New Year’s Eve Up/Down Balloon Drop
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.
![BallonDropMarch Snoopy leading The March of the Balloons](https://charlesmschulz.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BallonDropMarch.jpg)
Snoopy leading...
![BallonDropMarch2 Snoopy leading The March of the Balloons](https://charlesmschulz.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BallonDropMarch2.jpg)
The March of the Balloons
![BalloonsUp Marchers release their balloons](https://charlesmschulz.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BalloonsUp.jpg)
Marchers release their balloons
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.
![BalloonDropSignal Jean Schulz signals for the release of the balloons](https://charlesmschulz.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BalloonDropSignal.jpg)
Jean Schulz signals for the release of the balloons
![Balloonsdown Balloons dropping from the ceiling](https://charlesmschulz.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Balloonsdown.jpg)
Balloons dropping from the ceiling
![BalloonsOnPeople Balloons hitting the crowd](https://charlesmschulz.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BalloonsOnPeople.jpg)
Balloons hitting the crowd
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