Guardian volunteers Sara and Lincoln serve up cookies and punch during the festivities at the U.P. Children’s Museum. (Journal photo by Abby LaForest)

MARQUETTE — Area children, visitors and their families were welcome to celebrate the New Year at the annual Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum’s Elementary Ball on Tuesday.

This year marks the event’s 25th anniversary and the party serves as a warm, safe space for youngsters to celebrate a family-friendly New Year’s Eve.

“For an hour and three-fourths, we have positive hullabaloo, and the children dress up,” said Jim Edwards, the programming and education coordinator for the museum. Better known as Mr. Jim, Edwards saw hundreds of kids and their caregivers attend the Elementary Ball this year, with some including parents who played at the museum as children and now bring their own kids to the event.

“I’ve always said that [the kids] come and have a party and forgive the adults for having their party at midnight …” Edwards explained. Regarding the energetic atmosphere, he described the experience as one “just right [enough] for it to be a catharsis.”

The Elementary Ball provided party hats and cookies for everyone beginning at 5:30 p.m., with DJ Rusty for entertainment leading up to the grand ball drop at 7:30. Admission was $5 for adults, while children were let in for free.

Alongside Mr. Jim and the museum staff, the ball is also run by dozens of young volunteers, known as Guardians, who are “wonderful” in Edwards’ words. With plenty of activities and a hardworking team, the Elementary Ball continues to be an Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum staple that celebrates the new year with generous enthusiasm.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.