New Year's Eve revelers kick off 2022 early in Harmony on Friday evening with the borough's annual Silvester celebration. The ball drop at 6 p.m. coincides with the start of New Year's Day in Germany.

The new year always begins a little early in Harmony.

The borough celebrates New Year’s Eve on German time, which is about six hours ahead of our Eastern Standard Time. The Silvester celebration this year featured a Christmas tree-throwing contest hosted by Harmony Museum, the annual Silvester 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run or Walk, and multiple businesses in the borough opening their doors for visitors. It culminated in the drop of a lighted ball at 6 p.m., followed by a fireworks display.

Crowds of people lined borough streets Friday evening, visiting shops and businesses. The Harmony Fire District was serving food and beverages, while the Harmony Museum offered a traditional Dutch pork and sauerkraut dinner for carryout. The event also featured Glühwein, or hot mulled cider, and the museum served spiced wine in souvenir mugs.

After a crane lowered the lit ball to the street, people took the opportunity to reach up to it to make wishes. Kids as well were lifted by their parents up to the shining sphere.

New Year’s revelers kick off 2022 early in Harmony Friday evening with their annual Silvester Celebration ball drop at 6 p.m. to honor New Year’s in Germany. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 01/01/22