What’s on and when at Byron Bay’s Soul Street New Year’s Eve party

BYRON Bay will host a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, with its Soul Street festivities featuring everything from live music and free face painting to a silent disco and light installations — but no alcohol or fireworks.

The event will kick off in Jonson Street, which will be closed to traffic, at 4pm. Performances by Shelly Brown, Ginger Lane, Animal Ventura and DJ Sam Jooel will run from 4pm to 7.30pm.

Tiffany Richmond brings her intergalactic alter ego Poppy Galactic to Soul Street (centre), backed by Rhys McIlwaine as The Beat (left) and Tia Nelson as Mama Nature, as part of Byron Bay’s alcohol and fireworks-free New Year’s Eve event. Photo: DAVID COPE

Celebrations at Dening Park, on the foreshore near the surf club, begin with a Welcome to Country ceremony at 6pm. The program will include a silent disco, lighting installations, circus workshops and food vans. Poppy Galactic, Plastic Free Boy, Little Likes, Kaia Anne, Jesse Morris, Wild Rocket, Rachel by the Stream and Sky Eater will also perform on the Dening Park stage.

Tiffany Richmond, who created the extraterrestrial character Poppy Galactic when her sons were little, said she was excited to perform at the event.

Crowds at Byron Bay’s Soul Street celebrations last New Year’s Eve. Photo: KATE HOLMES

“I’ve spent the last two New Year’s Eves at Soul Street with my kids,” she said. “I love that it’s an easy, family- friendly way to get in amongst the buzzy NYE energy. There’s always interesting performances and something for everyone.

“There’s often pressure about what to do on NYE. Soul Street is such an easy way to make NYE great for the whole family. It’s a relaxed vibe, you stumble upon cool performances and you’re sure to run into a bunch of people you know.”

Scenes from last year’s Soul Street New Year’s Eve celebrations in Byron Bay. RIGHT: Byron Bay’s Soul Street celebrations on New Year’s Eve last year. Photos: KATE HOLMES

Bangalow-based drummer Rhys McIlwaine will perform alongside Poppy Galactic as The Beat, with Lismore thespian Tia Nelson singing and dancing as Mama Nature.

“The songs are about the magic of Earth and the music is super fun dance music that hopefully adults enjoy too – think PNAU for preschoolers,” Richmond said.

Byron Bay’s Soul Street celebrations on New Year’s Eve last year. Photo: KATE HOLMES

“Our NYE gig will be the first show playing a bunch of new songs we’ve been working on this year. We’re very excited to share them in our hometown on such a special night. It will be a fun, cosmic dance party to celebrate this magical planet we call home.”

For more information, visit soulstreetbyronbay.com.au