BY: JESSICA BEUKER
It’s almost time to ring in the new year – 2017 flew by like a speeding bullet and 2018 is right around the corner. With the new year on the brain, everyone will be thinking about New Year’s Eve.
Often touted as the hottest and biggest party of the year, New Year’s Eve more often than not ends with you passed out on the couch, with a bag of chips in hand, before the clock strikes midnight. On more than one occasion, I have spent the countdown to new year’s in the back seat of a cab, stuck in traffic, trying to get to my city’s “official” New Year’s Eve bash. As we get older, I think it’s safe to say that New Year’s Eve becomes just another night of the week.
This year, it’s time to reignite the fun spark of New Year’s Eve. Instead of spending it at home alone, or trying to get into the hottest event, why not do a little research beforehand and visit one of the best country bars that Canada has to offer. Actually, scratch that, because we’ve done the research for you.
Country bars are not just for cowboys and cowgirls. No, they are for anyone who enjoys country music and a super awesome time out. People who go to country bars are typically friendly, energetic and fun, not to mention that they love to dance!
Canada is home to some of the best country bars that North America has to offer. We’ve rounded up just a few of the top country bars that you can visit on New Year’s Eve.
1. The Dakota Tavern – Toronto, Ontario
The Dakota Tavern is a rustic little basement bar that features local musicians on the small stage, where shows can be intimate and cozy. They serve southern-style pub fare and an all-you-can-eat “Bluegrass Brunch” which includes scrambled eggs, sausages, pancakes, potatoes, baked beans and fruit salad. At night grab a drink, and listen to some of the best undiscovered musical acts in the city. On New Year’s Eve it’s the perfect place to go if you love discovering new music and don’t want to be surrounded by hundreds of people.
2. Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall – Calgary, Alberta
If New Year’s Eve puts you in more of a dancing mood than a chill concert mood, head over to Ranchman’s. Ranchman’s has a huge dance floor, stage and a mechanical bull. A little something for everyone in your group.
3. Long Branch – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
As someone who hails from Saskatoon, I can safely say that a lot of our bars are country bars. While not the biggest, or even the most popular, my personal favourite is Long Branch, which exclusively plays country tunes – a mix of new and old – all night long. Long Branch is fairly small – the dance floor can get crowded very quickly, but what it loses in size it makes up for in great deals, because on Thursday nights they have some of the cheapest drinks you will find anywhere. Like, ridiculously cheap.
4. The Bourbon – Vancouver, British Columbia
Much like Ranchman’s, The Bourbon features country music, dancing and mechanical bull rides. The one bonus point they get? They offer line dancing lessons.
