IN PICTURES: City of Albany’s New Year’s Eve Picnic and Fireworks spectacular

A brief shower did little to dampen the spirits of those who came to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the City of Albany’s New Year’s Eve Picnic and Fireworks at Anzac Peace Park on Saturday night. Locals and visitors gathered in the park from 5pm on the final day of the year to enjoy an evening of fun, friends and family. While the adults relaxed on picnic blankets and in deck chairs, there were activities for the young and young at heart, including face painting, mini golf and giant bubble making. Local indie folk singer/songwriter Isaac Gaffney set the tone for the afternoon, opening the picnic with a relaxed and welcoming acoustic set. As bubbles floated over the park, Albany actor and musician Joel Jackson kept the crowd entertained with comedy, interviews and musical performances Fremantle-based folk ska band The Witchy Djypsies had everyone dancing and enjoying themselves in the lead-up to the fireworks display. The pumping seven-piece was joined on stage by Jackson for an impromptu reggae jam just before the countdown to the evening’s first fireworks. At 9pm, a volley of rockets filled the night sky with colour and noise. While a mass of picnickers left the park to make their way home upon the completion of the fireworks, many stayed on to continue the party and see in the New Year in style.