Children celebrate the new year early in Monroeville

The New Year’s Eve celebration began a few hours early in Monroeville.

The Monroeville Public Library held its own annual ball-drop celebration for children and their parents that started a little before noon Tuesday, complete with a countdown, noise makers and balloons.

About 300 parents and children attended the free event held in the library’s children section. Children made noise-maker crafts, then spilled into the Children’s Library, where they raucously waited to countdown from 10 to ring in the New Year. When they got to zero, balloons were released from the ceiling.

Children count down from 10 to ring in the New Year, Monroeville Public Library style. #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/SEvxrNhyjQ

— Dillon Garrett Carr (@dillonswriting) December 31, 2019

“I’ve never seen this many people in a library before,” said Cathleen Williams, of Wilkins Township, over the din, shortly after the ball drop. She brought her 10-year-old son, Connor.

That was the Williams’ first Monroeville library ball drop. And it won’t be the last, she said.

“We won’t be able to stay up past midnight tonight, so this is good,” she said. Connor held up his balloon, pointing out that he secured one that wasn’t popped already.

Ryan Wellington, of Whitaker Borough, brought his wife and four children, aged eight, seven, five and three. They were invited by friends who live in Monroeville.

“This is one of our favorite libraries to come to,” he said. “So they really enjoyed themselves, everybody looks like they’re having a great time. This is good for people with kids.”

The ball drop is as much celebrating as he’ll do tonight — he has to work.

“I’ll be celebrating at work with time and a half,” Wellington said, laughing.