22 Aug, 2019

City of Adelaide’s New Year’s Eve 2018 Event Nominated for National Award

The City of Adelaide’s New Year’s Eve 2018 has been confirmed as among the best events in Australia with the announcement of the national finalists in the 2019 Australian Event Awards.

The event is a national finalist for the Coates Hire Best Community Event.

The 2018 New Year’s event, proudly supported by principle partner HomeStart, attracted over 55,000 people who gathered around the picturesque River Torrens to enjoy local and national music talent, roving entertainment and two sets of spectacular fireworks.

The 2018 event led the way in sustainability by being plastic-straw and balloon-free, using compostable food packaging, and providing free water refills.

Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor said she was very pleased to see the city’s popular and family-friendly New Year’s Eve event nominated in the 2019 Australian Event Awards.

“Being recognised as a finalist at a national level is a wonderful achievement and a credit to everyone involved in planning and delivering this event for the City of Adelaide.

“Bringing in the New Year at Elder Park has become a tradition for many friends and families. The live music program celebrates Adelaide’s status as a UNESCO City of Music and the entertainment and fireworks appeal to those young and young at heart.

“Congratulations to all the finalists at the 2019 Australian Event Awards.”

Following a rigorous first round of judging by event industry leaders and experts around Australia, New Year’s Eve 2018’s place among the national finalists has the weight of the industry behind it.

Entries are judged on all aspects of event management including best practice, innovation, marketing, stakeholder engagement and management, sustainability and event legacy.

Another City of Adelaide event, East End Unleashed, is a state finalist for Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event in the 2019 Australian Event Awards.

East End Unleashed saw Rundle Street closed to vehicle traffic on the weekends during the Adelaide Fringe. Outdoor dining was extended until midnight so people could enjoy the warm evenings while eating alfresco-style in a street party atmosphere. The street came alive with performers, night markets and all the action of Adelaide Fringe venues, Gluttony and The Garden of Unearthly Delights.

Paula Stevens