Area students had a sweet start to the New Year when their dioramas were chosen as winners in the 2015 PEEPS® Scholastic Diorama Competition during PEEPSFEST®, the free family festival presented by Just Born Quality Confections and ArtsQuest Dec. 30-31.

More than 140 dioramas incorporating PEEPS® candy were created by local school children and were on display during the event, which took place at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

“New Year’s Eve in NYC,” created by Joseph P. Liberati Intermediate School fifth grade students Nathaniel Lycette and Brandon Verna, was named the “PEEP-les Choice” winner based on voting at the festival, while “Peep State,” done by St. John Vianney 8th graders Hannah Kistler and Raymond Kromer, was named “Best in Show” by the official PEEPSFEST® judging panel.

Both groups of students won PEEPS & COMPANY® Gift Bags and were invited to help drop the giant PEEPS® Chick on New Year’s Eve to count down the coming of the New Year.