Akron New Year’s Eve Shoe-In

It’s hard to believe, but 2025 is quickly coming to a close. With the end of the year comes along the annual Akron New Year’s Eve Shoe-In, and this marks the 20^th year since its inception! We are so excited to be planning a family friendly, alcohol-free celebration to ring in the new year. In recent years, we have found that many communities are no longer hosting any New Year’s Eve events that provide a safe and fun place for people to enjoy fellowship with their neighbors, due to a lack of volunteers and coordinators. We are committed to carrying on our longstanding tradition that began twenty years ago.

The name “Shoe-In” pays homage to Akron’s long history in the shoe manufacturing industry. Miller, Hess & Co. shoe factory (now the location of Legacy Handcraft), which opened in 1901, was once the town’s largest employer. The former factory at Main Street and Route 272 made shoes for teenage girls and young women before it closed in 1984. Many thanks to Akron Mayor John McBeth who first spearheaded this event as a way to encourage small-town pride. The large, illuminated purple and gold high-top sneaker that is lowered at midnight was built in 2006 by a former member of the Akron Elementary School PTO. Every year, new and gently used shoes of all kinds are collected to benefit Peter’s Porch, an outreach program of Zion Lutheran Church in Akron.

Throughout the years, the Akron Shoe-In has grown and gained popularity thanks to countless volunteers, committee members, and sponsors. The Shoe-In Committee takes great pride in hosting a 100% free celebration for the community that is funded by donations and never tax-payer funded. Some of the highlights this year are: free snacks and drinks including hotdogs, popcorn, hot chocolate, coffee, and ginger ale mocktails; a large bonfire (shaped like a shoe!); balloon twisting by Majik Andrew; hayrides; a candy cannon; a DJ playing family-friendly favorites; and new this year, a Best Dressed Contest! We truly could not continue this event without a team effort.