Music and light filled Civic Square on Tuesday night as Canberrans bid farewell to the centenary year and gathered to welcome 2014.
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Thousands of people braved the low temperatures outside the Canberra Theatre from 7pm to listen to live music and enjoy the atmosphere.
At 9pm onlookers cheered and danced as fireworks erupted from City Hill and the roof of the Canberra Theatre Centre.
Dutch diplomats Jaap and Joke De Boer watched the display from Civic Square with their daughters Tara and Isa.
Mr De Boer said the night had been a great experience, with the best fireworks he’d ever seen.
‘‘We’ve been here two months and it’s nice for us to celebrate the New Year with a lot of people. It’s like we’re celebrating with the whole city,’’ he said.
Clyde and Mary Towler came down from Ipswich in Queensland to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their family.
They said 2014 will be a very special year for them, as it will be their 60th wedding anniversary.
‘‘Our New Year’s resolution is to just love one another more,’’ said Mrs Towler, holding her husband’s hand.
Dunlop resident Denise Jopling said she had attended the celebrations three years in a row. Her New Year’s resolution was simply to stay healthy.
‘‘I’d also like more rugby league on the telly, but that’s more of a wish, I guess,’’ she said laughing.
The Annisgul family have lived in Canberra for 21 years and haven’t missed a New Year’s Eve celebration yet.
Ten-year-old Nabila Annisgul said she thought this year’s party was going to be the best yet.
‘‘People say there will be better fireworks this year,’’ she said.
Canberran and former The Voice contestant Alex Gibson took the stage at 7pm, performing classics such as The Beatles’ Blackbird as well as some of his own music.
Australian band You Am I burst onto the stage at 8:20pm and played a set to a packed dance floor either side of the 9pm fireworks.
Kambah resident Emma Jackson danced throughout You Am I’s first set with her three-year-old Jackson.
‘‘It’s been our first time celebrating New Year’s in Canberra and so far it’s been amazing,’’ she said.
‘‘Rocking with the three-year-old to [You Am I]!’’
But You Am I frontman Tim Rogers perhaps hadn’t realised how young his audience was, often using strong coarse language between songs.