KENNEBUNK — If you miss it at at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, you can see it at midnight.

That is when a big, big, blue sphere will drop from the bell tower of First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Kennebunk, signaling the birth of a brand new year.

New York is famous for the ball drop at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. In downeast Maine, the tiny City of Eastport drops a maple leaf – as a nod to their Canadian neighbors – at 11 p.m. Eastern (midnight, Atlantic time), and a sardine at midnight, hailing the city’s once-bustling herring industry.

In Kennebunk –perhaps as a nod to the blueberry plains off Route 99 – it is the wild blueberry.

This year will mark the fourth year of New Year’s Kennebunk, founded by the Town of Kennebunk, the Brick Store Museum and the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church. Events are free.

Known as NYE KBK, there will be music and improv, free museum admission and family board games, all starting at 7 p.m.

The 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament will premiere at the event, and teams can sign up online via www.nyekbk.org. Bags start flying at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at the First Parish UU Church. Organizers say the event will be a a 16-team, double-elimination tournament with a three-game guarantee.  The cost is $40 per team of two people. Proceeds will be presented to the Morin family of of Kennebunk, who lost their home to fire on Dec.19. The top 6 six teams will receive handmade trophies. Additional prizes include gift certificates and more.

Organizers have planned board games and hot chocolate inside First Parish Church, with fire pits and the NYE Cornhole Tournament outside.

The Brick Store Museum is offering free admission to the galleries and exhibitions until 11 p.m., with music and improv starting at 7 p.m. in the museum’s program center.

As well, folks of all ages are invited to lace up their skates for an evening gliding around the ice at Waterhouse Center.

Later, from the bell tower of the First Parish Church, an Early Bird Ball Drop will begin at 9 p.m. and the Wild Blueberry Ball Drop will ring in the New Year at midnight.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.