Super-duper New Year celebrations

You can’t let the turn of the year pass you by without marking the occasion with a dance or a silly a costume. Here are four awesome ideas for celebrating 31 December and 1 January, including some of Cornwall’s quirkiest gatherings.

London’s New Year’s Day Parade (LNYDP)

1 January 2020, noon, from Piccadilly
The first New Year’s Day parade in London took place in 1987, with 2,000 performers. That is a far cry from the extravaganza that takes place today, with its 10,000 participants, a street audience of 500,000 and hundreds of thousands of TV viewers. Running alongside the parade are the LNYDP concert series and the grand finale of the London International Choral Festival.
lnydp.com

New Year’s Eve St Ives

31 December
During the world-famous St Ives New Year’s Eve celebrations, the town’s streets turn into one big fancy dress parade. Locals and visitors turn up in vast numbers to show off their Donald Trump wigs, muscle-enhanced Superman outfits or Edwardian ball gowns complete with massive powdered wigs and full makeup. You’ll find people touring the town from around 6pm onwards. Then at midnight there’s a spectacular firework display over Smeaton’s Pier.

New Year’s Eve Looe

31 December
Rivalling St Ives for wacky festive outfits is the Cornish town of Looe. Take to the streets dressed as your favourite Guardian of the Galaxy or simply go along for the spectacle, with a family firework display at 6pm and then one at midnight for revellers.

The 2019 London New Year’s Eve Ball

Battersea Evolution
31 December
Themed New Year’s Eve parties are all the rage, and for 2019’s Battersea Evolution organisers Smart Group have put together a Big Apple-style knees-up. Dance to all your favourite party tunes among the glamour and beauty of Central Park and Times Square, all transferred to a venue in South London.
smartgroupltd.co.uk