Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Why Not Here?


A photographer and I were driving through Dunmore Corners Monday morning. He's not from around here, and I told him about the famous New Year's Eve Dunmore Buck Drop. The Buck Drop went away several years ago. The official line is that the Dunmoreans didn't want to compete with First Night Scranton. That's unfortunate. Hokey little events like the Buck Drop give a town character.

I took the following paragraphs from the web site www.pennlive.com. It lists all the events going on in midstate. If all those small towns aren't afraid of competing with the big New Year's Eve event in downtown Harrisburg, what are we afraid of? Let's celebrate all those small towns that make our region special. First Night Scranton will live or die on its own. Drop the buck!

DAUPHIN COUNTY

HARRISBURG: M&T Bank New Year's Eve Celebration, 9 p.m.-midnight. Strawberry drop from the top of the Hilton Harrisburg at midnight followed by a fireworks display. Parking is available in the Walnut Street garage, Chestnut Street garage and River Street garage at regular rates, in the Market Square garage for an event rate or for free on City Island or city streets. Activities are free. Information: 717-255-3020 or www.harrisburgevents.com.

HERSHEY: New Year's Eve in Hershey, 9 p.m.-midnight. Hershey Kiss raised at 11:59 p.m. at Chocolate Avenue and Park Avenue, followed by fireworks. Street parking is available. Activities are free. Information: www.hersheynewyears.org.

HUMMELSTOWN: Lollipop drop, 9 p.m.-midnight. Lollipop drop at the Hummelstown Square, Hanover and Main streets, at midnight followed by a fireworks display. Street parking is available. Activities are free. Information: 717-566-2555.

MIDDLETOWN: New Year's Celebration Train, departing from Middletown at 9 p.m. The train travels to Hummelstown for the lollipop drop and fireworks at midnight. Parking is available at the station. Adults $50, children ages 6-11 $30, children 5 and under are free. Information: 944-4435 or www.mhrailroad.com.

HALIFAX: New Year's Eve Celebration at Camp Hebron, 957 Camp Hebron Road, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. Hemlock tree drop at midnight. Adults $37, children ages 5-12 $18.50, adults staying overnight $77, children staying overnight $38.50. Free for ages 4 and under. Info: 717-896-3441 or www.camphebron.org.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

CARLISLE: First Night Carlisle , 5:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Indy race car drop and fireworks at High and West streets at midnight. Street and garage parking is available. First Night buttons are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the event and are required for most activities and performances. Free for children ages 5 and under. Information: 717-258-0666 or www.firstnightcarlisle.org.

MECHANICSBURG: Wrench drop, 9 p.m.-midnight. Wrench drop in front of the Washington Fire Company on the first block of East Main Street at midnight. Street and municipal lot parking is available. All events are free. Information: 717-796-0811 or www.mechanicsburgchamber.org.

SHIPPENSBURG: Drop the Anchor New Year's Eve Celebration. Activities, including some for children, 8 p.m.-midnight. Ship anchor drop at King and Earl streets at midnight. Street parking is available. All events are free. Information: 717-532-5509 or www.shippensburg.org.

LEBANON COUNTY

LEBANON: Lebanon City bologna drop , 10:30 p.m.-midnight. Bologna drop at midnight in the parking lot at Ninth and Cumberland streets. Street parking is available. The event is free. Information: 717-273-6711 or www.Lebanonpa.com.

PERRY COUNTY

BLAIN: Wooden cow drop , midnight at 1861 Big Spring Road. Free parking is available off Big Spring Road near the barn. The event is free. Information: 717-536-3333

DUNCANNON: Duncannon sled drop, 10 p.m.-midnight. Sled drop at midnight at the Old Sled Works on North Market Street. Parking is available in its parking lot. The event is free. Information: 717-834-4311.

LIVERPOOL: Canal boat drop, midnight at the Liverpool Square on Market Street. Street parking is available. Event is free.

NEW BLOOMFIELD: Huckleberry drop, 10 p.m.-midnight. Huckleberry drop at midnight at the courthouse at Main and Carlisle streets. Street parking is available. Event is free. Information: 717-582-2038.

YORK COUNTY

DILLSBURG: Pickle drop, 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Pickle drop and fireworks in front of the Dillsburg Public Library on Baltimore Street at midnight. Street parking is available. The event is free. Information: 717-432-7865 or www.dillsburgbusiness.org.

