GORHAM – While early evening cold gripped Gorham on New Year’s Eve, temperatures hovering a trifle above zero degrees didn’t halt the town’s annual celebration.

“It’s cold,” said Bill Tracy of Standish, who sang with Gorham Community Chorus. “Back it off 20 degrees.”

Gorham had shows inside for all age brackets, featuring choral singing, music, comedy, zoo, puppets and magic, with fireworks capping the celebration.

“It’s wonderful,” said Ted Ekholm of Gorham, “it really is.”

This year’s celebration marked the first involvement for the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus, which opened its inside ice arena for families. It was a popular move.

“Skating was huge,” said Virginia Wilder Cross, founder of the celebration.

But, the blast of arctic-like air did wipe out two activities.

Snow sculpturing and horse-drawn carriage rides between shows at various venues were canceled. Theo Kalikow, president of the University of Southern Maine, was to be one of the snow sculpture judges.

“They were afraid kids would get frost bite,” Kalikow said.

“We had to consider safety of the horses,” Cindy Hazelton, director Gorham Recreation Department, said.

Citing safety code violations, fire officials shuttered the Centre of Movement, which had planned a variety show and a drum circle.

Revelers kicked off the evening with a spaghetti supper sponsored by a youth group at First Parish Congregational Church.

Tracy said it’s fun to participate in New Year Gorham, and had two grandchildren attending shows this year. “It’s family oriented,” Tracy said

John Rimkunas conducts the Gorham Community Chorus in a New Years Eve performance at the First Parish Congregational Church.  Liam Bassett, 2, pets Willie, a micro pot-bellied pig, at New Year Gorham, while Tiffanie Meekins of Wildlife Encounters in Rochester, N.H., looks on. Liam attended the zoo in Shaw Gym with his mother, Anna Bassett.