Ringing in the New Year at local venues

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

Following a long-standing tradition, the Strathmore Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 10, will be rocking into 2017 on Dec. 31 with food, music, dancing and door prizes.
Legion Vice President Basil Dwyer is organizing this year’s New Year’s Eve party, just as he has done for the past four years.
“[There will be] champagne at midnight and of course all the funny hats,” said Dwyer.
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at the Strathmore Legion. The event includes cocktail hour at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and music starting at 8 p.m. There are only 120 tickets available for purchase and they usually sell out fast.
“It’s a full house. It usually sells out,” said Dwyer.
Dinner will include a catered roast beef meal through the Legion kitchen with “all the fixings,” said Dwyer.
This year’s music will be provided by a Calgary-based band called Shameless Covers who have previously played at four different Strathmore Legion New Year’s Eve parties and have always been a hit.
“[The audience is] right on the dance floor right away,” said Nigel McEathron from the band Shameless Covers. “The crowd is so good.”
Shameless Covers, previously known as Pop Culture, is a two-piece band comprised of Nigel McEathron who plays guitar, flute, saxophone, harmonica, steel guitar and synthesizer, and is lead vocalist. The second half of the band is Donna Hrechka who plays bass guitar and flute, and is also a lead vocalist.
You can expect to hear popular dance music as well as old time rock and roll from the ’50s through ’90s, and country and newer pop music covers.
Tickets to the New Year’s Eve event will automatically be eligible for door prizes that have been purchased from local businesses. A grand prize draw will take place at 11:30 p.m. for a flat screen television.
The Legion isn’t the only organization in town getting ready to bring in the New Year with a bang.
• The Strathmore Station Pub will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Masquerade at 9 p.m. on Dec. 31. Early bird tickets at a cost of $5 are available for purchase until Dec. 24, or tickets can be purchased at the door for $10. There will be prizes and drink specials throughout the night.
• The Triple B Tavern in Rockyford is hosting a Funnyfest on Dec. 31, featuring two comedians. Tickets for the show cost $25 and door opens at 8:30 p.m. Dinner and show tickets go for $40, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. There will be a midnight buffet as well as champagne at midnight.
• The Strathmore and District Agricultural Society is holding a family New Year’s bash on Dec. 31. The Celebration of Lights will host the party in the blue livestock pavilion (LP) on the ag grounds from 5:30 to 9 p.m. with fireworks to follow.