From Allentown to Warren County, the Lehigh Valley region offers a host of events to ring in 2016.
From Allentown to Warren County, the Lehigh Valley region offers a host of events to celebrate the end of 2015 and welcome the new year.
Here is a look at what's planned:
Allentown
Starting at 10 p.m. Thursday, the Hamilton District Main Street Program and City of Allentown's Downtown Allentown New Year's Eve Celebration features the dance troupe Xcape and music by The BC Combo at Seventh and Hamilton streets leading up to fireworks at midnight, shot from atop the Wells Fargo Building at 702 Hamilton St. Free and open to the public, the event coincides with evening specials at several Center City restaurants. Visit lehighvalleychamber.org for more information.
Bethlehem
ArtsQuest's seventh annual family friendly Peepsfest runs Wednesday and Thursday inside and outside at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way on South Side Bethlehem. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, culminating with the Peeps Chick Drop and fireworks. The 4 1/2-foot-tall, 85-pound lighted mockup of a Just Born Inc. Peeps confection drops at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. New for this year, watch the un-crating and raising of the Peeps Chick at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The full slate of entertainment and activities includes a live animal demonstration by the Wildlands Conservancy at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema. Admission and most events are free; the kids' Mascot Race and Kids Fun Run is 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and costs $10, and the Peepsfest 5K is 1 p.m. Thursday and costs $35. Visit steelstacks.org/peepsfest for the entire schedule.
Easton
The Crayola Experience at 30 Centre Square is celebrating an American's New Year's Eve noon to 7 p.m. Thursday. Highlights include patriotic dance parties -- think red, white and blue -- at 3 and 6 p.m., plus a 5 p.m. New Year's countdown in addition to all-day access to 26 hands-on attractions. Admission is $19.99 per person or $24.99 with photo.
Warren County
Rutherfurd Hall, 1686 Route 517 in Allamuchy Township, hosts First Night Warren 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, featuring performances by musicians, magicians and dancers; arts and other activities; food vendors; and fireworks at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per person and can be purchased online or at the mansion itself, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. A limited number of on-site parking passes are available for $25 per car, or shuttle buses are offered free with admission.
***
Heading outside the Lehigh Valley for New Year's Eve? There are plenty of quirky events being held across Pennsylvania to ring in 2016, according to a roundup from Gov. Tom Wolf's office, including in:
Hershey, featuring "The Hershey Kiss Raise."
Lebanon, with the "New Year's Eve Bologna Drop."
Kennett Square, celebrating the town's claim as "Mushroom Capital of the World" with the lowering of a 700-pound stainless steel mushroom.
Pottsville, featuring the raising of Yuengling beer bottle to the top of a flagpole in Pottsville, the home of America's oldest brewery.
Beavertown, with the lowering to the ground at midnight of "Bucky," the life-sized beaver, from a 75-foot ladder.
Dillsburg, where -- you guessed it -- a dill pickle is dropped at midnight.
***
Also check out nj.com's 40 spots to celebrate New Year's Eve in New Jersey.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
