Count down to the balloon drop at Noon Yards Eve!
Are you ready to ring in the new year with the kids? There are a bunch of family-friendly ways to celebrate around the area, from organized events to plan-it-yourself activities. Here are details and inspiration for your crew to get in on the fun (plus, an extra KidFree suggestion 🙂 ). Happy New Year!
Noon Yards Eve
Where: The Yards Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
The Yards is once again hosting its Noon Yards Eve festival to ring in 2017! The fifth annual event will transform the park into a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration with fun for both kids and adults. Activities will include music and dancing, balloon artists, bouncy inflatables, trackless train rides, face painters, kids crafts, and a big balloon drop at 12pm.
First Night Alexandria
Where: Old Town | Alexandria, VA
When: Starting at 2pm
Admission: $30, kids 12 and under are free
Fun and entertainment will be in abundance at the area’s largest family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. Activities begin in the afternoon, but live from a variety of genres entertainment begins at 7pm with more than 150 performances on 22 indoor stages throughout Old Town Alexandria. Among the many kids’ activities will be , face painting, story time, balloon sculptures, interactive games, and much more. The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display on the Potomac River at the foot of King Street. For details on where shows will take place, see the schedule on the website.
Rocknoceros New Year’s Eve Party
Where: Jammin Java | Vienna, VA
When: 11am & 2pm
Admission: $10
For the 11th straight year, the widely popular band that always gets kids rockin’ will be playing a special New Year’s Eve gig at Jammin Java. Sing along to some of your favorite tunes and enjoy the full menu of food and drinks while you’re there. Opt for the lunchtime show at 11am, or go in the afternoon at 2pm. Doors open half-hour before the show and general admission seating is on a first come, first served basis.
Noon Year’s Eve
Where: Tudor Place | Georgetown, DC
When: 11:30-12:30pm
Admission: $5/child (free for adults)
(Note: Only member tickets are still available!) Ring in the New Year with your little one at this special holiday Tudor Tots! Enjoy a festive counting-themed storytime, then count down together to 12pm. Celebrate the noon-year with noisemakers, confetti, a sparkling craft, and toast 2018 with juice. For ages 2-4 and accompanying adults.
End the Year Medieval-Style
Where: Medieval Times | Hanover, MD
When: 3:30pm (doors open at 2pm)
Admission: $36.95/adult, $30.95/child
Experience an epic afternoon of fun and celebration as you countdown to 2018. Along with a four-course feast and thrilling jousting action, young guests can experience special activities just for the occasion before the extravaganza begins. Knight training, a princess story time, and free posters will make the day extra exciting a for young revelers. Be sure to use the code 36NYE18 for the ticket discount!
Noontime New Year’s Celebration
Where: Port Discovery | Baltimore, MD
When: 9:30am – 5pm
Admission: $13.95
Join the children’s museum in Baltimore for a Snow Ball at its annual Noontime New Year Celebration. Early bedtime or not, partygoers will enjoy a festive day of play inside a Winter Snow Ball Wonderland! Festivities will include performances by Eric Energy and the Kindersinger, plus all kinds of cool activities for kids. A juice and cookie toast will take place at noon amid all the fun. Be surehttp://www.portdiscovery.org/visit/calendar/event/353/noontime-new-years-celebrationhttp://www.portdiscovery.org/calendar/events/4551″ target=”_blank”>check the schedule for timing of specific events.
Midnight Noon
Where: Maryland Science Center | Baltimore, MD
When: 10am – 2pm
Admission: $20.95/adult, $16.95/3-12, free for 2 and under
The Maryland Science Center’s New Year’s Eve family extravaganza will transform the midnight tradition into one the kids can enjoy. The 10th annual Midnight Noon will give kids the opportunity to see the ball drop before bedtime. Guests can dance their way into a very happy “Noon” Year — Grammy-nominated Baltimore kids band Milkshake will take to the stage at 11:30am. Visitors can also decorate party hats, construct noise makers, and more. And the rest of the Science Center will be open for exploration, too!
Watch Night New Year’s Eve Celebration
Where: 100 Block of West Broad Street | Falls Church, VA
When: 7pm – Midnight
Admission: Free
Ring in the New Year with free, family-friendly festivities at Falls Church’s 20th annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Enjoy food, music, singing, dancing, entertainment, performances and interactive festivities that appeal to all ages. Highlights include a children’s scavenger hunt, a wide variety of inflatables, free balloons, karaoke, face painting, caricaturist drawings, and restaurants with special Walking Watch Night Menus at local restaurants. The evening concludes at midnight with the traditional countdown and lowering of the City of Falls Church Star. All events take place within a four-block area that begins on the 100 Block of West Broad Street. A free shuttle bus stops at each venue and the East Falls Church Metro throughout the evening, including a shuttle from the East Falls Church Metro station.
