One hundred Bridgeview seniors 55+ joyfully rung in the New Year at the Bridgeview Park District’s annual Noon Year’s Eve Party on Monday, December 30th. The celebration kicked off with free noisemakers, festive hats, and tiaras to help get everyone in a celebratory Noon Year’s mood. With attendees dressed and ready for the occasion, they gathered in the center of the gym for the countdown and mini balloon drop. The announcer counted down from ten as excitement filled the room, and at 12 p.m. exactly, Bridgeview Park District Vice President Ken Pannaralla, Treasurer Mariam Ahmad, Secretary Justin Willis, and Village Clerk John Altar pulled the string to release the gold and red balloons that cascaded down on the crowd. Noisemakers and cheers echoed through the room as everyone celebrated the change of one year into another.
“It’s great to foster a sense of community with an accessible New Year’s party,” explained Vice President Pannaralla. “The seniors in the area really look forward to the programming the Bridgeview Park District provides,” added Treasurer Ahmad.
After the balloon drop, the fun game of attention and chance—Bingo—began in full. Attendees stamped their bingo cards as numbers were read aloud, with everyone hoping to be the first prize winner. It wasn’t long before a shout of “Bingo!” echoed through the gym, and a woman happily picked out her prize cup with a gift card inside.
Delicious food from the Bridgeview Culver’s arrived, and residents cheerfully dined on chicken tenders, broccoli, mashed potatoes, and chocolate or vanilla custard. After a tasty lunch, a representative from Oak St. Health gave out a foot massager as a raffle prize to a lucky resident to kick off the new year. The “left/right game” then captured everyone’s attention as residents listened closely to the story and passed gift bags to the person sitting to their left or right. When the game finished, residents opened their bags to reveal 2025 calendars, planners, mugs, calendars, or puzzles!
Residents at the Noon Year’s Eve Party celebrated another rotation around the earth and the potential of 2025 in a festive atmosphere filled with fun activities, great food, and good cheer to start the new year off right.
