eve 2022 classes focusing on Spanish, French, Mediterranean and other cuisines. (Other dates are available, too.)

Ring in 2023 in the Outaouais

• New Year’s Eve with Waked Up: The Motel Chelsea has a New Year’s party with funk/soul band Waked Up. Packages combining the party, dinner and accommodation are available. There’s a retro/vintage/cocktail party theme, so bust out those crinolines, elbow-length gloves and smoking jackets.
• Glam and Champagne New Year’s Eve Party: At the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Gatineau-Ottawa, the year will go out in style with a Great Gatsby-themed party complete with a three-course dinner, live music and bubbly.
• Casino Lac-Leamy celebrations: The festivities at the casino include music from two live bands, a photo op at the main entrance, two drinks per ticket holder and a midnight countdown. You can add the buffet at Banco for an extra fee. If you book a room at the adjacent Hilton Lac-Leamy for the night of December 31, tickets to the party (not the buffet—that’s still extra) are included.

Celebrate New Year’s in Eastern Ontario

• Hammond New Year’s Masquerade: Just past rural Ottawa’s eastern edge, you’ll find the Hammond Golf and Country Club, which is hosting this masked soirée—featuring live music, canapés, drinks and a poutine bar—to welcome 2023.
• Brockville New Year’s Eve Church Concerts: Since 1991, a group of Brockville churches has celebrated the turning of the calendar with a packed night of concerts. This year, the music ranges from classical guitar and Celtic to rock (one duo favours the music of U2).
• Frew Year’s Eve: This all-ages event is actually held on the morning of December 31 at the Ma-te-way Activity Centre in Renfrew. Free activities include ice skating, ringette demonstrations, a continental breakfast, giant games and more.
• Urban Angus Steak and Wine: This Arnprior spot has not one, but two, New Year’s Eve parties on the calendar. In the afternoon, there’s a family-friendly drag show. In the evening, a drag-and-burlesque show for the grown-ups starts at 9:30pm. You can also book a dinner-show package.
• New Year’s Eve with Roxy’s Proxy: The festive dinner at Salamander’s restaurant in Kemptville will feature live music by local favourites Roxy’s Proxy, a duo that plays both covers and their own folk-tinged songs.
• Beckwith Township’s New Year’s Eve Family Fireworks: The celebrations in Beckwith Park, on the edge of Carleton Place, will include horse-drawn sleigh rides (weather permitting), bonfires and a free family skate. Fireworks will light up the sky at 6pm.
• New Year’s Eve Under the Stars: This free, late-night event at the Clay Bank Nature Park for Outdoor Learning at 1511 White Lake Road, partway between Arnprior and White Lake. Starting at 11pm, host Andy Kalnins will lead guests on a 1K guided hike/snowshoeing trek to stargaze. Then everyone will gather around a bonfire with noisemakers at midnight to welcome the new year.
• 108 Sun Salutations: OK, this is technically on New Year’s Day, but if you want to start the new year off with a stretchy challenge, Saigon Om in Kingston is offering this two-hour yoga class to guide you through, yep, 108 sun salutations.
• Polar Bear Plunge: Sun salutations too gentle for you? Start 2023 with an icy blast by jumping into the Tay River in Perth on New Year’s Day to raise funds for Cornerstone Landing’s youth programs.

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.