Muskogee teens can ring in 2008 early at what might be called a New Year’s bash.

The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club will have an alcohol-free New Year’s party, two nights early, from 8 to 11:30 tonight, at what now is The Club Cafe & Teen Center, 322 Callahan St. The teen center used to be the Muskogee Recreation Center and is being revamped in time for tonight’s party.

The party is for youth, ages 14 or older, as well as their parents, said Boys and Girls Club director Juliette Exupery. Younger kids can come with parents.

“We want parents to see the new facility,” Exupery said.

The Boys & Girls Club moved into the recreation center in July and remodeled it with a bistro-style eating area and a stage.

Exupery said the club is celebrating the new year early to keep the kids away from the actual New Year’s Eve traffic.

“New Year’s traditionally is not a safe time to be on the road,” she said. “And I know their parents have worries about their kids being at a safe, supervised place.”

She said parents should feel better if they see how their kids are celebrating New Year’s.

“We’re even going to have a countdown at 11 p.m. like it’s New Year’s Eve,” she said.

The party will feature music, entertainment, a live dance performance and a free-throw competition, program director Ken Henshaw said. The event also will feature karaoke and an inflatable frog toy with balls inside.

There also will be prizes awarded through the night, including a $100 grand prize.

“We’ll even have some prizes for parents,” she said.

Exupery said she managed to round up several sponsors for the event. They include Armstrong Bank, Office Depot, Muskogee Parks and Recreation Department, Larry Hoffman of State Farm Insurance, Students Working Against Tobacco and the Salvation Army.

“We also have people coming in with food,” she said, adding that she does not know how many kids to expect. “We’ll have pizza and a lot of baked goods. Moms are baking treats.”

The event will kickoff a new year of Teen Center programs. They include a money management class, a career launch class and job search tutoring.