TRADITIONAL parties to farewell 2010 and welcome in the New Year are likely to be more modest in many towns and cities of Slovakia because of the uncertain economic conditions and the austerity measures introduced by all levels of government. Nevertheless there will still be many public celebrations on offer for those who prefer to join with crowds of others to see in the New Year.
Bratislava will offer plenty of culture, entertainment and even sport – such as the New Year’s Eve (Silvester) walk to Devínska Kobyla beginning from the starting point of TIK at Istrijská 49 in Devínska Nová Ves.
Celebrators in the capital city can also take in children's theatre performances, a Silvester Gala in the Slovak National Theatre, jazz in the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, and special events at Eurovea, among others.
The city government has organised celebrations at three stages – in the Main Square, in Hviezdoslavovo Square, and a midnight event on the Danube embankment that will include ten minutes of fireworks. Part of the city’s programme will be the flying of “Chinese lanterns of luck”, Milan Vajda of the city council told the SITA newswire.
Two special trains will be running between Bratislava and Vienna, with trips from the Wien-Mitte railway station departing at 1:12 and 2:52 on New Year’s Day. Two special trains will also transport visitors from Vienna back home, leaving Bratislava’s Hlavná stanica at 1:03 and at 2:29, SITA wrote.
Košice, Slovakia’s eastern metropolis, will welcome in the New Year with bands and performers such as DJ Pepo, Marián Čekovský & Band, Miro Šmajda and Rosemaid, Pavol Janák (aka Michael Jackson) and others. The main stage will be in Hlavná Street near the Immaculata Statue.
Banská Bystrica will offer ‘Silvester bathing’, creation of ice sculptures and a disco in addition to fireworks and concerts featuring Ploštin Punk, Leona Šenková, 100 múch, and others in the city’s SNP Square.
Prešov will offer bands like Mloci, Komajota, Chiki-liki-tu-a, and IMT Smile to celebrate the turning of the years. But unlike previous years, Prešov has arranged for just one stage in front of City Hall and has cancelled its traditional fireworks because of financial constraints, SITA wrote.
