A crowd packed into Harmony's town square for its annual Silvester, a German-style New Year celebration, including a ball drop at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

HARMONY — A ball, twinkling with white string lights, slowly dropped toward the ground as a packed town square counted down from 10 — or, rather, zehn — on Tuesday.

Harmony welcomed in the new year with their German counterparts, rushing into 2020 at 6 p.m. as fireworks lighted the night sky.

Throughout the evening, residents and attendees — they made the square practically impassible by the town's early midnight — enjoyed Harmony's celebration of Silvester, an end-of-year treat observed mainly in Germany.

But in Butler County, the small German-style celebration pleased a crowd who appreciated the events, including servings of glühwein, a Christmas tree toss and, of course, bringing in the new year with a ball drop.

“You can have a good time, see some fireworks and be home by 9,” said Tom Holsinger, a Silvester attendee.

Read more in Thursday's Butler Eagle