Hello, 2010!

On Dec. 31, forget the stodgy shindig at city hall. Whether it’s rocking out East Coast-style in Halifax, unleashing your inner salsa dance monster in Ottawa, or channeling Sherlock for a murder mystery in Calgary, there’s no shortage of original and fun ways to send off 2009.

10. North America’s First New Year / St. John’s
Can’t wait to get your party on? The oldest city in North America, St. John’s, is also the first on the continent to strike midnight on Dec. 31, thanks to its way-easterly perch on the Atlantic coast.  Gather ‘round Quidi Vidi Lake, where a dazzling fireworks display will kick off 2010 with a bang. The next morning, head over to nearby Cape Spear – North America’s easternmost point of land – and check out the first sunrise of the decade.
Free, stjohns.ca

9. Joel Plaskett Emergency in Concert / Halifax
Make a little noise this New Year's Eve with Joel Plaskett. The Canadian indie king and his band The Emergency are set to take over Casino Nova Scotia's Schooner Room with not one but two rockin' NYE shows. It’s the perfect capper to a prolific ‘09 for Plaskett, who released his triple album "Three," recorded a new song for CBC Radio 2's "Great Canadian Song Quest" and won Entertainer of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards. Oh, and opened Paul McCartney’s Halifax mega-show this summer after being hand-picked by the ex-Beatle himself. The 19+ Schooner shows start at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
$53.25, casinonovascotia.com

8. Hip New Year's Eve at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac / Quebec City
Have a blast (from the past) at the gorgeous Château Frontenac overlooking the St. Lawrence River. New this year to the historic grand hotel's NYE celebrations is a sophisticated soirée in the Frontenac Room. Revelers will have no trouble getting into party mode thanks to the dinner cocktail and entertainment by the ultimate '80s tribute band, The Karma Kameleons. 
$149, fairmont.com

7. Urban Nights Musical Revue New Year's Eve Gala / Montreal
Billed as a “foot stompin’, head bobbin’ experience,” this event will trace the evolution of the musical genre known as urban contemporary. The production, conceived by Curtis Patterson of the Montreal-based company Entertainment Central, debuts Dec. 31 at the KoSA Arts Centre in the form of a gala dinner and show. See some of the city’s premiere vocalists, musicians and dancers take on a hodgepodge of hits from this groundbreaking genre.
$179.95, kosacentre.org

6. Roy Thompson Hall’s Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits!New Year’s Eve Concert / Toronto
If you like your New Year’s with a touch of drama, this is the event for you. Bravissimo! is back for a third consecutive year with a brand-new program of arias, duets and overtures from the world’s most beloved operas. An all-star international cast will be joined by Italian-Austrian conductor Roberto Paternostro and the Opera Canada Symphony. Expect to hear classics from the likes of Carmen, Madama Butterfly and The Magic Flute.
$75-$155, masseyhall.com

5. 2010 Salsathon / Ottawa-Gatineau
Salseros unite! Break out your dancing shoes for Ottawa-Gatineau’s first annual New Year’s Eve salsa marathon, presented by SalsaOlé and Rahim’s Latin Fridays. This bilingual fiesta will fill All Saints' Anglican Church with the sights and sounds of salsa, cha-cha, bachata and merengue. Throw in door prizes, an on-site bar, champagne at midnight and the promise of “many more surprises,” and it’s a recipe for muchafun.
$20 (advance) / $25 (door), salsaole.ca

4. “The Knight is Young” at the Muttart Conservatory / Edmonton
This medieval-themed event at the newly renovated Muttart Conservatory is perfect for the young ‘uns, as well as Mom and Pop. Families are encouraged to come in costume, so expect to run into your fair share of noble knights, fair princesses and other colourful characters straight out of the Middle Ages. Music, craft-making, face painting, performances – what more could a mini-medieval buff want?
$15 (general) / $10 (children ages 2-12) / $35 per family, muttartconservatory.ca

3. Pegasus Presents "Send Me to the Glamour" / Calgary
It’s a comic murder mystery, and you’re invited! Here’s the setup: Penny Pincher is looking for applicants to form a ‘70s glam rock musical group, “dance ability necessary, looking good in neon spandex and metallic wigs essential, musical talent a plus, but not required.”  When the hopefuls gather, it becomes apparent there are more finalists than Penny needs.  The setup ends ominously: “Who is going to make 'the cut'?!”  Penned by Leslie Carmichael, this one-off show takes place at the Deane House Restaurant and comes with a five-course dinner. You can either sit back, watch, laugh and enjoy the proceedings courtesy of the Pegasus Performances cast – or you can put on your detective’s cap and try to solve the whodunit. The audience will be given ballots at the show’s end to guess a culprit and motive, and a prize will go to the evening's super-sleuth.
$125, pegasus-performances.com

2. “Midnight in New Orleans” New Year’s Eve Carnival 2010 / Kelowna, B.C.
The Kelowna Community Theatre transforms into the French Quarter for the biggest NYE bash in the city. Décor will be provided by the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art – keep an eye out for fire throwers, video presentations and even a “red light district.”  And what’s New Orleans without music? Four of Kelowna’s hottest music acts, including Emmy-nominated blues and soul performer John Lee Sanders, will keep the venue hopping.
$75, kctlive.ca

1. Vancouver TheatreSports League Presents “Year In Review” / Vancouver
Laughter, besides being the best medicine, is also the perfect way to kick off the new year. The improv players at the Vancouver TheatreSports League will have you in stitches with their tongue-in-cheek rundown of the top headlines of 2009.  Marriages, births and oh yes, arrests – all will be relived at the New Revue Stage on Granville Island, with the help of audience suggestions.  This hot-ticket item only runs once a year, but four shows on Dec. 31 means there’s no excuse for missing this fun trip down memory lane!
$8-$38 (depending on age and show), vtsl.com


BONUS:
Who says you can only have one New Year’s? From Jan. 22 to Feb. 28, Vancouver’s LunarFest will celebrate both the Lunar New Year and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic spirit by bringing together artisans and cultural performances. The festivities, part of Cultural Olympiad programming, include the must-see Lantern Forest. This free public display will stretch down Granville Street and feature lanterns designed by school-aged children alongside professional artwork, as well as five totem lanterns sporting indigenous designs from Canada and Taiwan. Some downtown businesses will also be distributing hand-held tiger lanterns, so you can join the fun by taking part in a lantern procession led by Public Dreams Society.
FREE, lunarfest.org