At a glance
- When
- Thursday 31 December 2026, 5:30pm to 9:30pm; fireworks from 9:15pm to 9:25pm (Wodonga is on AEDT)
- Where
- Birallee Park, Wodonga, Victoria; enter through the Wodonga Raiders Football and Netball Club main gate
- Cost
- Free, no tickets, entry on a first-in basis until the site is full
- Parking
- Public car parks at Birallee Park (off Marshall Street), Wodonga Hockey Centre (off Silva Drive) and Emerald Oval (off Emerald Avenue), plus nearby streets
- Bring
- Picnic rugs and chairs; no glass, no pets, no BYO alcohol, no smoking or vaping
- Who it’s for
- Families and groups in Albury-Wodonga who want an early evening with a fireworks finish
- What to do now
- Plan which car park you will use and how you will get home; nothing needs booking
- Last checked
- Thursday 29 October 2026, against Wodonga Council’s event page
- Not yet confirmed
- A wet-weather or postponement plan, the road closures around the park, and any bus service
Wodonga’s New Year’s Eve celebration is free, needs no ticket, and ends with a fireworks display at 9:15pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 at Birallee Park. Wodonga Council runs the evening with the Wodonga Raiders Football and Netball Club, and its event page lists three public car parks within walking distance.
This guide is based on Wodonga Council’s official event page for the 2026 celebration, read on 29 October 2026. The council’s own homepage lists the event on 31 December. Where the council has not said something, we say so.
What time does it start, and when are the fireworks?
The council lists the event as 5:30pm to 9:30pm, and the program runs on a set timetable. The fireworks are scheduled from 9:15pm to 9:25pm, and the council says they are subject to suitable weather. The page does not say what happens if the weather is bad, so check the council’s page and the Wodonga Raiders Facebook page on the day.
| What | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|
| DJ Marcus | Main stage | 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8pm |
| Glenn Starr Band | Main stage | 6pm, 7:15pm and 8:30pm |
| Giant inflatables (Gilly’s Party Hire) | Kids Activity Zone | 5:30pm to 9pm |
| Giant lawn games (Snichols) | Kids Activity Zone | 5:30pm to 9pm |
| Kids activity tent (The Cats Pyjamas) | Kids Activity Zone | 5:30pm to 9pm |
| Reptile zoo (Reptile Encounters) | Kids Activity Zone | 5:30pm to 8:30pm |
| Free face painting | Kids Activity Zone | 5:30pm to 9pm |
| Roving characters (Jack Danovski and Jean Claude) | Roving | 5:30pm to 9:30pm |
| Circus performers | Roving | 5:30pm to 9pm |
| Fireworks | Over the site | 9:15pm to 9:25pm |
Each of the two main-stage acts plays three sets, so both acts appear at several points in the evening. The kids’ zone stops at 9pm, and the reptile zoo stops earlier, at 8:30pm.
Who is performing?
The main stage has two acts. The council describes the Glenn Starr Band as playing hits from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, with Glenn Starr as the lead entertainer. DJ Marcus, whom the council calls a popular regional party and event DJ in the Wodonga area, plays three sets between the band’s.
The roving circus performers are named on the council page as Tal, Yoav, Chelsea, Joe and Indra. According to the council’s profiles, four of the five trained at Flying Fruit Fly Circus and the other, Indra, trained at Flipside Circus in Brisbane; most are now studying at the National Institute of Circus Arts or at Codarts in the Netherlands. Roving magic shows and small workshops come from the characters Jack Danovski and Jean Claude.
What is there for kids?
The Kids Activity Zone has five attractions: five giant sporting inflatable games, a collection of giant lawn games, a creative tent where children can make jewellery, build in a cardboard construction area or make a forest fairy, a reptile zoo with native wildlife, and free face painting. All run from 5:30pm, mostly until 9pm.
The council states that children must be supervised at all times. If a child gets lost, tell event staff, who wear red shirts or high-vis.
How do I get in?
Enter through the Wodonga Raiders Football and Netball Club main gate. The event is free and no tickets are needed, but the council says entry is on a first-in basis until the site reaches capacity. Bag checks happen at the entry point, and security staff are at the entrances and exits and roam inside the site.
The council does not give a capacity number. Entry stops once the site reaches capacity.
Where do I park?
The council lists these public car parks within walking distance of the event:
| Car park | Access from |
|---|---|
| Birallee Park Car Park | Marshall Street |
| Wodonga Hockey Centre Car Park | Silva Drive |
| Emerald Oval Car Park | Emerald Avenue |
Street parking is also available around Birallee Park, and the council asks drivers not to park across residents’ driveways. The Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre and Gayview Park have parking too, and both are a short walk from the venue. Dedicated disabled parking spaces are at Birallee Park.
The council’s page does not say whether any streets are closed, whether the car parks fill early, or whether the car parks are free. Treat the car park list as the official guide.
What can I bring, and what is banned?
- Bring picnic rugs and chairs. The council encourages both.
- Bring a water bottle. North East Water refill stations will be on site.
- No glass.
- No BYO alcohol. The event is licensed and the fenced event area is the licensed zone, so no open alcohol can leave it.
- No pets. Registered service animals are allowed with an accredited vest on display.
- No smoking or vaping. Organisers may ask people who do to leave.
On alcohol, the council says it will be served under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998, not to anyone under 18, with ID checked. Organisers and vendors can refuse service to people who are intoxicated, drunk or disorderly and can ask them to leave.
What food and drink is on sale?
The council lists the Wodonga Raiders Canteen, the Wodonga Raiders Bar, a community barbecue and an assortment of local food trucks. It does not list the trucks by name or give prices. Bring a picnic if you want to choose your own food, since it is allowed as long as it has no glass.
What services are on site?
- Toilets: on the northern side of the changeroom pavilion and inside the Wodonga Raiders social space.
- Drinking water: North East Water refill stations are available throughout the event.
- First aid: St John Ambulance is on site for the whole event.
- Lost property: take it to the entry. Items go back to the Wodonga Council offices after the event and are held for seven days, then handed to Wodonga Police if unclaimed.
- Questions: ask any member of the events team, or call Wodonga Council on (02) 6022 9300.
Quick plan for the night
- Pick your car park from the three above, or park on a nearby street away from driveways.
- The reptile zoo runs from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, earlier than the rest of the Kids Activity Zone.
- Bring rugs, chairs and a water bottle, and leave glass, pets and alcohol at home.
- The fireworks run from 9:15pm to 9:25pm, weather permitting.
- Check the council’s event page on the day for weather news.
Sources
- Wodonga Council: Wodonga New Year’s Eve Celebration (program, entry, parking, rules)
- Wodonga Council homepage (event listed for 31 December)
Featured image: Wodonga Council offices on Hovell Street (photo: Bidgee / CC BY-SA 3.0 au) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Wodonga Council or the Wodonga Raiders Football and Netball Club. Event details can change; check Wodonga Council’s event page before you go.