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2013 Welcome Celebrations
Welcome in 2013 with the city’s largest New Year’s Eve Celebrations 31st December Derry~Londonderry
Join us for the 2013 welcome celebrations along the riverfront from 19.50hrs - 20.30 (7.50pm-8.30pm).
Be part of a memorable evening that connects past and new experiences and marks a new cultural chapter in the city’s story at 20:13 with the city’s largest fireworks and pyrotechnics display. Created by world renowned outdoor arts and pyrotechnic specialists, Walk the Plank, the dazzling show will choreograph spectacular flame effects and fireworks against the canvas of some of the City’s most beloved icons – The River Foyle, St Columb’s Park and The Peace Bridge. An accompanying sound track assembled by local producer Frank Gallagher celebrates the City’s musical heritage which will play such an important part in the year to come.
Watch out for the Lords of Lightning and listen for the Church Bells at 18:30 inviting you to be part of the celebrations!
Prime Viewing
Revellers are encouraged to make their way to Queens Quay, between the Harbour Square Roundabout (City Hotel) and the Derry City Council offices, to ensure the best experience of the show. There will also be restricted viewing areas at both Ebrington and Sainsburys.
Event Times
Queen’s Quay event zone opens at 19:00hrs (7pm). The main show will start at 19:50 hrs until 20:32 with the spectacular fireworks display and show commencing at 20:13!!
Programme
Fireworks and Pyrotechnics show
The main evening spectacle is created by world renowned outdoor arts and pyrotechnic specialists, Walk the Plank. This dazzling show will choreograph spectacular flame effects and fireworks against the canvas of some of the City’s most beloved icons – The River Foyle, St Columb’s Park and The Peace Bridge. The show will be of a scale never seen before in the city and is sure to leave lasting memories for both young and old. www.walktheplank.co.uk
City Sounds
Throughout the display there will be an accompanying sound track assembled by local producer Frank Gallagher celebrating the City’s musical heritage which will play such an important part in the year to come this will also include recordings of well known voices and sounds. These sounds are sure to bring back old memories of key city moments while also stirring up great feelings of pride and participation as we look forward to a new cultural chapter.
Lords of Lightning
Witness an electrifying battle by the renowned Lords of Lightning as the harness 4 million volts of raw electricity bringing to life two figures on top of plinths. This performance will take place in Derry City Council’s Car Park at 7.50pm. A show not to be missed.
www.arcadiaspectacular.com/structures/lords-of-lightning
New Year’s Music Events
New Year’s Eve
The Nerve Centre
Sound of the City 2012/13
Tickets: £5/6 are available at Nerve Centre Box Office – 71260562
Sound of The City 2012/2013 will celebrate with performances from some of the leading bands from Derry’s thriving music scene. Among the bands lined up to play are Triggerman, Our Krypton Son, John Deery & The Heads, Little Bear, Best Boy Grip, Intermission, Wyldling and Making Monsters.
St Columb’s Hall
Celtronic
Tickets: £12 are available from masons bar and online at www.wegottickets.com. Advanced purchase is advised
Ireland’s leading electronic music festival, Celtronic will host an event at the historic St Columbs Hall with possibly the best lineup for a New Years Eve party anywhere in Ireland. In addition to showcases from three of Derry's finest clubnights, Bekuz, Reverb and Deep Fried Funk, the event will be headlined by one of the world's leading DJs and producers, Ewan Pearson, and Fabric-London resident Daniel Avery.
Icon Winebar
Indigo
Free
Icon Winebar, Dungiven Road will be welcoming in the City of Culture year with a spectacular night featuring live entertainment from INDIGO, playing a mix of Modern through to Irish Folk. Entrance is free and there will be a free finger buffet and a glass of bubbly to help ring in 2013.
New Year’s Day Music Events
The Nerve Centre
Practice Makes Perfect
Tickets: £5 are available at The Nerve Centre Box Office 71 260562
Derry’s leading under 18’s music event, Practice Makes Perfect, will host an event on New Year’s Day which provides performance opportunities for young musicians and DJs. Performing on New Year’s Day will be Aztec, Luke Mac presents Soul, Gavin and His Ukulele, Cooper Black, Filtertron and DJ Morrison.
Voices of Derry~Londonderry
As you get ready to come to the NYE celebrations why not be part of the “Voices of Derry~Londonderry” from 4.00pm in Guildhall Square. This is a chance for everyone to share their hopes and wishes for 2013. Using the City Walls in Guildhall Square as the backdrop, you will be able to post your own message card to personally mark the beginning of our year as City of Culture. To take part you can visit www.cityofculture2013.com and finish the statement ‘My hope for Derry~Londonderry 2013 is.....’ or alternatively you can come down on the day and write, draw, paint, or submit a photo as part of the initiative. All messages will be translated into a new virtual wall that will be announced later in January 2013. A selection of online statements will be printed with a total of 400 of these highlighted to welcome not only the City of Culture 2013 but also to mark the beginning of the 400th anniversary of the city’s iconic walls.
