Fireworks explode over Niagara Falls to bring in the New Year. (Handout/Winter Festival of Lights)

Seasonal Cdn getaways New Years destinations

Let the countdown begin. Here are some places to join with others on New Year's Eve to count down the dying seconds of 2007.

In London, the free family New Year's Eve celebration in Victoria Park features Sass Jordan.

The Canadian singer- songwriter heats up the stage starting at 10:30 p.m. At midnight she'll help the crowd ring in the new year followed by an "amazing fireworks display."

The fun begins at 6 p.m. with ice skating (weather permitting), hot chocolate and entertainment.

Singer and comedian Fred Penner takes the stage from 8 to 9 p.m. after which there will be a children's New Year's Eve countdown and fireworks display.

The Forest City Rockers take over at 9:15 p.m. with cover versions of classic rock songs.

The London Regional Children's Museum presents New Year's at noon on Dec. 31.

There's an "around-the-world" celebration every hour from 10 a.m., a wishing tree, balloon animals, glitter fireworks, scavenger hunt, cookie decorating, cultural activities and the countdown to the noon balloon drop.

Admission to the museum at 21 Wharncliffe Rd. S. is $6 a person; infants to age two are free. (A children's half-price admission coupon is at http://londonchildrensmuseum.ca).

Canada's largest free New Year's Eve Extravaganza is what Niagara Falls does in style with live entertainment and fireworks.

The party starts at 8 p.m. in Queen Victoria Park for an estimated 40,000 people and rocks on through the midnight hour.

Put on by the Niagara Parks Commission and event partners, it has Dennis DeYoung, founding member of Styx, as the headliner along with Loverboy and Honeymoon Suite and spectacular fireworks displays over the falls at 9 p.m. and midnight.

"Visitors and residents should come down and enjoy our entire tourism district in full swing," said commission chairperson Jim Williams.

This includes "great music in Queen Victoria Park to high-energy gaming at Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino Resort, family fun of Clifton Hill and our romantic restaurants and spectacular hotel getaways," he adds.

The dramatic beauty of the falls is highlighted nightly from dusk in a rainbow of colours.

Continuing at the falls through Jan. 7 is the Winter Festival of Lights (www.wfol.com) marking its 25th year, with three-million lights and 120 animated displays.

The New Year's Eve party features a licensed area serving cold and hot beverages and there's a variety of food concessions.

Organizers suggest Edgewaters Tap and Grill, located at Queen Victoria Place, as the "closest warm-up spot within steps of the concert stage."

On the Net

www.niagaraparks.com

Other events:

Families First - A New Year's Eve Celebration takes place at the Chatham Cultural Centre from 5 to 9 p.m. The Under the Big Top theme features circus-style entertainment, games and crafts for children, balloon artists, face painting, clowns, a mime and fortune teller. Fireworks blast off in Tecumseh Park at 9 p.m. Free advance tickets are required; call (519) 354-8338; 1-866-807-7770.

Windsor's Unbeli'EVE'able New Year's Eve includes skating, children's entertainers, face painting, magic and "interactive musically animated stage performances" leading up to fireworks.

Sloan headlines the New Year's celebration in Kitchener. It starts at 2 p.m. at the Waterloo Regional Children's Museum leading to a performance at 5:15 p.m. by Erick Traplin. One block west at city hall, there's skating from 6 p.m. and entertainment by the Stars Here at 9:15 p.m., the Machines at 10 p.m. and Sloan at 11 p.m.

Canada's New Year's Eve Bash is at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square from 10:30 p.m. to midnight with music and fireworks.

Burlington's New Year's Eve Celebration takes place along the downtown waterfront with an skating at the Rotary Centennial Pond along with music, buskers and fireworks at midnight.