The amount of balloons outnumbered attendees at the third year of the Noon Year’s Eve event on Dec. 31 in Deerfield at Sachs Recreation Center.
Two hundred people attended this year’s free party presented by the Deerfield Park District as 250 multicolored balloons dropped in the gym over clamoring kiddies.
“It’s the last day of the year, it’s a great way for the young kids to ring in the new year,” said Laura McCarty of Glenview, the park district’s director of recreation.
McCarty was raised in Park Ridge and is of the Wilmette Regina Dominican High School Class of 1992.
This holiday event, “brings out a lot of families,” McCarty said.
The balloons held in netting were released and dropped at noon in the gym.
Celebrating at noon instead of at the stroke of midnight allows neighbors to meet up at the daytime event. Extended family members such as grandparents can also make memories with their grandchildren at an organized community occasion.
Siblings Alma Slivnick, 6, a kindergartner, and Shalev Slivnick, 3, from Deerfield spent time with their grandmother Judy Slivnick, also of Deerfield.
“I love being with them,” the children’s grandmother said.
Alma’s and Shalev’s family moved from Israel last July, and they said, “It’s really nice.
“This is their first regular American New Year’s Eve,” Judy Slivnick added about Alma and Shalev.
“Everything is new to them, the winter, the cold, it’s all new to them,” Judy Slivnick said. “What I want for them is to be happy in their new home, they’re doing so well, just to continue to do so well and be happy,” Alma’s and Shavel’s grandmother said.
Sofia Gehbauer, 9, a fourth-grader from Deerfield, experienced the balloon drop where youngsters scrambled for their favorite color balloon. Sofia likes a light purple color. Sofia’s sister Cece, 3, held red balloons after the balloon drop. Gold balloons were part of the family’s collection too.
Maggie Bernstein, 6, a kindergartner from Deerfield, kept running through the doorway to the gym where shimmering party streamers at the entrance set a festive tone.
At the New Year, “In our family, we really are hoping for good health and happiness,” said Maggie’s mother Laura Bernstein.
For Maggie, “I’m hoping that she’s happy and healthy and makes a lot of new friends,” Laura Bernstein added. “Maybe learn to ride a bike.”
Jessica Friedman of Deerfield and of the Deerfield High School Class of 2004 sat at a coloring and board game activity table with her son Dylan. 2.
“It is so fun,” Dylan’s mother said of games at the table such as Connect 4, and quiet activities such as coloring with markers. ”We don’t get to do this all of the time so it’s fun.”
Emmett Lapin, 4, of unincorporated Deerfield, and his sister Lucy, 8, a third-grader, were accompanied by their mother Amanda Lapin who hoped for 2025 to have, “happiness and good health.
“Good health, like, really, at the end of the day, that’s really all that matters.”
Childhood friends Stephanie Nandi of Lake Forest and Meaghan Jones of Deerfield, both of the Deerfield High School Class of 2007, attended with children Ellie Nandi, 1, and Luke Nandi, 4 and Teddy Jones, 11 months, and Avery Jones, 4.
Stephanie Nandi hoped for 2025 to watch Ellie and Luke, “just to see them experience the joy and happiness and beauty of childhood.”
Meaghan Jones hoped for Avery and Teddy that 2025 brings, “a lot of love and happiness and laughter.”
Stephanie Nandi complimented the Deerfield Park District for, “putting on such fabulous activities.”
Meaghan Jones said, “I love the Deerfield Park District.”
For 2025, Laura McCarty said there is much to look forward to at the Deerfield Park District.
“We have our summer registration that will start in January, our camps will kick off in June,” McCarty said.
February has a Valentine’s Day timed (Friday, Feb. 7) Sweetheart Dance, “so that will be fun,” McCarty said.
“We’ll have some new concerts in the park at our newly renovated Jewett Park, we have a new bandshell over there,” McCarty said.
“The park district just looks forward to offering a lot of different programs and events in 2025 and we hope that everyone comes out and participates.”
To see the Deerfield Park District calendar, visit https://www.deerfieldparks.org.
Karie Angell Kuc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
