Hundreds of children countdown to noon at Please Touch Museum

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Hundreds of children and their parents were at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia to ring in 2015 early.

They did it with Alice in Wonderland.

"It's absolutely amazing! We're all having a great time. You showed up so it must be pretty good. We have lots of confetti, music, food and dancing - it's really wonderful," said The Mad Hatter.

This is Alice's 150th anniversary, so when it was time for the ball to drop at noon - they dropped the Cheshire Cat instead.

It's a place for families to celebrate New Year's in a lively, frolicsome way.

"I've got my three boys and my wife here. Starting off the new year at the Please Touch Museum - it's wonderful," said Chad Merriweather.

"We'll definitely do it again next year. Cole will be a little older, I just think it's gonna be great," said Chisa Merriweather.

It was the Franklin family's first Please Touch New Year.

"It was a good time. I think everyone enjoyed themselves, we're looking forward to next year," said Sean Franklin.

And while little Maya Gibbons busied herself collecting confetti, along with dozens of others, the main message of the day resounded through Memorial Hall with children chanting 'Happy New Year" all around.

For the curious, the Alice and Wonderland Exhibit will be open New Year's Day from 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.