Spending New Year’s Eve in Niagara Parks this year? Plan ahead and prepare for a long night outside, and remember that temperatures drop a few extra degrees at the concert site because of the nearby Niagara River. Fireworks over Niagara Falls at the stroke of midnight are unforgettable, but make sure you keep warm all the way to the countdown with these tips:
Dress in Layers
Carefully planning your winter outfit will go a long way. Dressing in multiple layers will draw moisture away from the body while trapping heat. Here are the basics:
- Wicking Layer: A full body layer (light shirt, long johns, and socks) to draw moisture away from the body. Stick to synthetics; cotton actually extracts heat once it becomes wet, so it’s not a great fabric for this layer.
- First Insulating Layer: Go with light fleece or thin wool. Again, cotton is not ideal.
- Heavy Insulating Layer: Here’s where you begin to trap heat in the body. A heavy fleece or wool sweater is perfect for your top.
- Wind/weather-proof Layer: This is your winter parka, helping keep heat trapped inside and protecting from wind and snow. Consider soft-shell pants as well.
- Winter Toque – A lot of heat is lost through your head, so don’t forget a winter toque.
- Gloves and Mitts – Wearing a thin glove under mitts is a great way to provide layered hand protection. You can also temporarily remove the mitts when you need your fingers to handle money or your phone.
- Sock and Boots – Don’t forget to apply the same layering techniques to your feet! Try a thin sock under woolen socks to wick moisture away from your feet and toward the wool layer. Wool stays warm even when wet. Avoid tight footwear the restricts circulation.
Take Breaks
Considering spending some time indoors now and then. Nearby Queen Victoria Place Restaurant is open until 1 a.m. during the concert, or head downstairs to the indoor Tim Hortons for a quick coffee or hot chocolate. Indoor public washrooms are also available here.
This year, look for “warm-up WEGO buses” in front of Queen Victoria Place if you’re just looking for a place to spend a few minutes away from the elements.
Stay Active
Generate extra body heat by moving around! This should be easy with live entertainment featuring top Canadian acts performing at the Niagara Falls New Year’s Eve concert! To enhance your experience, large screens will be mounted showing the concert stage, so pick a spot where you’ll have room to move around.
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