PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Adults are getting ready to ring in the new year, but many little ones may not make it to midnight. They still celebrated with a countdown on Saturday at the Please Touch Museum, in Philadelphia's Centennial District.
Kids got to take part in all the museum has to offer, plus some other added treats like concert performances, and professional stilt walkers.
“The entire museum is activated,” said Trish Wellenbach, the museum’s president and CEO. “You can take a carousel ride on New Year’s Eve. Where else can you do that in Philadelphia?”
Musical educator Fyutch got things started with a lesson in sign language, then a dance contest. He said getting together for a party teaches kids things that tablets and cellphones can’t.
“I think a lot of parents are particular about how long their kids spend on the screen,” he said, “so we really want our kids to get opportunities like this, and parents love it. Think of something like a countdown to noon. We get to show them that experience of counting down to the new year and they still get to bed on time.”
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Eight-year-old Kendall Rylander had a big job as co-host for the day. She stayed focused on her work, but said a big part of that job is having fun.
“We have to give announcements to the crowd, tell them what’s going on, like, there’s a photo booth downstairs, so just give them stuff to do,” she said.
Wellenbach said parents benefit from the event as much as kids.
“My favorite part is seeing the kids' faces and actually also the parents. One of the cool things about this day is that all these kids go home really tired, so all the parents and grandparents have a lovely quiet rest of the day and they can welcome the new year,” she said.
And one mother, Leslie, said she’s grateful for the early celebration.
“I was just telling my husband that we’re not going to do anything at night, so now we celebrate at noon.”
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