The rain held off and the crowds enjoyed all the fun that the City of Barrie had to offer Saturday night for its annual Downtown Countdown to mark the dawn of a new year.
Thousands gathered on Collier and Mulcaster streets to ring in 2023 with live music, food and fun for people of all ages.
The festivities began at 6 p.m. with bouncy castles for the kids and family entertainers Splash 'N Boots on the main stage.
An 8 p.m. a fireworks display over Kempenfelt Bay allowed kids and their parents to have their own countdown and head home to bed before the adult bands took the stage.
Local band The Straits kicked things off, followed by Grant Boyer and the headliner, Sloan.
The countdown at midnight was followed by an impressive fireworks display as Sloan played the new year in.
