Bathurst's Party in the Park on the calendar for New Year's Eve

After a two-year absence, the New Year's Eve Party in the Park is scheduled to go ahead in its usual location on December 31.

The event will need to be held with COVID-safe measures, but it will essentially be the traditional event the community knows and loves.

The big difference, according to Bathurst Regional Council's events manager Amanda Marks, is that it will be a ticketed event to ensure the crowd is controlled.

Council had to switch things up for New Year's Eve last year, foregoing the Party in the Park and replacing it with the Party at Your Local initiative, which encouraged people to eat out and enjoy live music from local artists.

READ MORE: Bathurst 2020 New Year's Eve celebrations: Residents embrace Party at Your Local initiative

It appears that initiative won't be back this year.

"The celebrations will centre around the Adventure Playground. There will be food vendors, rides for the kids and live music, something for the whole family," Ms Marks said.

Fireworks are also back on the program.

Bathurst hasn't had a local New Year's Eve fireworks display since 2018, with the lights show scrapped in 2019 due to the drought and again in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Mayor Ian North, for one, is happy they'll be back.

"Fireworks, they just give you that buzz," he said.

"From young kids, to adults of all ages, I don't think I've ever known someone not to like fireworks. The look on kids faces when they see the colours and explosions taking off, that's all worth it, and I'm just looking forward to all that coming back."

There is no doubt that the pandemic has been tough on people. Cr North hopes the return of the traditional celebrations will bring some joy.

"I'm really rapt that we're starting to get a bit of normality," he said.

"It's the little things that are important and I think the time in the park will be a time for families and to actually get together and say hello, the Australian way, and enjoy a good time in people's company. And I think that more than anything will be good for everyone, our mental health, our physical health, and to feel, I guess, a bit normal again."

He also supports the decision to make Party in the Park a ticketed event, saying it will ensure people can be contacted quickly if there is a COVID-19 exposure.

While planning a major event during COVID times is a challenge, Ms Marks appears confident Party in the Park will be a success.

"We have been dealing with uncertainty of COVID for a long time now and the team is very adept at having a plan B in place and making that a success," she said.

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