Lisbon’s Heritage Hall was the place to be to ring in the New Year Wednesday, Dec. 31, as Lisbon Public Library hosted Noon Year’s Eve celebration.

Meredith Nehring, children’s librarian at the library, said that Noon Year’s Eve celebrations happen at several different libraries, and doing this event this year felt like a great fit for Lisbon.

“The goal is to have a space that allows kids to express themselves and have fun without judgment,” Nehring said.

Stations at the party included placing your hopes for 2026 up on the board, making a pin, decorating your headbands to ring in the New Year and then cookies and sparkling beverages to ring in the New Year. Those drinks included Sprite, Sprite with whipped cream and Maraschino cherries or Sprite with gummy bears.

“This tastes just like gummy bears,” Adeline giggled as she drank her Sprite mix with gummy bears.

Music rang throughout the room, as well as the cacophony of noisemakers in the half hour leading up to the balloon drop to ring in the New Year.

“That might be one of the changes we make next year, waiting to hand out the noisemakers much closer to the balloon drop,” Nehring said, reflecting on the event a few minutes after.

That amounted to a parachute with one hundred balloons in the center.

The more than 50 children who were present gathered around the outside of the parachute, and as the countdown concluded started waving the parachute to launch the balloons around the room.

Nehring said she was excited for the turnout for this first event, and it could be an annual event for the library.

“Kids need a space to reflect on the year end, just like adults, and it’s important to have this party and celebration,” Nehring said. “It’s a chance for them to make noise and express themselves. Doing it earlier in the day lets them not feel pressured to stay up late to celebrate the New Year as well.”