Tradex will look at bringing back its First Night celebrations next year after a successful debut to ring in the new year on Dec. 31.
While final calculations are still underway, Tradex executive director Craig Nichols said around 3,000 people attended the event, which included midway rides, mini golf, a climbing wall and live entertainment. At 9 p.m. a balloon drop rang in the New Year on the East Coast for those families who couldn’t stay until midnight.
Nichols said about 400 people continued celebrating into the night and cheered the start of 2015, which was marked with a fireworks show.
While organizers weren’t initially sure what type of response the event would receive, Nichols said they received phone calls not just from the Abbotsford area, but from across the border in the United States and across the Lower Mainland.
“We had a great turnout, great response, great walk-up crowd,” he said.
That success will likely see the event return to Tradex next year.
“I think we all realize that the event struck a chord with locals.”