HARVARD – With winter break approaching one week for Harvard schoolchildren, parents and their children got a chance Monday to get out of the house and ring in the new year with crafts, music and games.

At the fourth annual Harvard Kids’ New Year’s Bash at Crosby Elementary School, kids made beaded bracelets, had their faces painted and played 15 games. There also were performances by magician RC Ruggles and Katie Bendorf’s Music Studio.  

At noon, Harvard Mayor Jay Nolan did the countdown for kids who weren’t going to stay awake until midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2013.