Midnight at 7
Where: Merriweather Park | Columbia, MD
When: 5-8pm
Admission: $15/advance, $20/day of, free/4 & under
Enjoy a family-friendly New Year’s Eve, featuring a walk through the Symphony of Lights holiday display and a dazzling fireworks display set to a soundtrack. Festivities also include DJ music, New Year’s party favors, face painting, food truck vendors, and more! The event benefits Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Family Fun on the Eastern Shore
Where: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay | Cambridge, MD
When: Thursday – Friday
Admission: See room rates on website
How about an easy getaway to ring in 2018? The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay is offering special room rates and family-friendly activities to celebrate the new year. All guests have access to special New Year’s Eve activities including a DJ-hosted dance party in the ballroom from 9pm–1am, with a midnight balloon drop and champagne toast; bounce houses; teen room; arcade, and game rooms. In addition, all overnight guests will have access to the resort’s amenities, including the indoor Wintergarden pool, Sago Spa & Salon, and our River Marsh Golf Club.
Swoosh into 2018
Where: Ski Liberty | Carroll Valley, PA
When: 5pm – 1am
Admission: Lift tickets start at $23/child (free/5 & under)
Hit the slopes to ring in the new year! Ski Liberty’s celebration will include late-night skiing and snowboarding until 1am, fireworks at midnight, and a variety of special events happening around the resort. New for this year, enjoy a decadent fixe prix dinner at Ike’s Chophouse. There is also a special, by reservations only, party at Boulder Ridge with Snow Tubing from 10pm to 1am. Find something for everyone and every age!
Glide into 2018
Where: Ice rinks around the DMV
When: Throughout the day & evening
Admission: Varies by rink
Skate under the stars to celebrate the start of the new year. Gliding on ice surrounded by twinkling lights, art sculptures, and/or the hubbub of people in festive spirits is a fun, active way to revel. Join a special event like Rock & Skate at Washington Harbour or just do your own thang. Be sure to check times for each rink, as hours may change for the holiday.
Michael Carbonaro Live!
Where: DAR Constitution Hall | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: 7pm
Admission: $17-83
Magician Michael Carbonaro of the hit TV series, The Carbonaro Effect on truTV, is taking his comically perplexing and improbable feats of magic on the road and will be in DC for a New Year’s Eve show. Find out what it’s like to be on the other side of the charmingly devious Michael Carbonaro as he works his magic to make people believe the unbelievable. You will not just “sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.” Michael Carbonaro Live! is jam-packed with audience interaction, hilarious videoclips, and a whirlwind of mind-blowing magic performed live on stage.
New Year’s Night Lights
Where: Around the DMV
When: After dark
Admission: Varies by locale
Start your own family New Year’s Eve tradition with a seasonal treat: Bundle up for a stroll or take a drive through one of several spectacular light displays! Most of the light shows that dazzle this time of year are open on New Year’s Eve. Combine an outing to see them with dinner out — this guide from Edible DC has suggestions on where to eat nearby all the holiday lights. If you’re enjoying it from the comfort of a car, pack a thermos of hot chocolate, yummy snacks, and prepare a festive playlist for the ride.
An Evening in Spain Dinner Party (KidFree Rec!)
Where: Joselito Casa de Comidas | Capitol Hill, DC
When: 5-7:30pm & 9-10:30pm
Admission: See pricing below
Spaniards take their “fin de ano” dinner celebrations seriously and the Joselito Casa de Comidas family intends to do the same stateside on December 31. Joselito will transport guests to an “Evening in Spain” dinner party complete with Spanish dishes featuring ingredients known to bring love, luck and good fortune in the new year. The NYE celebration will include two seatings. Reservations for the first seating will be taken between 5-7:30pm for a three course menu ($50 p/person; $80 per/person with wine pairings). The second seating will take reservations from 9-10:30pm and will feature a six course menu ($120 per/person; $170 per/person with wine pairings), live jazz beginning at 10:30pm, party favors, as well as a balloon drop and a champagne toast with the Spanish tradition of 12 grapes for good luck at midnight.