Traffic and Travel
Traffic and Travel Information for New Year’s Eve celebrations on 31 December 2012
While it is impossible to stage an event like the New Year’s Eve celebrations without some inconvenience, the organisers, Derry City Council, are anxious to ensure minimal disruption to the local community.
The public are advised, therefore, to use the following information to plan their journeys on the evening of Monday 31 December 2012 in advance, to think about which route they will take and even to plan alternatives in case of traffic congestion. In particular, everyone should be prepared for some delays and allow a little extra time for their journeys.
Recommended viewing area:
Due to its nature, the prime place to view the event, which will include a spectacular pyrotechnics display, will be from a position along Queen’s Quay, between Derry City Council car park and the City Hotel. While Council is recommending Queen’s Quay as the best viewing area, provision is also being made for those who may wish to view the event from within Ebrington and a large screen will be located within the parade ground, showing live coverage of the event. Two further large screens will be located on Queen’s Quay.
Traffic restrictions:
Motorists are also advised to expect some delays and diversions during the evening.
In the interests of safety, the following roads in the immediate vicinity of the event will be closed to traffic or have traffic restrictions in place for the duration of the event:
- Queen’s Quay will be closed to traffic between 7.10pm and 8.45pm approximately. Alternative diversion routes will be available during these times. Access to the City Hotel off Harbour Square Roundabout will, however, be facilitated during the event.
- Access from Strand Road into Lower Clarendon Street and Boating House Lane will be controlled from 6.30pm and there will be no exit on to Queen’s Quay from these streets after this time.
- Access from Strand Road into Baronet Street and Fletcher Avenue will be controlled from 7.15pm approximately and parking restrictions will be in force.
- St Columb’s Road will be closed to all traffic, except Derry City Council issued pass holders (including Browning Drive residents and those visiting the residents), between 2pm and 9pm. In addition, a limited number of Blue Badge holders will also be able to access the road while disabled parking spaces remain available.
Parking restrictions:
The following parking restrictions will be in force during the day
The DRD car parks on Strand Road and Queen’s Quay will be closed from midnight on Sunday 30 December until 8am on Tuesday 1 January for site build.
No vehicles will be permitted to be parked along Queen’s Quay after 5pm on Monday 31 December.
No parking will be permitted along Baronet Street and Fletcher Avenue or on the left hand side of St Columb’s Road. These restrictions will be indicated by no parking cones.
Parking:
There are ample car parking spaces within the vicinity of the event zone. Car parking that will be available includes:
City side car parks: Foyle Side (until 10pm), Bridge Street, Foyle Road, Foyle Valley Railway, Lawrence Hill, Magee Campus, Society Street and William Street.
Waterside car parks: Alfred Street, Bond’s Hill, Distillery Brae, Simpsons Brae, Spencer Road and Waterside Health Centre.
Car parking will also be available on the hockey pitch at St Columb’s Park Leisure Centre. Please note, however, that this car park will be locked up at 10.00pm and will not reopen until Wednesday 2 January.
Drivers are reminded that normal on street parking restrictions will be in place and that they should avoid parking anywhere where they may be blocking entrances to residences or businesses or where they may be obstructing emergency access. It is vital, therefore, that people use the available car parks.
Recommended parking:
Drivers travelling from Limavady, Culmore and Buncrana directions should use the car parks at Sainsbury’s and the University of Ulster (Magee); those travelling from Strabane and Nixon’s Corner directions should use Foyleside car parks (open until 10pm); and those travelling from the Waterside should use the car parking provided on the hockey pitch at St Columb’s Park Leisure Centre on Limavady Road (open until 10pm).
Disabled access:
Limited disabled parking will be available along St Columb’s Road for Blue Badge holders. On the city side, Blue Badge holders should use available public disabled car parking spaces. The disabled drop off point is the entrance to Custom House Street.
Drop off points:
Drop off points have been identified as the entrance to Custom House Street (city side) and St Columb’s Park Leisure Centre car park (Waterside). Vehicles seeking alternative drop-off points are advised to avoid the immediate vicinity of Queen’s Quay, in order to avoid traffic congestion.
Public transport:
Where possible, revellers are strongly advised to use the public transport system or to consider walking to the event. Details of all buses can be found by visiting www.translink.co.uk/Routes-and-Timetables
Pedestrian restrictions:
For safety reasons the Peace Bridge will be closed between 6.30pm and 9.00pm on 31 December. Pedestrians and cyclists are asked, therefore to be aware that it will not be possible to travel over the bridge during this period and anyone who regularly uses the bridge to get home from is advised to consider alternative arrangements. Council requests members of the public to take the bridge’s closure into account when planning their travel arrangements and to cooperate with the security staff and stewards who will be present to ensure everyone’s safety.
In addition, it should be noted that the Greenway and cycle path at St Columb’s Park will be closed to the public on December 31st.
The Council are urging everyone to come along to what promises to be a memorable event. The public are advised to come along early in order to ensure that they do not miss the spectacle, but to remember to wrap up warmly.
Further information:
Tune into BBC Radio Foyle and Q120.9FM from 3pm on December 31st for updates on traffic and car parking information.
