7 December 2020

Eat streets and lights to replace NYE fireworks, business calls for CBR voucher extension over holidays

| Dominic Giannini
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Street eats

Canberra’s favourite eat streets and attractions will be lit up for NYE. Photo: Jack Mohr.

Canberra’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks have been cancelled for the second year in a row, leaving many in the nation’s capital to ponder what they’ll be doing to celebrate the new year and the end of a tumultuous 2020.

And while large crowded events will not be going ahead due to COVID-19 restrictions, Canberrans will still be able to enjoy a night out and welcome in the new year with three nights of celebratory meals on Canberra’s favourite eat streets where pop up musical performances will also be taking place.

The more decentralised celebrations will help activate town centres across Canberra and encourage community support of our local hospitality, arts and entertainment sectors, Business and Arts Minister Tara Cheyne said.

“Canberrans are encouraged to support the revised program of NYE activity occurring across the nation’s capital as a way of bringing the community together as we count down to 2021,” she said.

Celebrations will take place from Tuesday 29 December to Thursday 31 December, and the city’s most popular eat streets from various town centres will be announced shortly.

Canberra Business Chamber CEO Graham Catt has called on the ACT Government to extend its Choose CBR voucher program to cover this Christmas and New Year’s period, with the scheme currently set to expire on 21 December.

“The Choose CBR program, if it could be extended, would be of benefit as it is all about helping people and encouraging them to buy local,” he said.

“For retailers and hospitality especially, Christmas and the summer period is a critical time that can set them up over winter and for the rest of the year.

“Small businesses in particular have their busiest period between December and January.”

Events ACT is encouraging patrons to book their celebratory festive-season meals at their favourite restaurants early to avoid missing out.

“The important thing is that we encourage people to buy local,” Mr Catt said, “perhaps even think about having a holiday at home to help local businesses.”

To stay up to date with what’s happening on New Year’s Eve in Canberra, keep an eye on Events ACT.

Original Article published by Dominic Giannini on The RiotACT.

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