BayToday Picture Play Gallery: Putting families first

The weather cooperated fully Monday night helping to make the 14th annual ‘Families First New Years Eve Celebration’ on Chippewa Street a huge success.

From sliding to skating to swimming everything went according to plan for the alcohol-free event including the $5,600 fireworks finale.

“It was well worth the wait,” says committee member Wendy Billingsly of the fireworks display which has been sidelined the past two years due to weather issues.

“It was a great time this year and again we wanted to emphasise the importance of making the family a priority and that New Year’s can be celebrated without the use of drugs or alcohol.”

Billingsly says the beauty of the event is that families can get together and have fun for free, but at the same time it ends early enough that if adults want to entertain or go out to usher in the New Year they can.

Fellow committee member Melinda Fry agreed that this year’s event was a hit and not only credited the weather for helping out, but also notes some changes in programming also helped.

“The weather is great and we have a variety of activities outside that has left room for everyone to skate,” she explains.

“The inflatables are a big success and so is the guitar heroes section, actually the guitar heroes’ appeals to the older teenage kids which is great, plus we raised a ton of food for the food bank, so it has just been a great event.”