One giant, illuminated orb wasn't enough for Strasburg residents. On New Year's Eve, they'll drop 2009 balls — pingpong balls.

"Lancaster (has) the Red Rose, and New York does the Big Apple," said David Francis, who's producing Strasburg's New Year's Eve event. "We were trying to find our own little niche."

Last year, the town dropped 275 pingpong balls during its New Year's Eve celebration to honor its 275th anniversary. This year, the scene will be very different when Strasburg resident Glenn Book uses his homemade device to launch the pingpong balls off Massasoit Hall and into the town's square at midnight.

"It's gonna be a shower of pingpong balls coming down from Massasoit Hall, and it's gonna last a few minutes, because with 2009 pingpong balls, shooting takes a while," Francis said.

Strasburg's pingpong ball drop is one of five community celebrations being held around the county New Year's Eve. Lancaster will holds its annual countdown, and Akron, Elizabethtown and Manheim will host events as well.

National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Head said Lancaster County residents should see cold but otherwise uneventful weather as they ring in the new year.

The temperature will start in the 30s and 40s Wednesday morning, New Year's Eve, and then, as a "rather vigorous low pressure system" and the arctic air mass behind it enter the area, temperatures will dip below normal levels.

It will be a strong contrast to the 64-degree weather Lancaster experienced Sunday and the 67-degree weather Millersville experienced. Millersville University records list a previous record high for Dec. 28 of 62 degrees, set in 1988.

"We had a high pressure system very similar to what happens in the summer, built off the Atlantic Coast, and that gave us the mild weather," Head said. "We got the air from Jamaica, man."

The high for today is expected to be 38 degrees, and Tuesday it will be between 40 and 45.

Here are the details on the New Year's Eve events around the county:

LANCASTER: The city will hold its 16th annual Countdown Lancaster event to usher in the new year.

The celebration features musical acts, magicians and ice skating, among other activities.

Most sites open at 7:15 p.m. though two, the Lancaster Public Library and First Presbyterian Church will open at 5:15 p.m. with children's activities.

The annual Red Rose ascension will occur at midnight in Binns Park.

Admission buttons may be purchased in advance for $10 per adult and $5 per child ages 6-12. They are available online at the advance price until midnight tonight. At events, buttons cost $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and younger get in for free.

Tickets are available at any Turkey Hill Minit Market, Darrenkamp's Food Market or Wachovia Bank in the county. They also may be purchased at Lancaster City Hall, 120 N. Duke St.; Cross Keys Coffee & Teas, 34 N. Queen St.; and Lancaster Arts Hotel, 300 Harrisburg Ave.For more information or to purchase buttons, visit the event's Web site, www.lancasterrec.org, or call 392-2115, ext. 129.

AKRON: Akron will begin its free celebration at 10 p.m.

A disc jockey will play music and horse-drawn wagon rides and free hot chocolate and coffee will be available to help people cope with the cold weather.

The celebration will culminate with the annual "shoe drop" at midnight at Main and Ninth streets. The borough will collect 375 pairs of new shoes for Ephrata Area Social Services.

ELIZABETHTOWN: Elizabethtown will holds its annual "Let E-town Ring" celebration from 5 to 8 p.m.

The evening includes live music, story-telling and a chili-tasting, which is similar to a cook-off. A giant M&M will be lowered at 7 p.m. to coincide with the start of 2009 in Elizabethtown's sister city, Letterkenny, Ireland.

Admissions buttons to the event cost $5 and may be purchased in advance at the Chamber/Main Street Office, 29 S. Market St., or at the gates the night of the event. The cost covers hot dogs, chips and S'mores.

MANHEIM: Manheim's Downtown Development Group will sponsor the town's annual "Dancin' in the Streets" celebration in the square, beginning at 9 p.m.

The free event will feature live music and carriage rides. A giant orb will rise counting down to midnight.

STRASBURG: Some of the pingpong balls being dropped will be specially marked. The people who find them can redeem them for prizes, such as gift certificates to local restaurants and organizations. The person who collects the most pingpong balls — the event's organizers are relying on volunteers to help clean them up — also will receive a prize.

The free event starts two hours before midnight. It will feature a magician to entertain the children and a clown to twist balloon animals.

Six musical acts, most of whom are local, will take the stage. Contemporary rock band Brew, oldies rock 'n' roll band L.A. One and the Mighty Fine Bluegrass Band will perform, as will three soloists. Megan Hershey and Nicki Saunders will sing country music, while Eva Strawser will sing spiritual music.

Food stands will sell cheesesteaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, hot drinks and seafood.

This is the second year the town is throwing a New Year's Eve celebration, and it could be the last. The event began last year for the 1,500 Strasburg residents and visitors who gathered in the area could mark the beginning of the town's 275th year.

"Last year was 275, and this is the way we're kind of bookending it and wrapping it up," Francis said. "We hope it continues, but basically right now we're just thinking of it as a great way to round out a celebration."

The event is sponsored by the town's 275th anniversary committee.

If there is inclement weather, the entire event will take place at the Powerhouse Youth Center, along Franklin Street, behind Wesley United Methodist Church, 40 W. Main St.


Staff writer Liz Navratil can be reached at enavratil@LNPnews.com or 481-6014.