December 28, 2023  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

The countdown to 2024 is on and Vermonters will be ringing in the new year with celebrations around the state.

While Waterbury does not have a special public New Year’s Eve event scheduled, there are multiple chances to catch live entertainment and fireworks around the region. Here are listings for a few.

BURLINGTON

Highlight, Burlington’s New Year’s Eve festival since 2018, will feature over a dozen local music acts of all genres and a fireworks display by Northstar Fireworks beginning at 8 p.m. on the waterfront.

Locals will be familiar with the Cirque de Fuego fire performers (regulars at Waterbury’s River of Light parade) who will set fire to an enormous wooden model of lake-dwelling Champ, a series of improv comedy sketches at the Vermont Comedy Club, and three shows by award-winning Circus Smirkus starting at noon.

Participate in Highlight’s events with a $15 admission button available for purchase online as well as in person at several partner stores. Button details and Highlight’s full schedule is up now on their website: highlight.community/schedule

MONTPELIER

Montpelier is ringing in the New Year with an expanded schedule of free live music performances, children’s activities, and ‘The Beat Goes On!’ – a collaborative performance held at City Hall by the Shidaa Dance and Drum Troupe plus cast members of Lost Nation Theater. The festivities are supported by a grant from Montpelier Alive and funding from National Life Group and 802 Cars.

Lost Nation’s Artistic Director Jordan Mensah and guest dancer and choreographer Samuel Maama Marquaye from Ghana are among the performers on New Year’s Even in Montpelier. Photo courtesy Lost Nation Theater

A free animated children's film will be screened at the Savoy starting at noon until 1:30 p.m. Kids crafts and stories follow 1:45-2:45 p.m. at Kellogg Hubbard Library; a youth drumming workshop in the Lost Nation Theater lobby at City Hall continues downtown 3-4 p.m.

Musicians will be performing at Christ Church (1-4:30 p.m.) and the Unitarian Church (2:15-6:15 p.m.) including Karl Miller and Sweet Messenger, Art Zorn and Denise Ricker, The Steppes, and The Sara Grace Band. No fireworks show has been announced for this Sunday, but the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra announced a free performance, 7-9 p.m., at the Unitarian Church as “a gift to the community.”

The Shidaa Dance and Drum Troupe’s show with Lost Nation Theater is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 p.m. with drumming, dancing, cabaret, song and storytelling. This performance will include special guest dancer and choreographer Samuel Maama Marquaye from Ghana, supported by Lost Nation’s Artistic Director Jordan Mensah. Also on the program are locally acclaimed Guinean balafonist Ousmane Camara from Warren, master drummer Seny Daffe from the band Jeh Kulu and Stuart Paton from Burlington Taiko. Lost Nation Theater artists participating include Kim Bent, Kathleen Keenan, Susan Reid and Shanda Williams.

Details on the free performances and several additional ticketed parties can be found online at: montpelieralive.com/nye.

ST. JOHNSBURY

St. Johnsbury’s Catamount Arts has pulled together a vast offering of First Night activities featuring “about 175 performers in nearly 70 shows in venues throughout the city,” according to its website. These include magic by Alyx the Magician, juggling from Cirque Us and music from the Bob & Sarah Amos Band playing at the United Community Church.

International Jamaican, Mediterranean and Filipino dishes will be available on site, and the first moments of the New Year will be marked by the raising of the glittering First Night North Ball of Light. Shuttle service is also available to revelers for transportation between events.

Entry to the St. Jay celebration requires the purchase of admission buttons -- $30 for adults and $20 for students under 18. Online sales are open until 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Details and button pick up locations are listed at: firstnightnorth.org.

SHELBURNE

Not a New Year’s event specifically, but Shelburne Museum’s Winter Lights outdoor exhibition continues through Jan. 6 with tickets sold at 30-minute intervals. Walk the museum campus to see 18 special illuminated installations including the Ticonderoga steamboat, the 1871 lighthouse, Bostwick Garden and Beach Woods decked out in thousands of lights.

Tickets are available online: $15 adults, $10 kids ages 3-17, free for those under age 3. Winter Lights - Shelburne Museum

WATERBURY

On Guptil Road in Waterbury, Zenbarn is hosting a 21+ party with 1980s music by the Hot Neon Magic cover band. The show starts at 8 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m. and has a $25 cover. Details and tickets online at zenbarnvt.com.

FIREWORKS

For those seeking fireworks to kick off 2024, there’s a few other Central Vermont options in addition to Burlington. Many Vermont ski areas have New Year’s Eve fireworks including several nearby.

Sugarbush has fireworks and their torchlight ski parade planned for 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Peak Courtyard. Details online at sugarbush.com/things-to-do/events-calendar
Stowe Mountain is starting their fireworks at 7 p.m., but a “Fire On Ice” figure skating performance is also scheduled for two shows at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Spruce Peak. More online at: sprucepeak.com/newyearseve.
Bolton Valley Ski Resort has a torchlight parade and fireworks at 7:30 p.m. A free viewing party with a livestream New Year’s Eve festivities in New York City starts at 9 p.m. Details online at New Year's Eve at Bolton Valley - Bolton Valley
Smugglers’ Notch ski area will similarly have fireworks at the mountain’s base starting at 9 p.m. smuggs.com/pages/universal/events
And if your travels take you further north on the 31st, the Downtown St. Albans organization is putting on a fireworks show at Taylor Park beginning at 7 p.m.

Events, celebrations to ring in the New Year