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Harmony celebrates new year on German time

Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
The ball drops as people gather to touch it for good luck during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration in Historic Harmony on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

HARMONY — The new year came six hours early for the borough of Harmony. In keeping with its German roots, Harmony held its annual celebration of Silvester, the German new year, in sync with the people of Germany, with the new year celebration climaxing at 6 p.m. — midnight in Germany.

Harmony, normally a borough of less than a thousand residents, seemed to double in size overnight, as both residents and visitors crammed onto the streets and took up nearly every available parking spot to ring in the new year, German-style.

“There’s quite a bit at work, but it’s a community event,” said Susie Altemus, chairwoman of Harmony’s parks and recreation board. “All the shops in town are involved. The museum’s involved. So we all kind of pitch in together. The bakeries are open. The art gallery’s open.”

The centerpiece of the event was the ball drop at 6 p.m., which is midnight in the German time zone. The ball in question was a disco ball covered in Christmas lights hooked up to a power generator and suspended from a cherry lift. R&B Tree Service was responsible for putting together the ball drop.

Also part of the festivities were a 5K run and a 1-mile fun run. Zach Leachman won the 5K race with a final time of 15:06.45.

The first batch of runners who signed up received a free T-shirt. The top three runners overall in the male and female categories received gift certificates for Dick’s Sporting Goods — $50 for first place, $20 for second, and $10 for third.

The 5K run and the 1-mile fun run were held over slightly different tracks.

“The 5K is an out-and-back around Connoquenessing Creek,” Altemus said. “The 1-mile is a loop around town.”

Another part of the festival was a traditional Christmas tree toss, with lines to participate stretching around the corner of a nearby building. Children who signed up were encouraged to toss Christmas wreaths instead.

According to Gwen Lutz, vice president of the Harmony Museum, about 150 signed up to participate.

“We have four different categories, so there's four different winners,” Lutz said. “They each get a gift certificate from local merchants in the amount of $20.23, for (the year) 2023.”

After both of the runs were complete, Harmony’s small businesses opened their doors. This included the Harmony Fire District, who sold hot dogs and brats — appropriately enough, with sauerkraut — to raise funds.

The crowds truly began to gather at 5 p.m. — 11 p.m. in Germany — as parents danced with their children to traditional polka music which blared over the loudspeakers in Harmony Square.

With 10 seconds to 6 p.m., public address announcer Dale Pflug instructed the massive crowd to count down from 10 to the German new year in German numbers: zehn, neun, acht, sieben, sechs, fünf, vier, drei, zwei, eins.

Also attending the festival was young Victoria Bachmann, visiting all the way from Karlsberg, Germany. The occasion of Silvester has doubly-special meaning to her, as her birthday is on Jan. 1.

“This is what small-town America does on New Year’s Eve,” said Pflug.

Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
Jameson Conlin, 3, of Evans City, touches the New Year's ball during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration in Harmony on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Zach Leachman crosses the finish line as he won the Men’s 5K
Zach Leachman crosses the finish line as he won the Men’s 5K during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Tree-throwing contest during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
Madison Sharrar participates in the tree-throwing contest during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Tree-throwing contest during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration in Historic Harmony took place on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
Racers make their way up the hill to the finish of the 5K during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
The ball drops as people touch it for good luck during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
Athena Schmidt, 6, from Harmony watches the fireworks during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration
People look down on the square and waiting for the ball to drop during Harmony’s Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 31. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

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