10.5 C
Byron Shire
July 15, 2026

New Year’s Eve – the party starts now!

Latest News

Byron Shire Rebels men’s XV vs Lismore on Ladies Day

The Rebels men’s XV made the trip to Lismore Rugby Park on Ladies Day and delivered a commanding 38-17 victory.

Other News

Deadly weaving at Lismore gallery

Eighteen months ago, a group of First Nations artists from the Northern Rivers came together at the Lismore Regional Gallery as part of the Gathering Space project.

Community rallies behind beloved Byron local facing cancer battle

Locals are rallying behind beloved Byron local Krystal Pillwein after she was diagnosed with stage 2 inoperable cervical cancer, launching a fundraising campaign to help ease the financial burden of her treatment.

Tweed harbour foreshore to get a revamp

Jack Evans Boat Harbour foreshore is set to be upgraded, Local NSW Tweed MP, Geoff Provest says.

Great Koala National Park feedback report released

Feedback around the NSW government's Great Koala National Park (GKNP) proposal has been published – what are the main themes?

Sign up for Mullum’s Chinny Charge race

Ready to race up the mountain? That’s right, the Chinny Charge is open for registration for runners and walkers who want to take the once a year chance to race and stroll up the mountain.

Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July

Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads.

Latonya Sparkle kept the punters happy on Byron’s Soul Street for NYE 2024. Photo Tree Faerie.

With extra police monitoring the Ballina and Byron areas during the festive season’s activities, there are a number of less alcohol-centric events for revellers to enjoy tonight.

Byron Bay is yet again prepped for Soul Street for a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration with free music, face-painting, dancing, street dining and roving performers.

Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye said community is at the heart of the Soul Street festivities. ‘I hope people of all ages step on out on the 31 December and enjoy what the town of Byron Bay is known so well for – a safe, welcoming and inclusive celebration.’

The party starts at 4pm in Jonson Street with live music and children’s activities. The Twilight markets will be on in Railway Park as well, featuring local arts and crafts.

Soul Street

Entertainment on the main stage at Dening Park near the surf club will start at 6pm, and this part of the night will be all about getting people’s toes tapping and the dancing shoes on.

Much of the town is an alcohol-free zone and there will be a strong police presence. Camping in the streets is not allowed and people will be fined.

‘New Year’s Eve in Byron Bay is about safe, respectful and community-focused celebrations; it’s not the time or place for hard-partying,’ said Mayor Ndiaye.

More information about Soul Street 2024 is on Council’s website.

Brunswick Heads and Ballina

McGregors Family Carnival will be in the usual place in Brunswick Heads with attractions for everyone to enjoy and all of the local towns will have plenty of to do in the way of dining, music and midnight kissing!

The Ballina area also has plenty of New Year’s Eve fun on the menu.

A New Years Eve Family Festival with a fantastic evening of fireworks, rides, food stalls and music will be held from 5pm – 10pm at the Alstonville Showground on Green Street.

More Ballina events can be found at: www.discoverballina.com.au.

All of the local gig guide updates, can be found at the Echo’s Gig Guide.



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Tennis comp returns to Northern Rivers at Mullum and Bangalow

One of the Northern Rivers’ biggest tennis events is set to return later this month, with the 2026 Mullumbimby Community Open taking place on Saturday, 25 and Sunday, 26 July across Mullumbimby and Bangalow tennis clubs.

Cinema: Look who’s come down for dinner

Failed musician Joe arrives home from work to discover his stay-at-home wife Angela has invited their upstairs neighbours, divorcee Pína and her partner, widower Hawk, over for dinner at their apartment.

Art exhibition inspired by nature

Elemental: Conversations with Nature is an exhibition bringing together a group of local artists who present their work for community enjoyment in one of the Shire’s many local halls – Coorabell Hall.

Tonight’s The Night – actually, it’s Thursday night

Rob Caudill, renowned for his uncanny resemblance to the legendary Rod Stewart, continues to captivate audiences worldwide – whether he’s stopped in airports for autographs or turning heads in restaurants, Caudill’s presence is unmistakable.