Family-friendly Festivals

Early New Year’s Celebrations Just Right for Young Kids

Last updated 15th May 2018

Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations can be a challenge. Even if they’re old enough to really understand the significance of counting down until the big hour, the late night out would mean crankiness or exhaustion. That’s no fun for the little ones and no fun for the parents, either. There’s the added concern that some general New Year’s Eve celebrations may involve people drinking to excess and more adult themes – not exactly family friendly.

But don’t despair, there are a lot of creative events that have popped up in recent years to replace NYE parties with kids and families in mind. Some even substitute the magic of midnight for the magic of noon, a fun change for everyone. Here’s our rundown of some of the possibilities that your family should consider:

Noon Year’s Eve, Denver

The Children’s Museum of Denver Marisco Campus focuses on the morning of Sunday, December 31st for their “Noon Year’s Eve” party. The fun runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a little bit of everything, from hourly countdowns to balloon drops and even rainbow confetti. Kids can get involved in various art projects or making fireworks from bubble wrap! There will also be music and appearances from some special characters.

Family Friendly NYE in Philadelphia

Philadelphia makes a real effort at having a kids-friendly New Year’s Eve, with several events going on that families can choose from. The city actually does two sets of fireworks over the Delaware River waterfront – one at 6 p.m. and the other at midnight. It’s already dark at 6, so kids and families can enjoy that spectacle. Another great option is heading over to historic Franklin Square, where there are activities, music and a countdown geared specifically toward children.

Austin’s New Year’s

The Texas capital hosts a huge New Year’s Eve event that is family friendly, at Vic Mathias Shores, an urban park. It kicks off at 3 p.m. with music on four stages (hey, this is Austin, what did you expect?!), lots of food and some special performances. There’s a special kids area with age-appropriate activities. A fireworks extravaganza is held at 10 p.m. and the event’s done by 10:30 p.m., so you can get your little sleepyheads into bed before it gets too late.

Disney Cruises

Who said you had to celebrate New Year’s on dry land? There are several Disney Cruise options for the holiday, and partying at sea is something different and worthwhile to try. The night starts with a special dinner menu, and quickly moves outside to a deck party. Of course there are appearances by some of your favorite Disney characters, and there are giveaways for all the necessary equipment—horns, hats and silly glasses. There are separate (optional) parties for tweens and teens, in case they think hanging out with mom and dad is too boring.

First Night Akron

Now in its 21st year, First Night Akron has grown into a popular regional celebration, with music, dancing, performances, and visual arts displays held at Lock 3 in downtown. The event runs from 6 p.m. to midnight, and kids 10 and under are free. Older kids and adults are a mere $10, a great value for such a fun, dynamic event!

Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite

One of the great lodges of our National Park System, Tenaya Lodge is a four-diamond getaway set in one of the world’s most stunning and scenic valleys. What more could you ask for to celebrate the promise of a new year? The Lodge’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration runs from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., and includes a gourmet dinner, a reception, open bar, a comedy act and dancing. Kids 13 and up can attend, but two separate parties are held for the younger set. Kids 4-7 enjoy a comic book heroes themed party and tweens aged 8-12 have an outer spaced themed gig. Babysitting is available for children under 4 years old. Packages can be booked that include two nights’ stay at the Lodge.