Get set to celebrate the New Year

GET ready to make the end of 2023 a memorable one with a celebration for the whole family around Wollongong Harbour.

Wollongong City Council is inviting the community to join in the New Year’s Eve fun on December 31.

The event will kick off from 5pm with music, entertainment and food trucks in the Harbour precinct. At 9pm, the night sky will be illuminated with a spectacular fireworks display over the iconic harbour and lighthouses.

This year’s New Year’s Eve event will also be complemented by a carnival in Lang Park. Running for two weeks over the school holidays, the carnival is on daily from December 26 to the January 7 2024.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said that on New Year’s Eve, community members and visitors are encouraged to come along to the harbour and celebrate the end of another year.

“We know our community loves fireworks on New Year’s Eve and this event is a firm favourite for many families,” he said.

The 10-minute fireworks display over the harbour will be accompanied by a soundtrack of music to be broadcast on i98FM.

To help people travel to and from the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Free Gong Shuttle Bus will be running until 10.50pm. That means if you’re arriving in the city by train, you can hop on the Free Gong Shuttle Bus at Wollongong or North Wollongong Station and travel to the event.

Bookings have opened for the accessible viewing area, which is sponsored by Cram Foundation. The space will be a reserved viewing area for people with disability or accessibility requirements, and their family.

“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback for our accessible viewing areas over the years as these spaces allow people of all abilities to watch and participate in community events,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Bookings to use the viewing area, car park or drop off and pick up zones are now open. We ask that community members wishing to use these services apply as soon as possible so that we can work with you to accommodate your needs.”

Bookings for the viewing area, car park and drop off/pick up are now open using Council’s online form. Bookings are essential to request a parking space in this area. There are very limited spots available, and we will do our best to accommodate.

Requests to use the accessible parking spaces and drop off/pick up point will close midday Thursday December 28.

For more information, email Council’s Events Team or call (02) 4227 7111.

The Wollongong City Council event is an alcohol-free and smoke-free event. See here for more event details.

Planning on celebrating till midnight?

Wollongong City Council has given Wollongong CBD businesses the green light to light up the night sky at midnight with fireworks. Market Street, outside the Illawarra Hotel, will again be closed for an outdoor celebration and fireworks will be visible at various vantage points across the CBD.

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