4 to 8 p.m.
Ring in the new year at Fort William Historical Park. Enjoy a candlelit evening of family-friendly activities, winter games, live music, artisan demonstrations, and fireworks!
Farm 4 to 7 p.m., Historic Site 4 to 8 p.m.
Explore the historic site; visit the Anishinaabe Encampment, Apothecary, Great Hall, Wintering House, Kitchen, Trades Square, and visit with the farm animals.
Create a written time capsule of your 2026 New Year’s resolutions and seal it with a wax stamp.
4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m., and 6:15 p.m.
Learn about traditional methods of fire lighting by watching our historic interpreters demonstrate their fire lighting skills.
4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
Come enjoy the retelling of “The Flying Canoe,” a magical tale from Québec that follows a group of voyageurs who, after a night of revelry, find themselves soaring through the sky in a flying canoe. This captivating French-Canadian folktale, will captivate your imagination.
Light up the night as we transform one of our historic buildings into a radiant world of glow-in-the-dark fun! Featuring hands-on activities, glow mural coloring, inflatable games, and an indoor sports court.
Head outdoors to The Glow Yard, where a world of glowing accuracy games awaits!
Sing along or take center stage for an epic Glow Karaoke Jam Session, where your talent will shine bright. Hosted by Bay Dream Records.
Craft your own New Year’s Eve masquerade mask.
Hop on a snow disc and slide down our mini snow hill located in the Main Square. (Weather dependent).
Try this traditional Indigenous winter activity and launch a wooden ‘snake’ down an ice track. (Weather dependent).
4 to 5 p.m.
Jamie Sky weaves genres like pop, R&B, and soul together to create beautiful melodies and music.
5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Patrick and Karli will delight visitors with traditional Irish and old Canadian folk songs.
6:30 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 8 p.m.
Join Rodney Brown for a family-friendly voyageur sing-along.
7:15 p.m.
ASL interpretation available
Celebrate the beginning of the New Year with a musket salute, a rousing historical drama featuring Fort William’s inhabitants, and a sing-along of Auld Lang Syne.
7:30 p.m.
Celebrate the New Year with a firework display that will light up the night sky! Enjoy a stunning array of colors and sparkling explosions as we welcome the year ahead in a truly spectacular style.
Open 4 to 7 p.m.
Visit the artisan market for a unique selection of locally crafted items and handcrafted items created by our artisans, including tin star ornaments and tin-cicles, while supplies last. Stay warm during the event with bottomless hot apple cider with the purchase of a FWHP thermos.
Watch and learn about glass cutting by guest artisan Celestial Strawberry Glass.
Watch our blacksmith working the historic forge and learn about historical blacksmithing methods.
Watch mukuks (birch bark baskets) being crafted from birch bark and spruce root.
Listen and learn about the holiday music played in the 19th century, featuring the fife, fiddle, jaw harp, and German flute.
Watch our carpenter hand carve wooden skis.
Watch an artisan weave traditional snowshoes.
Watch our tinsmith craft tin ornaments and unique tin-cicles (icicle ornaments made from tin).
Chips, chocolate bards
Chips, chocolate bars
The Personal Attendant for Leisure (PAL) Card is an identification card, which is issued to a person who has a disability. It allows the support person to enter a Thunder Bay recreation facility for free. A support person can be a friend, family member or a paid worker.
+ HST
The season pass provides you with year-round admission to the Fort William historic site and admission to the following Fort William Historical Park events: The Great Rendezvous, Halloween Hoot, New Year’s Eve Family Frolic, and Voyageurs Winter Carnival. Admission to Canada Day, Anishinaabe Keeshigun and Celtic Day is free for all visitors. Season pass holders also receive at 10% discount at the Trading Post Gift Shop, located in the Visitor Centre. The season pass does not include admission to the David Thompson Astronomical Observatory, the Heritage Dinner Series, campground, and third-party events.
Weather appropriate clothing: This is an all weather program and takes place indoors and outdoors.
Cash: There are no ATMs available on site.
Car: Fort William Historical Park is located at 1350 King Road, Thunder Bay. Parking is free.
Thunder Bay Transit: Fort William Historical Park is accessible by the 4 Neebing bus route. Please visit the City of Thunder Bay Transit website for specific bus route information.
Snow Machines & River Access: Snow machines cannot park at events. There is no admissions entrance via the Kaministiquia River.
RVs: The campground is currently closed for the season. RVs are not permitted in the parking lot for overnight stays.