Steve and Sharon Somers will ring in New Year’s Eve with a spectacular new tradition.
The couple was selected to drop the giant M&M over the Town of Hackettstown on the stroke of midnight 2026 for town’s third annual celebration.
Steve and Sharon Somers have lived in Hackettstown for 38 years, building a legacy of community support through philanthropy that has touched high school athletics, Centenary University, environmental restoration, and numerous quality-of-life projects.
Steve, a chemist, and Sharon, a former schoolteacher, moved to Hackettstown from New York when Steve took a position in East Hanover.
Their contributions include funding scoreboards and supporting sports teams, helping make possible the annual Grand Illumination, and contributing to Centenary’s turf baseball field and the renovation of Tannery Field into an NCAA-compliant softball facility. Steve also served on the board at Centenary University and later became commencement speaker.
The celebration takes place from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in downtown Hackettstown and is co-hosted by the town, the Hackettstown Police Department, Mars Wrigley, and the Hackettstown Business Improvement District.
The evening begins with 11-year-old Giana Pichardo performing the National Anthem at 8 p.m. Joe Racz and the Brawlstars will perform from 8 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., with the Hackettstown High School Cheerleading Team performing between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. and the Tiger Cheer Association performing from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Shops and restaurants will be open for shopping and dining, according to Hackettstown Business Improvement District.
Those unable to attend can watch a livestream on the Town of Hackettstown Facebook page and YouTube channel from 8 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
A Kids Zone on Grand Avenue between Main Street and Washington Street will be open from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring a giant snow globe photo experience, a cow train ride, a stilt walker, a face painter, a game trailer, and a selfie station. Attendees can meet the M&M’s characters and the Centenary University Cyclone mascot.
Food vendors include Marley’s Wings & Things, Marley’s Cravin’ Cuban & Things, Greene’s Beans Café, Humpty Junior’s, and Brewnicorn, which will serve coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks. Free giveaways will be available from WRNJ Radio, Hackettstown Stormwater Management, Mars Wrigley, Atlantic Health, and others.
New Year’s Eve Blast Committee Chairman Darren Tynan said the event has grown into a cherished tradition.
“In just three years, this celebration has grown into something truly special for our town,” Tynan said. “We are especially grateful to Mars Wrigley for their continued support, which helps make this incredible tradition possible.”
The Somers said, in a statement, “Pressing the button is more than a gesture. It’s a reflection of 38 years of love, gratitude, and giving to a town that has given us so much. Hackettstown will forever be a part of us, and we will continue to help it shine, one act of kindness and one bright new year at a time.”
“For everything Steve and Sharon have given to the town and the school district goes beyond words, and it is a true pleasure to join them on stage to press the button and begin the countdown to 2026,” said Hackettstown Mayor Jerry DiMaio.
“There’s truly no better way to welcome the new year in Hackettstown than with this now iconic M&M’S countdown – it’s a one-of-a-kind tradition that brings our community together,” Michal Riha, site director for Mars Hackettstown, said.
Mars has operated in the community for more than 65 years.
Diamond sponsors are Mars Wrigley, Atlantic Health, ImageCare Radiology, Vermella Hackettstown, and Saint Clare’s Health. Gold sponsors include John Johnson Automotive Group, Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C., Delloons, and J&R Tree Service. The silver sponsor is Colliers Engineering & Design. Bronze sponsors include High Street Dispensary, Foot Care Partners, LLC, Nisivoccia LLP, and Versac Main Street Cafe.
See the Advance Local Guide to Disclosing Use of AI. Generative AI was used to organize and structure this story based on information provided by the Town of Hackettstown. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff.
Original source: us