New Year 2016: Shopping & Celebrating

The excitement of the festive season doesn’t end on December 25th – there’s still New Year right around the corner! So what’s happening for the 2016 New Year’s celebrations? Where are the best places to ring in the New Year, where are the best places to grab a bargain, and what should you be shopping for?

Think the pre-Christmas shopping season is busy? Well, it doesn’t get much quieter in the run up to New Year. In fact, not only are physical sales anticipated to be record-breaking this year, but online sales on New Year’s Day
are also expected to rise by a whopping 33 percent, too! Most ‘January sales’ actually begin on Boxing Day and run right through into January, so clothing and gift stores will usually be busy as shoppers bag their final bargains of 2015. You should find some good deals, particularly at stores that are renowned for taking part in the sales, such as Next, John Lewis and Debenhams.

Grocery Bargains...?

So where won’t you find a good deal? Although it’s still ‘bargain season’, you may not find much in food stores. With everyone out shopping for last minute refreshments for parties, stores will largely take advantage of this huge spike in demand. Last year, it was reported that, on New Year’s Eve, the Co-Op sold 3 bottles of Prosecco every second, making the sparkling wine a faster seller than milk!

New Year's Eve Hotspots

Where will you celebrate New Year’s Eve this year? Here are some of the most popular destinations:

* London – There'll be spectacular fireworks over the Thames on December 31st, and there’s a treat on January 1st with the traditional New Year’s Day Parade featuring more than 8500 performers.

* New York – There’s the world famous ball drop in Times Square, and the historic Coney Island Atlantic Ocean swim on New Year’s Day – a refreshing dip to perk you up after the celebrations!

* Sydney – Although the Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks are fantastic, January 1st parties are all the rage in Australia right now. It’s a chance to unwind on the beach with a BBQ and a beer.