With Christmas coming to an end, our thoughts begin to drift towards New Years. How will you ring in 2018? Host a party, deal with obnoxious drunken guests before cleaning up the mess mid hangover in the morning or join me and your Sunshine Coast neighbours at a party to end all parties. At least for the year anyway.

New Year’s Eve Mooloolaba promises to be the Sunshine Coast’s largest and free celebration of 2017, and welcoming of 2018 and everything it brings with it. There’s no better way to make New Year’s resolutions you won’t keep than on the beach with friends, food and entertainment, and not having to clean up the mess. This Family friendly event will begin 4pm on December 31st, with entertainment kicking off at 4:30pm – culminating in the final countdown to midnight.

The live entertainment on the main stage will include performances from local artists such as the Andrea Kirwin Trio, Mason Hope, The Floating Bridges, and Vegas Please. Kids’ entertainment includes characters from Despicable Me 3 and Kung Fu Panda who will be on the Sea Stage from 5.00pm. Energetic DJ sets will keep the young ones dancing on the beach until midnight. There will be roving street entertainment, children’s activities, inflatable rides and delicious food will be available from local vendors, restaurants and cafes on the Esplanade. NYE Mooloolaba will be the official finale of the 50th Anniversary of the Naming of the Sunshine Coast. To celebrate this very special year, two spectacular fireworks displays will be held at 8.30pm and midnight.

A 15m x 15m public art installation – Zspyda – will also make its mark on Mooloolaba Beach. Inspired by David Bowie’s Spider from Mars, the sculpture will be choreographed into a beach dance party and the two fireworks displays, along with other lighting effects across the site. The Zspyda is an original artwork of Sunshine Coast artist Lucas Salton and was originally commissioned by Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival for debut at the 2017 Festival. You can also leave your mark on the 50th Anniversary celebrations by signing the giant anniversary card as part of a World Guinness Book of Records attempt. This iconic event is a safe, secure, fully fenced, alcohol and glass free zone and intoxicated people will not be permitted entry. To reduce our impact on the environment, chemical glow sticks and glow products will not be allowed into the event. Reusable battery operated LED products are permitted. Glow sticks and glow products are not recyclable and the liquid contained inside them can be extremely harmful to the environment and the discarded items may end up in waterways harming marine life.

For more information about Mooloolaba‘s New Year’s Eve celebrations, as well as road closures and parking information, be sure to visit the Sunshine Coast’s council website for a full schedule and all important updates on their website – and I’ll see you on the beach this New Year’s Eve.