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SALT LAKE CITY — For years, the Recor family has come to ring in the new year at EVE, finding plenty to entertain all five of their children.
Joe Recor sported a green New Year's top hat, snapping photos as his 1-year-old son laughed on his way down a large inflatable slide. Nearby, his wife, Liz, in a matching crown, chatted happily with their 16-year-old daughter, Alex.
The family, from Stansbury Park, has come to EVE several times as their children have grown.
"We're building our family memories. We're actually able to come and do something all together," Liz Recor said. "There's so much to choose from and so much to see."
As they counted down to midnight, the Recors and dozens of other families roamed happily between live musical performances, whizzing light-up hula hoops, a room filled with beach balls of all sizes, and a play area featuring thousands of Legos.
"Most of the time only some of us will like (an activity), but here we have a variety of everything," Alex Recor said. "It's really fun."
Passes to the annual three-day downtown party, centered at the Salt Palace, also included entry to The Leonardo, Discovery Gateway, Clark Planetarium, Off Broadway Theatre, Broadway Centre Theatre and, for some lucky ticket holders, a Jazz game.
Traditional EVE fireworks displays were replaced by a huge mirror ball, which was suspended above the Salt Palace by a crane for a midnight laser light show.
A number of free musical performances at Temple Square and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building also drew crowds.
Toby Irvin, 6, belted out a number of tunes at the broadway sing-along in the Assembly Hall. He rushed forward to take the microphone when his favorite song from "Annie" came on.
"We just bought the movie. I love the songs in it," said Toby, who wasn't nervous at all about singing in public.
"I'm so proud," said Toby's father, Nate Irvin. "It's my favorite musical, too."
For Wayne and Susan Hilbig, who live at City Creek, Wednesday night was date night. Their children are grown and off celebrating with their own families, so the couple had dinner with friends and met at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to hear the nostalgic harmonies of SunShade 'n' Rain.
"We're going to see quite a few (groups) tonight. This is a great way to spend New Year's Eve," Wayne Hilbig said.
Their wish for 2015, Wayne Hilbig said with a smile, is to simply have an enjoyable year, and perhaps eat fewer sweets.
