I’ve been blogging a Guide for Things To Do in Edmonton for New Year’s Eve for many years now. And a lot of what ends up on the guide can often be a bit repetitive—tried and true annual events will take place each and every year for NYE, why wouldn’t it? That’s why putting together this blog—ways to say goodbye to a year unlike any we’ve ever had—was a bit of a fun and interesting challenge.
New Year’s Eve in Edmonton this year won’t look like any of the ones before it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the new year (for many—hopefully a better year) in fun and safe ways!
For this edition of my New Year’s Eve in Edmonton guide, I’m sharing a few take-out meal options, virtual events, and other things to (safely) do, to say good bye to 2020 and hello to 2021!
If you’d like to suggest a virtual event, outdoor activity, take-out option, or how you’ll be celebrating, let me know in the comments or email me and I may add it to this list!
Originally Published: Monday, Dec. 21, 2020
Last Updated: Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020
Note: even virtual events are a bit slim pickings this year so if you are interested, best to get your tickets ASAP before they sell out! I’ll keep an eye out for new virtual event additions as we get closer to Dec. 31!
New Year’s Eve in Edmonton (Dec 31, 2020):
Take-out Meals, Virtual Events, and Things To (Safely) Do To Ring in 2021.
Virtual New Year’s Eve Events
1. New Year’s Eve Virtual Extravaganza
Lars Callieou and Infinite Event Services in partnership with Rig Hand Distillery brings to you a New Year’s Eve Virtual Extravaganza! There will be music, music bingo, and comedy to bid adieu to 2020, hosted virtually on Zoom and enjoyed from the comfort of your home.
- Cost: $28 + GST / fees
(Righand Distillery add-on available) - Get Tickets + More Information
2. New Year’s Eve Virtual Brewmaster’s Dinner
Say adios to 2020 with a four-course CRAFT Beer Market New Year’s Eve Brewmaster’s Dinner! Order your Brewmaster’s Dinner and join via Zoom for a virtual tasting session. Ticket includes a 200 ml bottle of bubbles for a virtual “peace out 2020” toast! Brewmaster kits include four courses paired with your choice of regional beer (four beers) or wine (two half bottles).
- Cost: $70 – $81 + GST / fees per person
- Get More Information
3. TELUS World of Science Virtual NOON Year’s Eve
3, 2, 1… HAPPY NOON YEAR! 2020 is a year that has brought lots of challenges and changes for people and the TELUS World of Science wants to ring in the New Year with not one but two exciting science experiments you can participate in from home.
- Cost: FREE!
- Get Tickets + More Information
4. Play 107.1’s New Year’s Eve House Party (Radio/Online)
Countdown to New Year’s Eve from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with Play 107.1’s commercial-free New Year’s Eve House Party – LIVE With Jake Ryan and DJ Keegs.
- Cost: FREE!
- Get More Information
5. New Year’s Eve Bingo Toonz Fundraiser for SCARS
“Let’s say goodbye and good riddance to 2020 and ring in 2021 while playing Bingo Toonz, maybe win some prizes, & support sweet animals!” Presented by Beetz Entertainment, play musical bingo, win prizes, and support Second Chance Animal Rescue Society this New Year’s Eve!
- Cost: $28 – $39 + GST
(portion of tickets to SCARS) - Get Tickets + More Information
6. Virtual Escape Room Adventure from Escape City
Edmonton escape room pros Escape City are now offering remote / virtual experiences for their awesome escape rooms! Spots limited on New Year’s Eve but you could certainly try it leading up to to the New Year (and after) too! Fun way to support local.
- Cost: $20 (ish) per person
for a virtual group of 6 - Get Tickets + More Information
7. Free Livestreamed Fireworks Show from Stony Plain, Alberta
The City of Edmonton isn’t doing a fireworks show this year but neighbouring Town of Stony Plain, Alberta (just 30 minutes west of Edmonton) is doing a drive-in show (all spots claimed) but also a Facebook livestream of the fireworks too. Tune into their Facebook Page starting at 9 p.m. Dec. 31.
