Palm Beach has many small-town traditions that make it a special place.
Among them, the municipal election caucus , which marked its 113th year in December and harks back to an old New England tradition; and the popular Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, which marked its 16th year in 2024 and raises money to feed the hungry in Palm Beach County;
Another tradition sees residents and out-of-towners rising before sunrise on New Year’s Day for a community photograph to celebrate the dawn of a new year, taken by the Palm Beach Daily News.
This New Year was no different. With sunrise forecast for 7:07 a.m., folks started gathering around 6:30 and the number slowly grew.
Then it was go time! Thirty-five people — and nine dogs — joined with their neighbors to capture a moment in time at Midtown Beach, accented by the town’s iconic Worth Avenue Clock Tower.
Audrey Friedlander was one of the early arrivals. This was her first event and she came mainly to accompany her mother, Denise Friedlander, who loves the outing and has been coming for the past three years.