RED LION: Red Lion New Year's Eve, 5 p.m.-midnight. A lion holding a cigar will be dropped at midnight at Broadway and Main Street, followed by fireworks. Street and municipal parking is available, and parking also is available in church lots. The activities are free. Information: www.redlionpa.org.

YORK: New Year's Revolution, 7 p.m.-midnight. White rose drop at midnight at Sovereign Bank Stadium followed by fireworks. Street parking and city lot parking is available for free; paid parking is available in the Market Street garage, Philadelphia Street garage and King Street garage. Admission buttons are required to attend the activities and cost $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-12 in advance. On New Year's Eve, admission buttons cost $12 for adults and $8 for children. Children ages 4 and under are admitted free. Information: www.yorkcity.org or 717-849-2217.

LANCASTER COUNTY

LANCASTER: Countdown Lancaster, 5:15 p.m.-midnight. The red rose ascends at Binns Park at midnight, followed by a fireworks display. Parking is $3 for the night at the Prince Street parking garage and Penn Square parking garage. Buttons are required for admission to activities. Buttons cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12 before New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve buttons will be $15 for adults. Free for children ages 5 and under. Information: www.lancasterrec.org.

ELIZABETHTOWN: Let E-Town Ring -- Letterkenney Time!, 5-8 p.m. M&M lowering at 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the community center on Poplar Street. Free street parking is available. Buttons are required for admission to all activities and cost $5. Information: 717-361-7188. Elizabethtown lowers an M&M at 7 p.m. to correspond with midnight in its sister city of Letterkenney, Ireland, which operates five hours ahead of Eastern time.

MANHEIM: Manheim's Dancin' in the Streets, 9 p.m.-midnight. Orb raising at midnight at the flagpole in Manheim's square. Street and municipal lot parking is available. The event is free. Information: 717-665-1762 or www.manheimdowntown.org.

Music will begin by 9 p.m. and live music will start at approximately 10. Carriage rides will be available starting at 9:30 p.m. and vendors will sell a variety of snacks and hot drinks.


ADAMS COUNTY

GETTYSBURG

Gettysburg New Year's Eve Celebration, 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Fireworks display in Lincoln Square at midnight . Street parking and garage parking are available. All events are free. Information: 334-5006 or www.adams arts.org.

Several activities and performances are planned for Lincoln Square. DJ Denny White will play music and Audacity will perform classic rock. A strolling magician and a fire performance group will be in the square. At 11:30 p.m., the countdown to midnight will begin on the Gettysburg Hotel porch.

In the Christ Lutheran Church on Chambersburg Street the Herb Sell Trio will perform jazz with guest vocalist Roxie Schloyer from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. John Wolfe will demonstrate magic starting at 8:45 p.m. Children ages 4-12 can make jewelry or hats at the Imagination Station on Carlisle Street. Free hot cider and refreshments will be available throughout the evening.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

MERCERSBURG

New Year's Eve Midnight Carillon Recital, midnight . At the chapel on the Mercersburg Academy campus. Parking is available on the campus. The concert is free. Information: www.mercersburg.edu.

James W. Smith will perform on the Carillon, a large, multibelled instrument, beginning at midnight . Smith will play Christmas carols and other seasonal music including Auld Lang Syne.

CENTRE COUNTY

STATE COLLEGE

First Night State College, 10 a.m.-midnight . Fireworks display at Community Field at South Atherton Street and Hamilton Avenue at midnight . Street parking is available. First Night buttons cost $8 and are required for admission to most performances. Free for children ages 5 and under. Information: 814-237-3082 or www.firstnightstatecollege.com.

See the state's largest display of ice sculptures starting at 10 a.m. More than 30 musical performances will take place in churches and public buildings in downtown State College from noon to midnight .

Children ages 3-10 can take part in the Chinese New Year's party from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. at the State College Municipal Building Plaza. Everyone is welcome to join the Grand Procession, which is made up of large paper puppets, at 6:30 p.m. Anyone who wants to control a puppet should meet at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 208 W. Foster Ave. by 6 p.m.

Carriage rides and ice skating will be available for an extra charge. Runners can compete in a costume-optional 5K run. The run requires a separate registration fee and is scheduled so runners will finish at Community Field just before the fireworks display at midnight .