CHAMPAIGN -- Snowballs were flying and balloons dropping at the Martens Center during a Noon Year's Eve drop Tuesday sponsored by the Champaign Park District.

An estimated 400 children and adults -- twice as many as last year -- turned out.

"The kids were losing their minds with the games," said Merry Mitchell, recreation services manager for the park district.

The most popular was the snowball fights, with the snowballs made out of cotton.

"We had giant appliance boxes, and the kids were hiding in there" and throwing snowballs, Mitchell said.

Other games included such events as snowman bowling and tic-tac-toe.

The two-hour event also included noisemakers and a countdown as the balloons were released.

DJ Fireproof provided music.

"It was a very diverse group of people with lots of kids who I don't think knew each other playing together," Mitchell said. "It was good to see the community coming together."