Windsor‑Essex rings in 2026 with free New Year's Eve events

Windsor‑Essex offers free New Year's Eve activities on Dec. 31 — outdoor skating, fireworks and family events across Windsor, LaSalle, Essex, Lakeshore and Kingsville.

Note: the audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. Residents across Windsor‑Essex have several free options to ring in 2026 on Dec. 31, including skating parties, fireworks and family-friendly celebrations hosted by individual municipalities. Windsor The city will host its first New Year's Eve Rink Party at the new City Hall Square ice rink from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will feature music, lights, giveaways, a live DJ, food trucks and complimentary hot chocolate provided by Tim Hortons. Free skate lending will be available from All Saints' Anglican Church. Giveaways scheduled throughout the evening include Tim Hortons gift cards, an Adventure Bay Family Water Park four‑pack every 30 minutes and glow sticks while supplies last. LaSalle LaSalle's annual New Year's Eve fireworks at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., launching behind the outdoor pavilion near the splash pad and visible from on-site parking lots. Visitors are asked to arrive by 7:15 p.m. and to park only in designated lots; police will enforce parking rules. The Vollmer Centre will be closed during the event and 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 distributor works within Environment Canada guidelines and supports tree planting to offset emissions. Essex Essex will host a "Noon Year's Eve" family event with a midday countdown at noon, featuring face painting, crafts, carnival‑style games, a New Year's photo opportunity and a balloon drop — a kid‑friendly way to welcome 2026. Lakeshore The Municipality of Lakeshore plans a fireworks show at the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre starting at 6:30 p.m. Kingsville Kingsville will close its Fantasy of Lights season with a New Year's Eve celebration at the Kingsville Arena from 1:30 p.m. to 7:20 p.m., offering free skating, hot chocolate, crafts and games. Multiple skating sessions are scheduled through 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 for 7 p.m., weather permitting, with a rain date of Jan. 2 if conditions are poor. Suggestions: consider arriving early for popular events, dress warmly, follow local parking and event guidelines (LaSalle asks visitors to park only in designated lots), and check municipal websites or event pages for last‑minute updates or weather‑related changes.