Early New Year’s bash in Aurora gives families chance to celebrate together
Sandi Sirtoff of Oswego along with her husband Mike and son Caden, 3, found something to do this New Year’s Eve in Aurora while searching the internet and looking for options.
On Saturday morning, the Fox Valley Park District hosted a two-hour early New Year’s celebration at the Vaughan Athletic Center that included crafts, games, inflatables, music with a DJ and a balloon drop that took place at noon - 12 hours before the official arrival of 2023.
“We’ve never been here but Caden is now big enough to kind of enjoy it,” Sandi Sirtoff said as she and her family watched a Nerf battle that was going on at the event. “We wanted something for toddlers for New Year’s. He loves to do the inflatables.”
Officials said they were excited about the return of the annual event that began back in 2008 and were happy to offer “a family-themed event to bring people together and give families an opportunity to enjoy the holiday at a more reasonable time.”
“We didn’t have the event in 2020 and 2021 and this is our first time back since COVID,” said Josh Barry, facility manager at the Vaughan Center. “Before the pandemic, we would see about 300 to 400 in attendance. We had about 150 registered earlier this week and always get a walk-up crowd on the day of the event.”
In terms of changes, Barry said the event was being spaced out more than in the past and using the entire fieldhouse, but that staples of the party including the popular balloon drop were still being offered.
“We are adding a Nerf component to cross-promote some of our other special events to try and drum up some interest in this,” he said. “We have our Nerf Attack events that we started at the Vaughan Center recently. Kids use goggles and we build a battle area that our staff runs them through.”
Fox Valley Park District Executive Director Jim Pilmer was also excited about the return of the New Year’s Eve event and said he personally enjoys “going to the event and has seen it many times.”
“It’s a traditional event for the park district and anytime you can see the fieldhouse full of families having a good time, it’s great,” he said. “Our staff is great. They blow up thousands of balloons and its just another fun activity offered by the district.”
Recreational Supervisor Erin Collins was all smiles Saturday morning as she welcomed guests inside the fieldhouse and said she was particularly excited given this was the first year back since the pandemic.
“This is my favorite event of the year. This one is so special to me seeing all these families come out here and celebrate New Year’s Eve in a safe way,” she said. “They’re not in unsafe weather conditions and are here celebrating together. It’s a huge relief that this came back. We were very disappointed to cancel this the past couple years.”
Many couples including the Sirtoff family said this was their first time at the Fox Valley Park District party.
“Typically on New Year’s Eve we just go out with friends to a restaurant and spend the evening there but since we’ve had the little guy we stay home and binge watch Netflix,” Mike Sirtoff said. “With him (Caden), we just wanted him to have a New Year’s celebration, a kid’s experience at his level.”
Vicki Sheers of Campton Hills said this was also her first time and that her daughter Gabby, 7, was enjoying working at one of the many craft tables.
“I love the concept and this is great for the kids,” she said. “We’re going to do crafts and Nerf wars and dancing.”
Gabby said she was all in for a Nerf wars battle.
“I’m good at Nerf wars and I’m going to get a lot of boys,” she said. “I’m excited my mom brought me.”
St. Charles resident Heather Sabatino and her daughter, Alysa, 12, said they were also first-time visitors.
“I like the variety and what they are offering,” Sabatino said. “We just walked in and the lines are moving fast. It looks like a good time. We’re going to go to the pool after this. I don’t have a New Year’s Eve routine — we’re just looking for something fun to do.”