Des Plaines has bit of N.Y., but much more for family

The confetti cannons and brightly lit "diamond" were poised and ready for the stroke of midnight in Des Plaines Monday night, but the New Year's Eve on the Plaza bash started long before then.

For the fifth year, Des Plaines Special Events Commission members hosted a free, family friendly New Year's Eve party, that played out at different locations across the downtown area.

Trolleys took families from one site to the next, while the Des Plaines Library Plaza -- where the diamond descended and confetti shot out -- served as the party's hub.

"It's a pure family event," said Jim Wozny of Des Plaines, event chairman, wearing a red top hat with blinking lights. "Everything's free."

Promptly at 6 p.m., families started to pour into the Des Plaines Theatre -- nearly 200 in the first half hour alone -- for the chance to party with the Radio Disney Party Patrol and its special High School Musical-themed dance party.

Organizers added the theater as its sixth site, and with Radio Disney kicking things off, they quickly realized they had a hit on their hands.

"It's nice to do something with the kids, and give them a special night," said Kimberly Ross of Mount Prospect, who brought her daughter and four of her friends. "And it gives me a chance to be a kid again. I enjoy it as much as they do."

Over at the Des Plaines Library Plaza, families began lining up more than an hour before the next event began.

"It's a fun time and it gives us something to celebrate as a family," said Arunanshu Gupta of Des Plaines.

They waited to mix with sports mascots, sample some free appetizers and refreshments, take carriage rides and listen to Route 66, an a capella female quartet, but mostly they waited for the chance to snag some free bowling tickets, offered at Sims Bowl in downtown Des Plaines.

Other sites included children's crafts at the Des Plaines History Center, family karaoke at First United Methodist Church and bingo for seniors, held at St. Mary's Church, all before crowds began gathering in the plaza for the year's countdown.

"This is close, and it's kid-friendly," said Brian Pond of Des Plaines, with four children in tow. "Christmas is so hectic that we usually try to spend New Year's with the kids."