New Year's excitement for families at "First Night, Jr."

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Holyoke Merry Go Round and Children's Museum hosted the 16th annual " First Night Junior" event on Monday.

The New Year's Eve revelry at "First Night Junior" began late in the morning and continued all day at Holyoke Heritage State Park. The kids had plenty to keep them occupied until late in the day when they would witness the dropping of the ball signifying the start of the new year.

For some parents, it's just as thrilling as what they would experience at midnight.

“This is our fourth year coming. I've loved it and we do it for Kimmy. It's our celebration of new years, that's what we do,” Kim Gold Smith of Springfield said.

Parents told 22News that they never had the chance to share the experience of welcoming the new year with their parents when they were young. One mom said that she and her husband still plan to celebrate once their kids are asleep.

“I think it's great to be with the kids. It's cold outside, nice to have somewhere to go, Like I said, the best thing we can wear them out, so we can have some fun later,” Jasmin Hutchinson of Holyoke said.

Organizers said that since 1996, when the event was first held at Heritage State Park, First Night Junior each has always attracted hundreds of families.