Thousands turned out to Churchill Square Monday night to ring in the New Year.

Crews spent most of the day setting up and the festivities got underway at 7 p.m.

The family fun event featured local musical entertainment, stilt walkers, dance groups, fire twirlers, magicians, crafts and other children's activities including face painting.

A skating party was also held in front of City Hall.

The highlight of the night was the fireworks that began at midnight. Organizers say the show lasted about seven minutes.

Elsewhere, police were kept busy responding to New Year’s Eve emergencies.

Officers in the north end were called to two separate stabbing incidents including one outside of a strip mall at 153 Avenue and 113 A Street.

An eyewitness told CTV News that two young men got into a fight.

One of the men was taken to hospital but his condition is unknown.

Police ended up arresting a man after a car chase on 156 Street.

Officers had been following a vehicle near 111 Avenue when it sped off.

They chased the vehicle for a short time but called it off.

The suspect vehicle then collided with another car at the intersection of 156 Street and 102 Avenue.

There was also a fight reported on an ETS bus around 118 Avenue and 124 Street.

No injuries were reported but there was some damage to the bus.

Police from the downtown division tell CTV News they usually get 120 calls on a typical Saturday night. This New Year’s Eve they received 140. 

RCMP in Southern Alberta said they answered more than 600 calls, considerably more than they would get on a busy night.

With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith