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Welcome to Whister, B.C., New
Year's Party Guide!
Home of the 2010 Winter Olympics & Top NYE Destination
Whistler parties
anytime and it' s especially rowdy for New Year's Eve.
A show in the snow.
New Year's Eve in the ski resort of Whistler, BC Canada, is all about
making tracks not on the slopes, but to the many bars in the village
of Whistler and neighboring Blackcomb Mountain.
If it seems as if this is headed down a slippery slope to begin the
New Year, then so be it. This is Whistler, one of the zaniest, craziest
ski resorts in the world and NYE is like adding an extra shot of liquor
to the mix. This is a place to party! And 2010 is a preview of the party to be held for the 2010 Winter Olympic games, Feb. 12-28.
So sit back and read how to get wet as a whistle in Whistler for New
Year's Eve. PubClub rates Whistler the #5
Top Party Place for New Year's Eve.
Where's The Party?
Need we say more?
The obvious starting point is a few shots
at The Longhorn at the base of the mountain after a half-day
ski run. But after making tracks for dinner and Jacuzzi, this fine,
laid-back establishment charges some $100 for the run to the midnight
madness.
So, like pulling back on a pony, New Year's Eve night is "Whoa"
time in Whistler.
 In
fact, just about every bar in the Village has cover charges the size
of the mountain just outside their door. Take Buffalo Bill's,
for example. The most recognized bar in town, which sports a healthy
$16 cover on its busiest weeknight, requires $150 to walk in for NYE.
Even the locals-heavy sports bar, Tapley's Pub, which has spotty
service, far less than glamorous waitresses and a Raiders' fan bartender
who won't even show Raider games for obvious fear this will expose how
woefully bad this once-proud franchise has fallen, charges $40. We'll
go out on a short limb here and suggest avoiding the $150 at Buffalo
Bill's.
 The
cool bar around the corner, Moe Joes, is a fun young dance dive
that's one of the best places in Whistler. And it wants $75.
Partying here is definitely fun, but on New Year's, it comes at a steep
price. Then again, taking into account bar prices and advance planning
required at many other places around the World it's not exactly like
a yard sale for the wallet. Plus here there's the incredible head-rush
combination of excellent cocktailing with the athletic achievements
of blasting down one of the globe's most incredible ski resorts, thus
making the entire experience as exciting as discovering a spot of fresh
powder on an awesome run, And what the heck, slip off the ski or snowboard
boots, have a few drinks – shots here are particular popular
– at the end of the ski/snowboard day. New Year's Eve may be a
bit of a challenge, but any other day or night is far less challenging
than even the easiest of the green runs.
The best NYE rock star bargain is the rockin' Tommy Africa's,
which has just a $59 cover. (This is also THE PLACE to go on New Year's
Day for locals' NYE. All those people waiting on your the days before
the Day are in there letting off steam.) A couple places – Citas
and Amsterdam Cafe – have balconies that overlook the
alcohol-free First Night celebration (keep reading) in the center of
the Village. This features bands and other entertainment, easily viewed
from the comfort of a table full of cocktails.
Most places charge between $75-100 for the night. While it's up to
the individual establishments, this usually includes midnight champagne,
appetizers and the dreaded "party favors." Some do include
full dinners, a nice treat when it comes to fueling the party body on
the Big Night.
PubClub enjoys Whistler
NYE in 2006. Party On!
Any place in Whistler can be fun, of course. The beer in Canada is
awesome, the atmosphere is simply intoxicating and the people are carefree
and fantastically FUN!
The key – other than a room key, secured a couple of months in
advance – for the best time in Whistler for New Year's Eve
is to check out the places ahead of time and figure out where you want
to spend 4-5 hours on NYE. We suggest roaming the pubs and clubs for
couple of days ahead of time, checking PubClub's
Whistler Bars Guide, getting tickets in advance (same
day is okay) and arriving by about 9.
For the less "high maintenance places," meaning little or
no cover, check out the Crystal Lounge and Merlin's (off
the slopes in Blackcomb). Also, there's the Whistler Brewhouse
and right next to the Longhorn the The Garibaldi Lift Company
(featuring the Sex Cheese!) or the The Dubh Linh Gate Pub. PubClub
spent NYE '06 in Merlin's. After a small wait (well, small for for NYE,
it was about 45minutes) and modest $10 cover, we raged with a great
live band and a very good crowd.
For a complete list of al Whistler/Blackcomb bars,
just click here.
First Night, Whistler Village
There are good
local bands at First Night, but for adults it's hardly on fire for partying.
For those too young to get into the bars
– the drinking age here is 19 – or the precious few who want
the mountains pretty much all to themselves on New Year's Day, Whistler
Village presents First Night.
This is a celebration with a lineup of local bands of note (one in
'06 consisted of Vancouver high school students).
Here, though, there's no booze in the blender and all it will render
for someone who wants to try and get away with drinking is a ticket
to the local jail. With a beer store within steps of the stage, it's
a tempting scenario. However, there is a zero alcohol policy at this
event, something the dozens of police brought in from Vancouver and
other areas make quite clear.
The area is blocked off by barricades and the entry fee is $15.
Crazy things, like
kissing a snowman, happen when partying in Whistler.
Top Tips
• Choose a bar for the night and hang there. The
big downer about New Year's Eve – and that's the case just about
anywhere, not just Whistler – is that there's very little bar-hopping
opportunities. In Whistler, where clubs charge those big entry fees,
the strategy is to pick a place and stick with it.
• Check out your New Year's destination ahead of time. Plan
to arrive in Whistler at least two days before NYE. Three days is ideal
(figuring it will be night by the time you arrive in town). This provides
a couple good days on the hill, enough Apres' time to get comfortable
and get know other party people. Most importantly, its allows enough
time to check out the bars in which to spend the Big Night.
• The dress code in Whistler is casual. Jeans are fine
anywhere, anytime.
• Check the weather forecast before the trip. Okay
it's a ski resort, so pack accordingly. But conditions can be from (relatively)
mild to wet and wild.
• Secure a room early. Whistler's legendary party scene
makes it a popular place to spend the New Year and in turn this makes
getting a hotel room early an essential part of the planning. Wait too
long and risk being left out in the cold? Overall, expect to pay in
the $300 range a night for a single room or condo in the Village. Some
places may go for as much as $500-1,000. Prices decrease significantsly
starting Jan. 2.
Whistler New Year's Eve Key Links
New
Year's Eve Party Bus!
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