Monster trucks and animals top the list
Kids and grown-ups rang in the new year a little early and a lot sparkly at the La Conner Swinomish Library on Wednesday.
At 11:30 a.m., families packed in for Noon Year’s Eve, making party hats and noisemakers before counting down to 12 o’clock sharp.
Library Assistant Karah Watkinson said the event is a way to involve young children in the holiday since midnight is way past most kids’ bedtimes and there aren’t many kid-friendly New Year’s Eve options around the county.
The best part was hearing the kids’ “new year wishes.”
Among the participants was Lochlan Wilbur, 4, who made a colorful party hat. Wilbur told La Conner Community News that his goal for 2026 is simple: a monster truck.
Nine-year-old Toby Langendorfer had speed on his mind too and wants to improve his dirt bike riding skills. His sister Madison, 12, hopes to become more organized.
Emerson Bonato, who is almost 8, dreams of seeing a dolphin and said animals are the best kind of goal. Echoing the love for animals, her 4-year-old sister Averie said her 2026 goal is to have a kitty.
Richard Vendiola, the library’s Indigenous liaison, said he was disappointed to see there were no Swinomish kids in attendance, but said one of the library’s goals for 2026 is to do more outreach and help Swinomish families connect with the library’s programs.
Currently, he said, the library is working on bringing in Dungeons & Dragons. In the future, the library might also host Coyote & Crow, a similar game set in an alternate America where colonization never happened.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
