Peotone Park District Rings in NYE Early With Family-Friendly Noon Year’s Eve

By Andrea Arens

Families looking for a festive, and bedtime-friendly way to ring in the New Year can head to Peotone High School on Dec. 31, where the Peotone Park District will host its third annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration starting at 11 a.m.

The daytime event, designed especially for families with young children, was created by Park District Program Coordinator Jessica Miglieri, who said the idea came from her own experience as a parent.

“I brought the idea for a Noon Year’s Party to the Park District three years ago when I first started in my role,” Miglieri said. “As a mom of two young kids, I struggled to find meaningful ways to celebrate the New Year with them and knew we could bring something fun and affordable to the community to fill that need.”

Since its debut, the event has continued to grow, offering a variety of activities while keeping costs accessible for families. Miglieri credits the event’s affordability to strong community support, noting that this year’s celebration is backed by five sponsors: the Zingen family, First Community Bank and Trust, Tony’s Pizza, and Three Bears Rentals, along with in-kind supply donations from Aqua Illinois.

“The Park District is so grateful for these sponsorships,” she said. “They help us purchase event supplies, pay for entertainment like bounce houses, and staff the event. This keeps the event cost low for participants, which has always been a priority for us.”

Planning for Noon Year’s Eve begins months in advance, with preparations starting in the fall to secure vendors and entertainment.

“We need to book bounce houses and food vendors early to ensure availability,” Miglieri said. “Once that is done, we start seeking sponsorships, contacting local restaurants for catering options, and planning other sources of entertainment.”

While the logistics are manageable, Miglieri noted that the holiday season adds challenges, as both families and businesses face tighter schedules and budgets.

Attendance has steadily remained strong. The Park District typically sells between 50 and 100 tickets online before the event, with more than 100 walk-in participants in past years. Miglieri estimates the space could comfortably host up to 400 people.

This year’s festivities include bounce houses, a balloon drop, a cider toast, shaved ice from Ice Ice Baby, concessions from Game On Bar and Grill, table games, coloring stations, and a family photo backdrop. Children can also enjoy free face painting courtesy of the Peotone High School Art Club.

“The event highlights are really the bounce houses, balloon drop, cider toast, and shaved ice,” said Miglieri.

While the activities are geared toward younger children, Miglieri emphasized that the event is open to all ages.

“It’s really pretty magical to witness the children experience the balloon drop and enjoy cider toasts with their families,” she said.

Despite the event’s growth, Miglieri says one element still stands out as her favorite.

“Even though the event has grown to include many additional activities, the balloon drop still remains my favorite part,” she said. “Setting up the balloon drop net was a huge goal of ours, and it was incredible to see it actualized. We’re so thankful for our head of maintenance, Jeff, for always making our crazy ideas a reality.”

The Noon Year’s Eve celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a noon countdown at Peotone High School, offering families a joyful way to welcome the New Year — no late night required.