I stood on the Museum’s Mezzanine overlooking a smiling crowd of children and adults waiting to toast in the New Year. With microphone in hand, I had been chosen to perform the countdown for the Museum’s New Year’s Celebration.

A cheer went up as Snoopy parted the crowd leading The March of the Balloons in the Museum’s Great Hall.

 

 

We counted down, 10…Snoopy released a bunch of balloons, 9…A child balloon-tender released another set of balloons, 8…More balloons, and so on. After the #1 balloon-tender let her balloons free, the crowd cheered.

I gave the signal and over 450 balloons (some shaped like dogs) fell to the excited and patient guests below. A root beer toast was the final act in ringing in our Noon-time celebration.

We certainly had fun, and our guests did, too. We are already planning a bigger and better New Year’s Celebration for December 31, 2011!

—Jean Schulz