Ringing in 2026 at Skokie’s Itty Bitty New Year’s

Hundreds of parents and children gathered in Skokie’s Oakton Community Center on Wednesday to participate in a special New Year’s Eve countdown — one that didn’t keep them up past their bedtime. 

The event, Skokie Park District’s annual Itty Bitty New Year, sold out of its more than 400 tickets and drew families from near and far with a DJ, face painting, indoor playground, holiday-themed crafts and noon balloon drop over the dance floor. 

“The park district really values families and it’s important for us to bring fun and safe events for people to come and enjoy with their kids,” said Mary Amato, the park district’s assistant superintendent of recreation, adding that the community center has hosted Itty Bitty for more than 20 years. 

“I feel like New Year’s is more of an adult holiday, and so this has always been a very popular event because it gives families with younger kids an opportunity to celebrate appropriately,” Amato said.

As soon as doors opened at 10 a.m., parents donned beaded necklaces and “Happy New Year” headbands while their kids, wearing glow-stick bracelets and glitter cone hats, formed a line before Robert Hirsch, a balloon artist who created swords, wands, dogs, tigers and aliens on request.

Nearby, Barb Kovacevich painted stars and rainbows on children’s cheeks, and music thumped from the DJ stand. String lights were strewn around the net of black, blue and gold balloons. 

“We wanted to do something memorable and special for our two children so they can experience the countdown,” said Fernando Anteliz, a Skokie resident, on why he brought his young children. “And to be around other kids, to have that shared experience.”

“Honestly, for me it’s just amazing that they can actually enjoy the countdown without having it be too late and they can have that experience,” said Michelle Smith, who brought her two kids from Morton Grove. “I don’t have to worry about it being detrimental at all as far as sleep goes.”

Upstairs, tables laden with paper plates, construction paper and glue sat out for children to craft their own noisemakers, party poppers and countdown clocks.

“It’s exposure to what New Year’s Eve is, what a year is,” said Lindsay Merle, a Chicago resident who brought her two and 4-year-olds. “I mean this one understands calendars a little bit, but the little one doesn’t.”

Rebecca Hayward said coming to Itty Bitty New Year’s Eve is a tradition in her family. She’s brought her kids to the event for more than 10 years now. Her husband was working on Wednesday and Hayward said he had tears in his eyes when he learned he couldn’t join her and their son, Quin. 

“I just think there’s so many fun things to do all in one place for the new year’s,” Hayward said. “I think the balloon drop is a very nice touch and I just have a good memory of everyone crowding in together and you see all the parents are really into it too – like everyone’s into it.”

“For grandparents it’s nice because we don’t like to stay up till midnight so we get to have our ball drop at noon,” said Rosemary Baldwin, Quin’s grandmother. 

As the minutes clicked closer to 12 p.m., the craft stations and basement exploratorium emptied and families gathered on the dance floor. 

Parents held their toddlers by the arms to help them dance, as other kids jumped up and down or clung to their mother’s legs wearing noise-cancelling earmuffs. 

Finally, a projected clock ticked down to noon and an array of balloons floated down over the crowd, welcoming in 2026 12 hours early.

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