Barrie, Ont., cancels New Year’s Eve celebration due to severe weather

BARRIE — The City of Barrie is cancelling its outdoor New Year’s Eve celebration due to severe winter weather.

Officials say heavy snow accumulation has made event setup at the downtown Meridian Place challenging and presented potentially unsafe conditions.

Environment Canada has issued a weather alert for the city and surrounding areas, warning of more snow squalls after periods of heavy snow this week.

The agency says near-zero visibility is expected in blowing snow, along with up to 25 centimetres of additional local snowfall amounts.

It says travel will likely be extremely hazardous and road closures are possible.

Officials in Barrie say the city will plan to reschedule the performance of Canadian rock musician Kim Mitchell and the fireworks as part of Winterfest that starts on Feb. 7.

“In addition to operational considerations, the substantial snowfall and deteriorating weather conditions present significant safety concerns,” Kevin Datema, director of recreation and culture services, said in a news release.

“We regret that circumstances beyond our control are preventing us from hosting the event as planned, however we will always prioritize the safety of the public, staff, performers, and vendors.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2025.