Northeast Ohio venues ready for New Year's Eve celebrations

CLEVELAND - Times Square in New York City was not the only place where New Year's Eve preparations were taking place. Venues throughout northeast Ohio were also busy Sunday preparing for end-of-the year celebrations.

Workers at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo were busy getting the grounds ready for the 7th annual "Noon Year's Eve" celebration. A special noontime countdown and ball drop will take place for kids who want to celebrate the new year with some furry zoo friends.

With admission normally being free on Monday's for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township, zoo officials are prepared for a large crowd.

"There hasn't been a New Year's Eve on a Monday in a while, so that will be different, said Cleveland Metroparks Zoo public relations specialist Joe Yachanin. "We're expecting a pretty decent crowd as long as the weather holds out."

At The Children's Museum of Cleveland, there will be New Year's Eve countdowns at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. With noisemakers ready to go for guests, museum staff is ready for a busy day.

"We work really hard to make sure the kids are all having a good time," said Children's Museum of Cleveland guest services associate Emma McClelland.

At Executive Caterers at Landerhaven, workers were putting the finishing touches on table settings, lighting and other decorations for Monday's New Year's Eve theme party called "Club Landerhaven."

"It's going to be a fabulous party, the greatest party west of Times Square," said Executive Caterers event designer Michael Ferrara.

Over 500 party-goers have made reservations, an increase of 20 percent from last year.

"This has been a really wonderful year for Executive Caterers," said managing director Marlin Kaplan. "We've probably had our second best year in the decade."