By Marilyn Torpey-OdesserRemember when you were a kid watching your parents primp for the biggest party of the year while all you had to look forward to was sitting in front of the television with the babysitter watching a glittery ball creep down a pole in Times Square — where still more adults were having fun? This year start a new tradition by ringing in the New Year at one of the family-oriented celebrations in the
Hershey Harrisburg area.
For mini merrymakers, Harrisburg’s
Popcorn Hat Players will host their 17th Annual New Year’s Eve Party for Children, at the
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, commencing with a countdown to 12 o’clock — that’s noon, not midnight — balloon drop complete with noisemakers and party hats. And that’s only the beginning of the funfest. The Popcorn Players will also perform the perennial children’s favorite fairytale, Cinderella. Tickets are $12.
If the gang’s still good-to-go when the clock strikes 12 a.m., you’ll have plenty of opportunities to usher in 2010 in some not-so-traditional ways. To culminate an evening filled with live musical entertainment, balloon art, face-painting and cookies and cocoa at the city’s Market Square and City Government Center, Harrisburg will drop a giant lighted strawberry (in honor of its Strawberry Square shopping and dining complex), followed by a spectacular fireworks display.
Hummelstown will put its own twist on the stroke-of-twelve tradition by dropping a giant lollipop. The festivities will continue with a giant fireworks display. Hershey will have the whole town on its feet with live music performances by Honor Society and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies emceed by WINK 104 radio morning man, Denny Logan; a family dance with limbo contest and conga line with the Hershey characters and a lively (and sure-to-be-loud) bubble wrap stomp for the
kids. Be sure to stick around for the grand finale fireworks!