Harmony celebrates a snowy Silvester

December 31, 2025 Last Updated: December 31, 2025 10:15 PM Local News

A boy reaches to touch the New Year’s Eve ball as it comes closer to the crowd during the Harmony Silvester Celebration in Historic Harmony on New Year's Eve on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

HARMONY — In German cities like Berlin and Munich, the calendar turned to 2026 at 6 p.m. our time. Here, crowds gathered to join the celebration when the clock struck six, with German drink, songs and spirit.

Harmony beat the rest of Butler to the punch Wednesday, Dec. 31, when it held its annual Silvester celebration in and around the town center.

Silvester, a German counterpart to New Year’s Day, harks back to the towns origins, when German immigrants settled in Harmony in the 19th century. The holiday marks the feast of St. Sylvester in Germany, dating back to the 300s.

Riley McGee from Evans City took first place in the 5K race during the Harmony Silvester Celebration in Historic Harmony on New Year's Eve on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

The town was founded by Johann Georg Rapp and a group of followers who came to America in search of land to be free from the religious persecution they faced in Germany.

Here on New Year’s Eve, 2025, Harmony continues to embrace its German roots.

“It’s fun, it’s such a unique celebration. Harmony is really special to me,” said Ruth Ann McChesney, a Mars resident who identified herself as a descendant of the original Harmonists who settled and built Harmony.

This year’s Silvester was bogged down in harsh snow and freezing, windy conditions. Parking was backed up out of the town and into neighboring Zelienople. That didn’t stop attendees from turning out.

The evening kicked off with the annual Silvester 5K, followed by a 1-mile fun run. Attendees participated in activities like tree throwing, while the local shops, restaurants and other vendors created a warm environment for everyone that packed Main Street and the surrounding roads.

Young adults drank and ate at the Harmony Inn and on the streets of Harmony, while parents watched their children play in the snow.

Over the speakers, German folk music played while adults chanted the words to “Ein Prosit,” immediately followed by Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift songs.

“It’s always nice to take part in such a unique celebration,” said Andrew Drozynski, an Evans City resident. “It’s fun to celebrate New Year’s, and to do it with a local twist, Harmony is a cool place.”

Crowds gathered around the center of town over a half hour before the ball drop, eager to catch a glimpse of the shiny ball.

Spencer Faruquee, left, is lifted by his dad Spencer Faruquee to touch the ball lit by cell phone light after it lost power during the Harmony Silvester Celebration in Historic Harmony on New Year's Eve on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

When German midnight struck, the ball drop overcame a slight malfunction from children yanking on the ball and nearly breaking it, to come downward and mark the beginning of a new calendar year, and fireworks filled the skies of Harmony. The crowd belted out Auld Lang Syne.

“The fireworks are beautiful. This was our first year coming. Getting to see the ball come down, this was a terrific celebration,” Charles McChesney said.

The celebratory ball drops during the Harmony Silvester Celebration in Historic Harmony on New Year's Eve on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

The celebratory ball drops during the Harmony Silvester Celebration in Historic Harmony on New Year's Eve on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw