NEW YEARS EVE NAPIER.
SOUNDSHELL, MARINE PARADE, NAPIER
A family-friendly New Year’s celebration held annually at Napier’s iconic Sound Shell on Marine Parade. Running from 7pm to midnight, this free community event features live music, food trucks, and two fireworks displays - an early 9:45pm show for families, and the big countdown at midnight.
Since 2018, we’ve proudly delivered this event on behalf of Napier City Council - working alongside some incredible suppliers to manage everything from programming and production to traffic, security, food vendors, and fireworks. It’s a night that brings the community together with all the right summer energy, and we’re stoked to be behind the scenes making it happen.
CLEARING SKIES
This one kept us guessing. The rain came down hard during load-in, torrential, unrelenting, and relentless enough to have us sweeping water off the stage more times than we could count. But just as the forecast promised, by 7pm the skies cleared, the sun peaked through, and the lawn began to fill.
Hands Off, one of Auckland’s finest cover bands, brought the big energy to close out the night, while the legendary Phil Edwards Band treated the crowd to a standout live set as the evening settled in. From wet beginnings to a dry, joy-filled countdown, this one reminded us that sometimes the best nights are the ones that start with a bit of chaos.
31 Dec 2024.
A NIGHT WITH THE RELATIVES
New Year’s Eve 2023 brought the goods - clear skies, big crowds, and a lineup that balanced local favourites with rising stars. Wellington band The Relatives headlined with a high-energy set that had the crowd locked in from the first chord to the final cheer.
A local highlight of the night? Scarlett Eden making it back just in time from her Northern Bass set to grace us with a hometown performance. With fireworks lighting up the sky and music filling the bay, it was the perfect reminder of what a good old-fashioned community celebration can feel like.
31 Dec 2023.
A BALMY NIGHT IN THE BAY
2022 was a milestone for our team - delivering New Year’s Eve events in two cities on the same night. Gina and Rob led the charge in Napier, running a smooth and seamless show at the Sound Shell.
It was a classic Hawke’s Bay evening - warm, energetic, and packed with happy faces. Automatic 80’s brought the house down with a full dancefloor from start to finish, and the team nailed every detail behind the scenes. A night that proved great people make big things possible.
31 dec 2022.
31 dec 2021. THE Event WAS paused DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS.
…but the planning wheels kept quietly turning in the background.
A CROWD, AT LAST
After a year of lockdowns and uncertainty, being able to gather again felt nothing short of magic. New Year’s Eve 2020 carried a real sense of ‘we can get out again,’ and people showing up not just to celebrate the year ahead, but to reclaim the simple freedoms of being together.
Headliners Naked Gun closed out the night with an incredible set, bringing the crowd to their feet and into the new year with full hearts and wide smiles. It wasn’t just a celebration - it was a moment. And a reminder of how lucky we were to be back out there, doing what we love.
31 dec 2020.
THE FINAL DANCE OF THE DECADE
Our second year delivering New Year’s Eve Napier saw bigger crowds, smoother systems, and the kind of momentum that only builds from a solid first run. We were back managing the full event - from site build and live music programming to food trucks, operations, and the midnight countdown.
Highlights included an electric set from White Chapel Jak that had the whole lawn dancing, a buzzing family zone, and another epic double-fireworks display lighting up the coast. Looking back, none of us knew what 2020 would bring - but this felt like the perfect final dance of the decade. A summer night full of joy, movement, and that effortless Napier energy.
31 dec 2019.
SETTING THE STAGE AT THE SOUNDSHELL
This was our debut year managing Napier’s free, family-friendly NYE celebration at the iconic Sound Shell on Marine Parade. A custom built stage extension was designed and installed for the first time, to beautifully frame the historic structure and and increase the covered stage footprint.
Shout out to Site & Sound Services - best in the biz.
The event featured a lineup of all local live music, with food trucks, and the two fireworks shows to ring in 2019.
