Wide-awake kids have a blast at Kohl New Year's event

Kids celebrated the arrival of the New Year early Saturday as confetti floated down to a packed dance floor while music - played by DJ Howard "Top Dawg" Wallach from A-Z Entertainment in Skokie - reverberated throughout the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview.

Held in two sessions of 400 people each, the event gave children who otherwise wouldn't stay up until midnight a chance to celebrate New Year's with their families. In addition to the confetti drop and the DJ, the afternoon's entertainment included a juggler, hat-making, a family photo booth and regular museum exhibits.

"Kids aren't staying up until midnight, so this gives them a chance to have all the fun and excitement that parents get to experience," said Dave Judy, director of marketing and communications for Kohl Children's Museum. "They can go home. They're worn out for the day, parents get them to bed and then parents can do their thing at midnight."

Juggler Jason Kollum had kids on the edge of their seats with an act that included Frisbees, balls, pins, a rubber chicken and a big dose of comedy. Parent Viviana Proano of Chicago became part of the act when she was asked to toss a ball from across the room as Kollum juggled four others, and the fifth ball was incorporated seamlessly, to the delight of the audience.

Kollum said he was presenting a shortened version of his performance, held in multiple, 20-minute sessions in the relatively small room, to accommodate as many people as possible at the popular event.