Ring in the New Year at Ontario Resorts

Some people chase fireworks and midnight toasts; others just want to make it to 10 p.m. in a plush robe. However you mark the end of December, Ontario’s resorts offer plenty of ways to do it right — from candlelit dinners and spa escapes to skating parties and family bonfires. Whether you’re craving a grand night out, a quiet reset, or a few cozy days tucked away with the people you love, there’s a resort ready to help you welcome the new year your way.

Here are three ways to ring in the new year at an Ontario resort:

For those who like their countdowns with a bit of glamour, Ontario’s resorts deliver in style.

At Hockley Valley Resort in Mono, the night unfolds as a classic celebration. The resort’s New Year’s Eve Gala pairs fine dining with live entertainment and late-night dancing — a signature event that draws guests year after year. Parents looking for a fun, kid-friendly way to celebrate New Year's Eve can opt for the Family Affair, a gala celebration created with the whole family in mind. Parents will love the delicious food, complete with carving stations, while children will love the glamour of an evening that caters to their needs with a DJ, magic tricks, balloon animals and tableside entertainment.

At Living Waters Resort in Collingwood, the festivities take place in the stunning Bear Estate — a lakeside venue with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame panoramic views of Georgian Bay. Guests enjoy a three-course dinner, live entertainment, and a champagne toast at midnight, all surrounded by the glow of candlelight and winter scenery. The Bear Estate’s modern design and natural setting create an atmosphere that’s both elegant and relaxed. Book here for the perfect blend of sophistication and waterfront charm.

Down in Niagara, White Oaks Resort & Spa adds its own luxurious twist with a Ring it in Right New Year’s Eve celebration. The evening begins with a cocktail reception featuring wine, charcuterie, and a photo booth to capture the moment. Guests can choose between a three-course prix fixe dinner in LIV Restaurant or Play Bar + Grill, followed by dancing to a DJ and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine at midnight. Between the outdoor firepit experience with s’mores and the lavish breakfast buffet the next morning, the celebration feels indulgent from start to finish. This is the kind of getaway where everything is taken care of, right down to the dining gratuities.

Further north, JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa brings lakeside luxury to the year’s grand finale. Overlooking the frozen expanse of Lake Rosseau, the resort’s elegant dining rooms and lounges come alive on New Year’s Eve with multi-course dinners, champagne toasts, and live music set against the glow of Muskoka’s winter landscape. 

For others, New Year’s isn’t about revelry at all — it’s a time to recharge, to start fresh, to breathe.  Dimensions Retreats in the Haliburton Highlands offers exactly that kind of stillness. This adults-only wellness retreat invites guests to trade champagne flutes for herbal teas and midnight noise for mindful calm. The 5-day New Year's retreat includes days of guided therapies and nourishing, chef-prepared meals. The cabins, nestled among tall pines, are cozy sanctuaries for reflection. Guests move between wood-fired saunas and the cool hush of the forest, letting nature set the pace for a different kind of celebration — one built on rest and renewal.

At Sherwood Inn in Muskoka, New Year’s Eve strikes a balance between celebration and calm. Guests gather for a chef-prepared dinner and live music that carries through the cozy lounges, creating a warm, convivial energy. The next morning unfolds at an easier pace. The on-site spa offers a soothing counterpoint to winter’s chill, with treatments that ease both body and mind before you step back into the snow. Between massages, forest walks, and fireside conversations that stretch into the afternoon, this lakeside inn captures Muskoka at its most restorative — intimate, reflective, and perfectly designed for those who want to greet the year grounded in calm and surrounded by nature.

Not every celebration needs a countdown clock. For many families, the perfect New Year’s happens in pjs by the fire, in cabins strung with lights, or out on a frozen lake at dawn. Resorts across Ontario specialize in that kind of cozy, connection-first celebration.

Family-friendly resorts such as Bayview Wildwood Resort, Fern Resort and Blue Water Acres Resort offer winter amenities that make ringing in the new year both fun and easy for the whole family. Families gather outdoors to skate, snowshoe, play in the snow or partake in bonfires, before heading inside for a swim at an indoor pool.

Blue Mountain Resort turns its pedestrian village into a snowy party — twinkling lights, outdoor music, and a festive buzz that carries right into the night.

These are celebrations that stretch beyond the stroke of midnight: where the memories come from moments, not minutes. Families can build their own traditions: a quiet dinner, a lakeside bonfire, or a first sunrise together on New Year’s morning.