New Rochelle Residents To Ring In The New Year With Family-Friendly Event
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – The final 12 hours of 2014 began with a balloon drop in suburbia at the new year's warm up inside the atrium at the city's entertainment complex in New Rochelle.
As CBS2's Lou Young reported, this is the fifth year they have done the midday celebration, making it a more manageable celebration for a younger crowd.
"Probably about 3,000, 2,500 people," event organizer Michael Getlan said.
It's a booze-free New Year's heavy on face painting, balloons and games, but still with that party vibe as a way to include the kids in a holiday that usually gets hogged by the adults.
"It seems like the kids get left out. As an auntie I've got to make sure they get some kind of party," Evonza Smith-Kilgore said.
"This is all about the kids. We came last year and it's awesome fun. It's really cool," fellow attendee Kathryn Hughes said.
The adults are partying earlier with the hopes, perhaps, they'll leave the grow-ups alone later on.
"We're hoping they fall asleep at five after 12," Rich Fleiss, of White Plains, said.
"Awesome event just for the kids," Maria Martinez said. "Yeah, we're going to have an awesome New Year's."
Many of the grown-ups have plans to attend small gatherings, but some are also headed to larger, public celebrations far from Times Square, Young reported.
Some other local events include a festive night at Brooklyn's Coney Island centered around the old parachute jump, a ball drop and fireworks starting at 9 p.m.
There is also slated to be a mini Times Square-type event in White Plains' Renaissance Square where a crowd of 15,000-20,000 is expected to watch the New Year arrive without making a 12-hour commitment. The area is surrounded by restaurants and bars.
"Literally some people will get up from their tables, come out, watch the ball drop, the fireworks then go back in, sit down and have their dessert," White Plains Mayor Tom Roche said.
Cops will be out in force; you are advised to have a good time, but keep a lid on the drinking.
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