Preparations are underway for New Year’s Eve celebrations in Delaware County.<\/p>\n
A large “2026” sign is sitting on top of Spasso Italian Grill on State Street in Media. Mayor-elect Joi Washington will flip the switch at midnight to mark the start of the new year.<\/p>\n
“My thought in my head is like, I have to make sure I flip it at the right time, not a second before, not a second too late, but I think I’m going to do pretty well,” Washington said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
There will also be a ball drop with hundreds of lights. About 2,000 people are expected to gather for the festivities.<\/p>\n
“The ball drop is going to be so exciting,” Washington said. “I think we bring the same amount of energy as Times Square.”<\/p>\n
It will be a historic year for Washington, who will be sworn in as Media’s first female mayor on Jan. 5.<\/p>\n
“I feel really positive about the future,” Washington said. “This with great power comes great responsibility, and I’m going to do my best to carry it well.”<\/p>\n
The New Year’s Eve celebration is expected to bring a boost to local businesses. Antonio Ramirez, a manager at Spasso Italian Grill, said 400 people have made reservations for dinner.<\/p>\n
“We love it,” Ramirez said. “The restaurant is busy, servers are happy, everybody happy.”<\/p>\n
The celebration begins at 10:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and wraps up just after 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, giving residents a way to welcome 2026 without leaving town.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s neat because normally if you want to see a ball drop, you got to go to New York, right?” Ramirez said. “At least we have it here in Media. So I feel very, I don’t know, how do you say it? Grateful.”<\/p>\n
Families are looking forward to the festivities, using the night as a chance to reflect on the year behind them and look ahead to what’s to come.<\/p>\n
“We feel super grateful for our friends and family,” Kelsey Hall, from Wallingford, said. “Today we were talking about our New Year’s resolutions and we’re excited for the year ahead.”<\/p>\n
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