Rotary Club cancels New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Guelph

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2025, CTV’s Karis Mapp takes a look at the plans to ring in 2026.

Fireworks won’t be lighting up the sky above Riverside Park this New Year’s Eve.

The Rotary Club of Guelph, which organizes the annual event, has cancelled Wednesday night’s show. They called it off after several days of harsh winter weather.

“[Monday] would have been a set-up day,” explained Rotary board member Crista Renner, referencing the blowing snow and squall warnings across southern Ontario. “The company that does the fireworks… driving to get there was too dangerous.”

The frosty New Year’s Eve forecast was also a deciding factor.

“There are higher winds projected for [Wednesday] night,” Renner said.

For the Rotary Club of Guelph, it was a tough call.

“We canceled the fireworks during the COVID pandemic, the first year, and modified the drive-thru of [Riverside] Park [the following years],” Renner explained.

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New Year’s Eve also marks the last day of Sparkles in the Park. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and check it out one last time this season, even if there isn’t a fireworks show.

“You can walk through the park, you can drive through the park,” Renner suggested. “We have the carousel running for free rides.”