New Year’s Eve lands on a Sunday night this year so spend the day getting ready to party in the Tri-Cities.
Here are a few ideas about what’s happening, and where:
• Alberto Gonzalez and his partner Teresa Szefler spice up the floor for another Hot Salsa Dance Zone bash, running 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the rehearsal hall of the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). “The special thing about this party is that it will be more affordable, and just fun and dancing all night with the music of three Salsa DJs,” Gonzalez told The Tri-City News. The Salsa, bachata and merengue lesson starts at 8 p.m. with the fiesta heating up an hour later. Champagne will flow as the clock ticks to midnight. Parking is free or take the Evergreen Extension to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas station. Call 604-725-4654 or visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
• Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam) has two New Year’s Eve celebrations unfolding: Its Classic Rock-n-Roll NYE event, in the Molson Canadian Theatre, includes tributes to Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac and The Guess Who, starting at 9:30 p.m. (dinner begins at 7 p.m.). And in the Asylum, inside the casino, Heatseeker will whip up the 1980s-themed festivities. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Visit hardrockcasinovancouver.com.
• Port Coquitlam’s funny crew at The Giggle Dam (2616 Shaughnessy St.) gets into the New Year’s Eve spirit a day early — Down Under. Tickets are limited to its annual Australian NYE show on Dec. 30, which includes a special menu — courtesy of chef Pieter J. Van Meenen — and slapstick entertainment. Or enjoy the Dec. 31 “musical time warp” performance, Icons of the Airwaves — the Dam’s new NYE show featuring a six-piece band. Call 604-944-4453 or visit giggledam.com.
Don't forget to budget for a safe ride home with Operation Red Nose, a Tri-City News-sponsored program that supports KidSport Tri-Cities. Volunteers will be on stand-by from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. to escort revellers and their vehicles home. Call 778-866-6673.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
