The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Local news

Related Photos

  • Children stomp on Bubble Wrap Friday as they celebrate Noon Year’s Eve at Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse. Participants played games, ate food and listened to music as they counted down the hours to the start of 2011. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

    Noon_Years_Eve_1_BV.jpg

Discussion

December 31, 2010

Kids ring in new year at Leonardo’s

By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Ten, nine, eight, seven ... cheers and popping Bubble Wrap rang out as children and parents celebrated the passing of the final noon in 2010 at the Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse annual Noon Year’s Eve party Friday.

The party, sponsored by Oklahoma Play Therapy Counseling Center, gave children a chance to ring in the new year.

“We feel it is important for children to celebrate holidays and the meaning behind them,” said Julie Baird, Leonardo’s executive director. “Lots of parents go out at night to celebrate the new year and the kids are left at home. A lot of parents say this makes the kids feel included and not left out later because they have had their party.”

This is Leonardo’s third annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration.

“It was an idea we heard about from some other children’s museums in other states,” Baird said. “It has been very successful. Last year we had about 200. I think we have about that many this year.”

Actually, the number was higher. Baird said 288 people participated.

The event had a carnival atmosphere, with games, a moon bounce and face painting.

“It is all volunteer. No one here is getting paid,” Baird said.

Cakes for a cake walk were donated by several local bakeries, the DJ service was donated and food was donated by McDonald’s, Golden Chick and Chick-fil-A. Organizations helped to run the games and events.

Children snacked on chicken nuggets and popcorn while playing plinko, fishing for prizes, drawing rubber ducks, tossing bean bags and footballs and coloring New Year’s hats.

“We are all about fun for kids and families and it is a great way for families to celebrate the holiday together,” Baird said.

The fun and games wrapped up with the ringing in of the new year with a noon countdown.

Children counted down together, and at the end they jumped up and down, popping Bubble Wrap and shouting to welcome 2011.

Text Only
Local news