Dozens of guests helped ring in the new year during a special event last week at Newtown Community Center.

Party dresses and dress shirts were the style of choice for most guests, including one mother-daughter pair who both wore fluffy tulle skirts.

Children and their parents were invited to spend up to 90 minutes at the center on December 31, when Noon Year’s Eve offered a virtual Times Square photo booth complete with props, arts and crafts projects, and music.

The program opened with the crafts projects. Families made noisemakers, mini glitter cannons, and party hats, all preparing for a big countdown.

Noon Year’s Eve was limited to 50 people due to COVID restrictions. Nevertheless, the large room used for the party was filled with laughter, conversations, and plenty of party horns being put to good use.

With countdown clocks for multiple time zones projected on a large screen on one wall, the Newtown group counted down at noon, in sync with residents of Indonesia, to welcome the new year. It did not seem to matter to the young partygoers that they were counting down 12 hours earlier than many adult counterparts would be. For them, it was just a fun time with new friends.

A balloon drop was welcomed with large cheers, followed almost immediately by the popping of balloons by eager young feet.

It was all welcomed with good cheer by Community Center Program Coordinator Jennifer Cebry, who organized the event and kept it moving. Following the balloon drop, she and a few community center co-workers corralled their guests for a toast with apple juice before releasing everyone to the dance floor for the closing segment of the special New Year’s Eve event.