Lethbridge prepares to swing into the New Year

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on December 31, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

“Tonight’s another chance to start again.
It’s just another New Year’s Eve,
Another night like all the rest.
It’s just another New Year’s Eve,” –  Barry Manilow, “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve.”
Whether you’re listening to the mellowness of Manilow or U2’s “New Year’s Day,” Saturday night could be something special for Lethbridge residents who want to say farewell to 2022 with a little bit of fun.
For those who aren’t inclined for an evening in the living room, there is plenty of opportunity to have fun in public on Saturday.
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden on New Year’s Eve has a special holiday package planned that will give guests from 7 until 9 p.m. full access to the facility. The package includes entry to the garden, horse and wagon rides, snacks, refreshments, kids colouring and a come-and-go dome experience.
At 9 p.m., the garden will stage its Joya no Kane or New Year’s Eve bell ringing tradition “to cleanse the new year.” The bell will be rung 108 times starting at 9. There is free entry from 9 until 10 p.m. for those who just want to visit the garden for the new year’s service.
Various establishments will also be hosting New Year’s Eve parties including The Place downtown which will have a Def Leppard tribute act Stage Fright performing.
The Slice, also downtown, will have a sock hop with Rebel Angels.
The Coast Hotel on Mayor Magrath is staging a gala from 5 p.m. Saturday until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1 with a portion of each ticket going to the United Way. The evening includes a five-course menu and music by the Chevelles.
Casino Lethbridge will ring in 2023 starting at 8 p.m. with a performance by the Bamboo Guppies. Tickets are available at the casino.
Bully’s has a no-cover event planned starting at 9 p.m. featuring a band called Rudz Crew.
The Italian Canadian Culture Centre is also hosting an event starting at 7 p.m. with tickets available at the venue. Coyote Junction will perform.
People looking for entertainment earlier in the day can check out New West Theatre’s “Blockbuster” musical comedy revue which has two performances, the first starting at 1 p.m. in the Yates Centre. The second begins at 7:30 p.m.
For people who aren’t inclined to go out, channel surfing will be fun, too, especially on American networks.
NBC is staging “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” with hosts Miley Cyrus and new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dolly Parton hosting.
Ryan Seacrest returns for another edition of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” which will have numerous performers hitting the stage in several locations including Times Square in New York.
Country fans will want to tune into CBS for “Nashville’s Big Bash” which has performances scheduled by such big names as Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker, Sheryl Crow, Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Ashley McBryde and Little Big Town.
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper will anchor CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast in New York City while Don Lemon will handle duties in New Orleans.
Canadian content includes a one-hour Rick Mercer special on CBC.
American college football fans have multiple excuses to sit in front of the TV Saturday with the CFP semifinals. In the Fiesta Bowl, No. 2 Michigan Wolverines and No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs will hit the gridiron.
In the Peach Bowl, No. 1 Georgia goes head-to-head with No. 4 Ohio State. The winners will meet in the national championship game on Jan. 9.
Other bowl games scheduled on New Year’s Eve include the Sugar Bowl with No. 5 Alabama versus No. 9 Kansas State and the Music City Bowl with Iowa and Kentucky.
A whole slate of NHL games are also scheduled for Saturday including the Toronto Maple Leafs at Colorado, Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals at Montreal Canadiens.

Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter

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