- Cost: Free
- More Information
New Year’s Eve Take-Out Meals
Note: many order deadlines are TUESDAY, Dec. 29, 2020. Act fast so you don’t miss out!
1. Bar Bricco New Year’s Eve Box
Bar Bricco is offering a NYE Box for 2 people, as well as a number of Italian sparkling wines (add-ons). The boxes and wines will be ready for pick up on December 31. The cutoff for orders is December 26. And there is a vegetarian option!
- Cost: $120 + GST (for two people)
Drink add-ons available - Get More Information
2. Bodega NYE Family Style Dinner
Order up Bodega’s New Year’s Eve Family Style Dinner for 2! Marinated olives, piri piri prawns, seared scallops, fried calamari, catch of the day with lobster risotto, cherry cheesecake plus vino add-on if you want!
- Cost: $110 + GST (for 2 people)
Add-ons available - Get More Information
3. Fairmont Hotel MacDonald New Year’s Curbside
Bid farewell to 2020 and celebrate a new year to come with the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald’s New Year’s Eve Dinner and New Year’s Day Brunch curbside pick-up. Dinner includes charcuterie, canapés and champagne.
- Cost: Dinner – $89 + GST (for two people)
Brunch – $34 – $42 + GST (per person) - Get More Information
4. RGE RD NYE Dinner Kit or Charcuterie Kit
RGE RD is offering New Year’s Eve Dinner or Charcuterie Kits for two people! NYE Dinner Kit includes Northern Divine Caviar with traditional accompaniments: potato blini, creme fraiche, shallots and hardboiled egg, Sunchoke Soup, Scallops w/ squash, house cured pork and pepitas, Dexter Beef Loin w/ root vegetable pave, mushrooms and Jus Sweet Treats. Charcuterie Kits include housemade meats, cheese, pickles, crackers and condiments!
- Cost: NYE Dinner Kit – $199 + GST
Charcuterie Kits – $25 – $60 + GST
Drink add-ons available - Get More Information
5. The Marc New Year’s Eve Dinner Kit
“Kick 2020 to the curb” with The Marc’s curbside New Year’s Eve Dinner Kit! Three courses, your choice of beef carpaccio, escargot bourguignon, or mushroom ragout, seafood en papillote or herb crusted rack of lamb with sides, plus a baked pear in puff pastry! Delicious.
- Cost: $65 – $75 + GST per person
- Get More Information
6. Date Night Takeaway with Cabernet Sauvignon
Order a Charcuterie Date Night Takeaway box from The Art of Cake for your New Year’s Eve at home! Featuring: 3 Cured Meats, Olive Quartet, Artichoke Hearts, 2 kinds of cheese, Parmcrisps, Garlic Crustini, Cracked Pepper Truffle Honey + Dessert Box featuring an assortment of mini treats!
- Cost: $50 + GST for two people
Cabernet Sauvignon add-on available - Get More Information
7. New Year’s Eve Dinner for 2 from Workshop Eatery
Workshop Eatery has put together a multi-course meal made for you to celebrate the arrival of a new year. Start with a pantry board (charcuterie) and salad, choose short rib, baked salmon or red lentil stew as your main, then ring in 2021 with a decadent chocolate brownie plus “midnight snack” of chocolate strawberry tuxedos!
- Cost: $140 + GST for two people
Various add-ons available - Get More Information
8. XIX Nineteen New Year’s Takeout Dinner
XIX Nineteen’s New Year’s Takeout Dinner is a four-course build-your-own meal! You choose your appetizer (salad or beef tataki), entree (short ribs, salmon, or lobster ravioli), plus get Dungeness Crab Cakes, and a Double Chocolate Paradise Cake for Dessert. I like that they’re offering this as per person / for individuals too!
- Cost: $80 + GST per person
- Get More Information
9. Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse NYE Family Dinner Combo (8 Meat Platter)
Calling all meat lovers—Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse is offering a New Year’s Eve Family Dinner Combo featuring a platter of eight of their delicious meats, plus cheesebread, vegetables, mashed potatoes, pasta, AND dessert. Add-ons also available! And they are doing a 4-meat (no pork) option as well.
