WINSTON-SALEM — Families rang in the new year a little early Wednesday at Kaleideum during the museum’s annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration, giving kids a chance to enjoy the excitement of a countdown without staying up past bedtime.
The kid-friendly event featured music, dance parties, arts and crafts and a festive ball drop — all before noon.
As the count began, children joined in enthusiastically.
“One, two, three, four — happy New Year!” shouted Justice Derrick.
For Derrick, the celebration was about more than just fun. He said his New Year’s resolution is “to make sure everyone’s OK and be kind to each other and make friends.”
Five-year-old Eliana Asare said she’s excited about what she might learn in the year ahead.
“I think I’m going to learn how spring changes to summer,” Asare said.
She’s also looking forward to plenty of fun, including dressing up, making crafts, seeing princesses and jumping on a trampoline.
Another 5-year-old, Maddie Cocca, said she already has something special planned after the celebration.
“I’m looking forward to having a sleepover at my grandma’s on New Year’s,” Cocca said.
Elizabeth Dampier, CEO of Kaleideum, said the event has been a tradition since the museum’s early days and is special to her.
“This is one of my favorite events of the year, and we have been doing this for years, really since the beginning of the origins of the museum,” Dampier said.
She said what makes the celebration meaningful is seeing families experience it together.
“There’s wonder, there’s curiosity, there’s excitement,” Dampier said. “What’s really great is to see their adults with them as well — having conversations, engaging with them and doing these things together.”
The event also included a sensory-friendly option in the Digital Dome for families who preferred a calmer celebration.
Kaleideum is closed Thursday but will reopen with normal business hours on Friday.
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Ashley Van Havere
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