New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country will not just be about bidding 2016 farewell and welcoming in 2017.

They also represent the opportunity to usher Canada into its 150th, year-long birthday party.

Whitehorse is one of 19 municipalities across the country to receive support from the Canada 150 Fund. The federal government is kicking in a full $140,000 to enhance the New Year’s Eve celebration in Whitehorse.

“On December 31, the entire country celebrates! Major festivities will take place in 19 large urban centres to kick off a year of exceptional celebrations.

“I encourage all Canadians to participate in activities across the country and to be privileged witnesses of this extraordinary day in our country’s history,” Mélanie Joly, the minister of Canadian Heritage, said when the funding was announced.

As Carmen Lindsay, program lead-hand with the city, describes the plans, it means the city will continue to offer its Family First activities at the Canada Games Centre (CGC).

That means free skating, swimming and activities from 3 to 6 p.m. at the recreation complex.

The Family First events typically continue into the evening at the CGC on New Year’s Eve.

This year, however, the festivities will move to Shipyards Park.

There, the evening will include a long list of local performers, ranging from The Midnight Sons to Soir de Semaine to Speed Control to the Dakha Khwaan Dancers, among others.

They will take to the stage throughout the evening, along with headline act Classified, a Juno award winner.

Residents need not worry about driving in traffic from the CGC to the park.

Whitehorse Transit is set to host a continuous shuttle running from the Games Centre to the Takhini Arena to Shipyards Park and back from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

And one lucky fan and a friend will get to meet the headline act through a contest launched Wednesday on the city’s Facebook page.

“Classified is generously giving away a Meet & Greet for you and a friend. Things are looking up,” the announcement reads.

“To be entered to win, consult with your inner ninja and post a comment below, tagging a friend and explaining why meeting Classified would elevate 2016 higher for you! You might have to stay up all night for some inspiration!

“The winner will be drawn from this comments box on Friday, December 30 at noon (PT).”

By about 9:30 a.m. today, Lindsay said she was pleased with the creative responses that have been flowing in since the contest was announced.

The federal funding for the event was not announced until last month. Planning actually began last April, when the city submitted its application for Canada 150 funding.

Lindsay said federal officials gave the city a “ball park” figure on what they might expect to get if the city was approved for funding, with planning built around that figure, knowing cuts would need to be made if it wasn’t approved.

Getting that funding though and being part of a national celebration with 19 other cities is important for Whitehorse, Lindsay noted.

“We feel this is a great opportunity,” she said.

As with the other 19 communities involved in the Canada 150 new year’s celebrations, a display of fireworks will be set off at midnight Eastern Standard Time – 9 p.m. Yukon time at the same time they’re set off in the nation’s capital.

Then, at midnight in the Yukon, a second show will be seen in the sky over Shipyards Park and the downtown area as the territory and British Columbia enter the new year.

Lindsay said she expects the two shows will be different.

Warren Zackus, who’s well-known around town for his creativity with fireworks, has been handed creative control for both displays. He seemed pleased to take that on, Lindsay said.

The fireworks shows will mean road closures at Long Lake Road and Wickstrom Road.

Along with the performances on stage and fireworks displays, the park will host bonfires.

As well, local food vendors with all the popular park features will be there to be enjoyed, like the skating loop and sliding hill.

“People are really excited,” Lindsay said of the response she’s heard so far to the plans.

As Mayor Dan Curtis said earlier: “This year’s Family First Night celebration will be bigger and better thanks to Canada 150 funding.

“I would like to invite our entire city to come and enjoy the many free activities that day and to celebrate our history together as a community along with the entire nation.”