LAKE IN THE HILLS – Some families rang in the new year early on Saturday, celebrating "Noon Year's Eve" in Lake in the Hills.
This was the first year the Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department held the event so parents with children 8 years old and younger could celebrate the new year without staying awake until midnight, Recreation Supervisor Kristi Brewer said.
“After our Festival of Trees event, there’s not a lot for little kids to do,” Brewer said. “So we wanted to have a party for everybody to bring their families with and their little kids.”
About 50 children were registered for the event, Brewer said, and it’s something she hopes to continue hosting next year.
Confetti was sprinkled on the floor in the basement of Village Hall, and children could choose among activities from dancing, to making party hats and noisemakers, to eating snacks.
Sara Greenwald and her 3-year-old daughter, Myka, of Algonquin, sat at a table and decorated a New Year's Eve hat.
“Obviously at this age, they’re most likely going to be asleep by [midnight], so it’s just something fun for them to celebrate it, too,” Greenwald said.
Sylwia Milostan, of Lake in the Hills, brought 5-year-old daughter Summer and 6-month-old son Brody to the party.
“We just wanted to do something fun for the kids and make them know what New Year’s is about,” Milostan said, adding Summer would likely stay up to celebrate at midnight, too.
Shortly before noon, children and adults gathered in the middle of the dance floor under the balloon and confetti drop and counted down to the early new year.
Rainbow-colored confetti and balloons fell from the ceiling as party-goers blew noisemakers. Afterward, the “noon year” was toasted with cups of sparkling apple cider.
Cleve and Nicole Sandage of Lake in the Hills came with 7-year-old daughter Lauren and 3-year-old daughter Gabrielle. Both girls had been most excited for the countdown at the party, their parents said.
“It’s always exciting to start a new year,” Nicole Sandage said. “... There’s just a lot to look forward to.”