- Cost: $180 + GST (serves 4 people)
- Get More Information
10. Filistix New Year’s Eve Feast
Order up Filistix’ Media Noche NYE Feast. Media Noche means “middle night” or midnight in Spanish. This comes from a Chinese tradition where family, friends and loved ones gather at the dinner table to enjoy a night full of food, drinks and fireworks to bring in the New Year. Choose from Roasted Salmon, Crispy Lechon Pork Belly, Beef Short Ribm Chicken Cordon Bleu or Vegan Meatloaf as your main.
- Cost: $45 + GST per person
- Get More Information
11. La Patrona New Year’s Eve Meal
For a Mexican-themed New Year’s Eve meal, call up La Patrona (Sherwood Park). Their meal includes 1 kg of barbacoa or cochinita (or a combo), tortillas, limes, onions, cilantro, a litre of rice, a litre of black beans, carlotas for desset, and sparkling wine!
- Cost: $95 + GST
- Get More Information
12. The Common New Year’s Eve Dinner
The Common’s NYE dinner for 2 comes complete with a personal DJ! Dig in and tune in to their Twitch stream live from The Common with DJ Greg O. Chef Lindsay Porter’s Beef Wellington for 2 (Caramelized Onion Bacon Duxelle, Petite Beef tender, Creamy Old Cheddar Truffled Peas, Brown Butter Buttermilk potatoes, Glazed Vegetables, Red Wine Demi glaze), a 750ml bottle of Prosecco, famous Truffle Popcorn and party hats and favours to ring out 2020 in style.
- Cost: $99 + GST
- Get More Information
13. Drift Food Truck NYE Snacks
Pick up Drift’s build your own slider packs, X-large Potato Crisps, Broccoli Salad—food truck favs from the comfort own home! They’re also serving up Queso Dip packs with house-made Queso & Chorizo. Heat and assemble! Or pick up some frozen food packs too. Orders will close on Tuesday, December 29th at NOON, and delivery and pick will be available on Thursday, December 31st between 1-5 p.m.
- Cost: Various prices
- Get More Information
Note: even if a restaurant isn’t listed here, if you’ve got a local favourite, one that you’ve been meaning to try, or one you’d like to support before the year wraps up, please support them! While they may not have official New Year’s Eve-themed take-out meals, many are likely still doing take-out/pick-up of their regular menu items. Order away!
Other Things To (Safely) Do on New Year’s Eve
1. Go on a Downtown Holiday Lights Crawl
Go on a self-guided Downtown Holiday Lights Crawl to send off the year! Stop at Churchill Square, head to the Alberta Legislature Grounds, then cap off the crawl just outside LeMarchand Mansion.
- Cost: FREE!
- Get More Information
2. Explore the Edmonton Commonwealth Walkway and Complete The Quest for the Virtual Golden Key
Did you know Edmonton is home to a 10 km paved river valley walkway? Download the free Edmonton Commonwealth Walkway app and head out on your river valley adventure, from Government House Park all the way to the Funicular (or vice versa). Learn Edmonton history along the way, as different markers along the path contain text and audio stories. You can also join a virtual treasure hunt through the app.
- Cost: FREE!
- Get More Information
3. Virtual Games Night with Friends and Family
If ever there was a New Year’s Eve to play board games (well—computer games), this is it! I highly recommend Jackbox Games for ease of use and that they’re designed for many participants. Check my blog for tips on how to host a virtual game night to ring in 2021.
- Cost: $5+ depending on the game
(and if you already have it) - Get More Information
Note: virtual movie night, virtual NYE party, whatever your preferences are, do it virtually!
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So those are just a few ways you can say goodbye to 2020 and welcome the new year in Edmonton! However you celebrate, please do it safely, and with your household / co-horts.
And if you want more celebration ideas beyond Edmonton…
NYE Virtual Events Beyond Edmonton
Here are a few virtual celebrations happening beyond Edmonton you may be interested in…
Linda
If you’re Edmonton area and want hyperlocal recommendations on what to do, eat, and things to know each week, plus subscriber-only giveaways, subscribe to my weekly newsletter!
