AUBURN — Area residents will not have to travel all the way to New York City to see the ball drop Monday night. They can stay right here.
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Casey Park’s annual New Year’s Celebration will bring together music, fireworks and food for families ringing in the new year. 2 2SORTfi 2 styl b
Casey Park’s annual New Year’s Celebration will bring together music, fireworks and food for families ringing in the new year. 2 2SORTfi 2 styl b
The sixth annual New Year’s Celebration will begin at 7 p.m. New Year’s Eve with some crafts and music, and it will end with the ball dropping at midnight. In between, attendees will be able to take wagon rides, hear live music, watch fireworks and go ice skating at Casey Park.
Activities will be held both inside and outside of the park recreation center.
According to Ellie Beck, who has organized the event since its inception, the New Year’s Celebration has always been intended to be for families.
This is an alcohol-free party, as it can be difficult to find family-friendly events on a night known for champagne toasts, she said.
“We wanted something that would appeal to people of all ages,” Beck said. “Families don’t always have an opportunity to usher in the New Year together. Everything is always about going out to dinner or going dancing.”
Fireworks will go off at 10:30 p.m. so that even the younger children will be able to enjoy them, Beck said. A participatory drum circle will begin at 11:30 p.m. and will last until midnight, when the Auburn Fire Department will drop the ball — in a good way.
“It will be like Auburn’s own Times Square,” Beck said.
The drum circle started five years ago, as a way to bring alive an ancient tradition of marking the passage of time, Beck said. All are welcome to participate, and drumsticks are provided.
“It does become very musical,” Beck said.
And for those who just want to hear the music, a DJ will spin the soundtrack for the ice skaters and live bands will perform all evening. Because of the live entertainment, the Cayuga County Arts Council serves as one of the event’s sponsors every year.
Dia Carabajal, president of the arts council’s board of directors, said the organization offers some funding and volunteers because the event gives numerous performing artists an annual stage.
“It is a very lovely event,” Carabajal said. “We have so many people come every year who are spending the holidays here and rave about what a great family event this is.”
Carabajal said that the New Year’s Celebration is a small representation of what Auburn has to offer in general — a lot of nice things for families to do. And it allows for area residents to see a part of town that many people don’t visit, she added.
“The city’s northwest side is a lovely residential neighborhood,” Carabajal said. “And Carey Park is another gem in our community that doesn’t get a great deal of focus.”
For Beck, the celebration is a chance to help families ring in another year with arts, crafts and songs.
“This is for people who are truly celebrating the New Year,” Beck said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: New Year’s Celebration
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: Casey Park, 130 North Division St., Auburn
Cost: Free
Activities will be held both inside and outside of the park recreation center.
According to Ellie Beck, who has organized the event since its inception, the New Year’s Celebration has always been intended to be for families.
This is an alcohol-free party, as it can be difficult to find family-friendly events on a night known for champagne toasts, she said.
“We wanted something that would appeal to people of all ages,” Beck said. “Families don’t always have an opportunity to usher in the New Year together. Everything is always about going out to dinner or going dancing.”
Fireworks will go off at 10:30 p.m. so that even the younger children will be able to enjoy them, Beck said. A participatory drum circle will begin at 11:30 p.m. and will last until midnight, when the Auburn Fire Department will drop the ball — in a good way.
“It will be like Auburn’s own Times Square,” Beck said.
The drum circle started five years ago, as a way to bring alive an ancient tradition of marking the passage of time, Beck said. All are welcome to participate, and drumsticks are provided.
“It does become very musical,” Beck said.
And for those who just want to hear the music, a DJ will spin the soundtrack for the ice skaters and live bands will perform all evening. Because of the live entertainment, the Cayuga County Arts Council serves as one of the event’s sponsors every year.
Dia Carabajal, president of the arts council’s board of directors, said the organization offers some funding and volunteers because the event gives numerous performing artists an annual stage.
“It is a very lovely event,” Carabajal said. “We have so many people come every year who are spending the holidays here and rave about what a great family event this is.”
Carabajal said that the New Year’s Celebration is a small representation of what Auburn has to offer in general — a lot of nice things for families to do. And it allows for area residents to see a part of town that many people don’t visit, she added.
“The city’s northwest side is a lovely residential neighborhood,” Carabajal said. “And Carey Park is another gem in our community that doesn’t get a great deal of focus.”
For Beck, the celebration is a chance to help families ring in another year with arts, crafts and songs.
“This is for people who are truly celebrating the New Year,” Beck said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: New Year’s Celebration
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: Casey Park, 130 North Division St., Auburn
Cost: Free
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