It technically wasn’t New Year’s Eve yet, but no one told that to the kids who gathered Monday at Dundee Library in East Dundee to party like it was already 2025.

Sixty-five people — most of whom were not “auld” acquaintances — welcomed the changing of the calendar at a Noon Year’s Eve celebration at which sparkling grape juice was served and a balloon drop held to mark the occasion.

“I like the balloons,” said 4-year-old Isla Rose Zeppetello, of West Dundee, when asked about what drew her to the festivities.

While she was too young to know about new year’s resolutions, her parents Nick and Crystal Zeppetello said they were hoping for a better 2025.

“I also plan to get more hats,” said Nick, joking about his thinning hair.

While Isla Rose and her parents played with a Hula-Hoop, 8-year-old Tessa Gough, of Sleepy Hollow, worked on making a disco ball out of paper plates and foil pieces. Sitting next to her, her brother, Callahan, 7, colored a picture.

The siblings were there with their dad, Steven, who explained what resolutions were to them. He suggested they might consider making a new year’s promise to listen better when their parents are speaking to them.

When their crafts were completed, Gough showed his kids how to use static electricity to make balloons stick to the wall before the trio posed for funny photos. The library provided the props, which included faux ties, mustaches, pointy holiday hats, glasses and a picture frame.

Mia Royal, 5, and her mother Laurie Ruiz discussed resolutions while they were working on crafts as well.

Nodding her head in agreement, Mia said she would try to read more books and eat a wider variety of foods in 2025.

“I’m going to color more,” said Mia’s friend, Jackson Sperandio, 5, of Dundee Township, of his resolution.

As noon approached, library staff turned off the lights and cued up a video from a prior, fireworks-laden New Year’s celebration in Sydney, Australia.

Following a countdown, as the clock struck noon, staff released balloons from two bags hanging above them.

Once the early ringing in of the new year was over, some returned to their craft and coloring projects while others headed back upstairs to 2024, if just for a short while longer.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.