New Year's Eve fireworks to launch Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations

The new year marks a big milestone for Canada and in Saskatoon, celebrations will be starting early.

The celebration, titled YXE-NYE-150, will ring in 2017 and Canada's 150th year of confederation at Kiwanis Memorial Park. Free skating, sleigh rides and performances will be held throughout the night, which will end with a fireworks show launched from the Broadway Bridge.

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The celebration is being funded through a $106,000 grant to the Saskatoon Fireworks Festival from the Government of Canada's 150 Fund.

The event begins at 5 p.m. CST. The fireworks will be launched at 8:17 p.m.

People needing a safe ride to the event or any other New Year's Eve event in Saskatoon will be able to ride transit for free.

Transit service will be free thanks to a partnership between Saskatoon Transit and SGI. Free rides begin at 5 p.m. and continue until 2:45 a.m. Sunday to give people choosing to imbibe in celebrations a safe way to get around the city.