Enjoy upcoming events

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Color outside the lines

Take a family road trip to Easton Monday and attend the Crayola Factory's New Year's Eve Party. The factory that produces the fuel for childhood imaginations has a huge interactive museum where you can don a party hat, make some noise, listen to music and enjoy snacks while saying goodbye to the old year.

Crayola Factory, 30 Centre Square, Two Rivers Landing, Easton, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, $9.50, 610-515-8000.

Remembering Meade

Laurel Hill Cemetery celebrates the 192nd anniversary of the birth of Gen. George G. Meade. Students of history remember him as the Union commander at the Battle of Gettysburg. To memorialize his service to the nation, a group of Civil War re-enactors, heritage groups and dignitaries will gather at his final resting place to deliver a 21-gun salute and a champagne toast. A reception follows at the Cemetery Gatehouse and if the weather cooperates, tours of Laurel Hill will be offered.

Laurel Hill Cemetery Underground Museum, 3822 Ridge Ave., noon Monday, free, 215-228-8200.

Wee-hours bash for wee ones

A kid-friendly New Year's party at the Arden Theatre has all the traditional touches: good food, a rocking concert, dancing, noisemakers and even a balloon drop. The only difference from what's going on in Times Square? This fund-raising party rocks till the wee hours of the afternoon with actors from the Arden's Children's Theatre productions.

Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2nd St., 11:30 a.m. Monday, $35 per person, 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org.

Ship of cool

Perhaps the Delaware Valley's most unusual New Year's Eve party takes place on the Battleship New Jersey. You'll have dinner and breakfast served from the Crew's Galley (the party is sponsored by Dietz and Watson, so expect some hot dogs), tour the ship, sleep in bunks and, best of all, enjoy the midnight fireworks over the Delaware River from the battleship's deck. If you don't want to spend the night, you can still view the fireworks from onboard the ship, while enjoying music, food and bar service, for an admission of $7. Come onboard at 10:30 p.m.

Battleship New Jersey, 62 Battleship Place, Clinton Street at the Waterfront, 6 p.m. Monday, $59.95, 866-877-6262, ext. 203.

Delco's first night

Downtown Media rings in 2008 with live music and a countdown with a ball drop from Brodeur's on State Street at midnight. This rain-or-snow event means State Street from Jackson to Olive will be closed to traffic to provide space for revelry, sponsored by the Media Business Authority.

Downtown Media, Jackson and State streets, 11 p.m. Monday, free, 610-566-5210.

Holiday on ice

Skate into 2008 at the Blue Cross RiverRink, which has a special New Year's Eve party for skaters and those who'd rather watch. The rink is a great location to see the free fireworks at Penn's Landing, while enjoying food, live entertainment in the heated indoor facility and, of course, skating.

Blue Cross RiverRink, Columbus Boulevard at Market Street, 11 p.m. Monday, $30 for skaters, $20 for spectators, 215-925-RINK.

The big show

The city claims to host the largest New Year's fireworks exhibit in the country and who are we to argue with them? Sponsored by the Delaware River Port Authority, the light and music extravaganza can be seen from both sides of the Delaware, and the music track will be simulcast on KYW Newsradio 1060 and KYW-HD. If you can't get down to the Landing, experience the show from your living room -- Channel 3 broadcasts it live.

Penn's Landing fireworks, midnight Monday, free.

WEDNESDAY

Taping of the screw

What better way to usher in the new year than to catalog our human frailties, all those things that show up on our annual list of resolutions, and then some? A multimedia adaptation of Anthony Lawton's "The Screwtape Letters" looks at the dark side of mankind, but with a mirthful unpredictability. If you missed this Lantern Theater Company production the first time around,

you've got a second chance during this limited engagement.

Lantern Theater Company, 923 Ludlow St., 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, through Jan. 13, $22-$30, 215-829-9002.

THURSDAY

Revenge is sweet

William Mastrosimone's play "Extremities" is about a woman who exacts revenge on a man who breaks into her home and tries to rape her. You may have seen the 1986 Farrah Fawcett film, but the play, presented here by New City Stage Company, is even more explosive.

Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St., 8 p.m. Thursday, through Jan. 20, $16-$22, 215-563-7500.

Rain man

Richard Greenberg's 1997 play "Three Days of Rain" is about a shy architect paralyzed with self-doubt and the southern belle who thinks he has talent, played out over 30 years. The play was revived on Broadway a few years ago with Hollywood heavy hitters Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd, but you'll be haunted by its simple expression of the loneliness of intimacy even without the movie stars.

The Players Club of Swarthmore, 614 Fairview Road, Swarthmore, 8 p.m. Thursday, through Jan. 19, $8-$15, 866-811-4111.