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New Year's Eve 2016 Celebrations for Long Island Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 4:40pm

Break out the noisemakers and ring in 2017 with the family. Just do it a few hours earlier, so the kids can partake, too. There are lots of family-friendly New Year's Eve events around Long Island. Head to a museum, enjoy a skating party, or celebrate with dinner and dancing. Best of all? No cleanup required.

We've rounded up a dozen great options for the big night, which you'll find below.

Don't forget to check out our list of 30 fun things to do over the school holiday break to keep the kids busy all week. More family fun can always be found in our events calendar, too.

Best Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Westchester

Submitted by Melissa Kagan on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 4:15pm

Think shelling out big bucks for a babysitter, staying home or navigating through massive crowds, and keeping everyone awake until half-past-meltdown are your only options to ring in the New Year when you’re a parent? Think again! Spend the evening (or, in many cases, the day) with your kids at these family-friendly events, many of which recreate midnight fun around dinnertime, or even as early as noon. The best part? Many of these are inexpensive or even FREE.

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New Year's Eve with Kids: Things To Do in Los Angeles and Orange County

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 3:32pm

Should old acquaintance be forgot? Maybe they should, when seeing them on New Year's Eve costs $25/hour in babysitting fees. Far better to find some fun that can be shared with the kids, and see those old acquaintances some other night. LA rings in the new year in fine family fashion from noon to midnight and beyond; check out some memorable outings on our radar...

Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Kids in New Jersey

Submitted by Jaime Wisz on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 3:00pm

New Year’s Eve is one of those holidays that changes drastically once you become a parent. Any kind of grown-up fun usually involves weeks of planning. Who can babysit? How much do we pay on New Year’s Eve? Do we let the tweens stay up until we get home? Unless you truly need an adult night out (in which case, GO for it!), how about a happy compromise? Read on to get the scoop on events in NJ for families who want to ring in the New Year together, from a bash at an indoor amusement park to an aquatic countdown at the aquarium.

Looking for pre-new year fun? We rounded up 25 great things to do this holiday break, and even more fun events happening this week for the kids.

New Year's Eve Fun for Boston Kids

Submitted by Kip Wilson Rechea on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 11:55am

Parents might think of New Year's as a holiday for grownups, but there are some great opportunities to celebrate with the kids, too. First Night Boston is an obvious choice, and as an added bonus, it's free. But if you're looking for something a bit more low-key, there are plenty of other options. Most of these events take place at museums out in the 'burbs, so if one of them is in your neck of the woods, attending a special family-friendly New Year's Eve event might become an annual family tradition.

New Year's Eve Fireworks in NYC and More 2017 Family Celebrations

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 10:15am

There are plenty of ways to ring in 2017 in New York City. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly options from Brooklyn fireworks and FREE bike rides to swanky (and admittedly expensive) Times Square parties.

If you have little kids, check out our article on pre-midnight bashes happening all day long at children's museums and other venues around NYC. However you welcome the New Year, we hope it's a blast. You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide.

Great Drop-in Classes for Philly Preschoolers

Submitted by Lindsay Li on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 10:00am

Entertaining a toddler isn’t easy. And with their budding skills and inquisitive nature, it can be down right exhausting. While many area classes are available, most require 6-8 week registrations, which isn’t possible for many of us. That’s where drop-ins come in to save the day. Here are a few of our favorites that offer flexibility to fit your schedule, and help you find new ways to entertain your kids in the very cold days ahead.

Family Friendly New Year's Eve Fun in Houston

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 10:00am

While typically considered a holiday largely for adults, ringing in the new year isn't solely for the 18-and-up age group. In fact, Houston has quite a few festivities lined up for kids and the whole family on New Year's Eve. Whether it's making a special trip down to Kemah Boardwalk to watch fireworks over the water, or heading to the ever-popular Children's Museum of Houston to enjoy a more traditional balloon drop and "Noon" Year's countdown, there's something for everyone on this list of family-friendly New Year's Eve activities.

Weekday Picks: Rose Parade Float Decorating, Bandfest, and More Hanukkah, Dec. 26-30

Submitted by Kathie Bozanich on Mon, 12/26/2016 - 4:44am

The last week of the year is a chance for families to visit with loved ones and slow down, but there's one place in the Southland gearing up for its busiest time of year: Pasadena, home of the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. This year's parade is Monday, Jan. 2, but before the floats head down Colorado Boulevard, families can go see Rose Parade float decorating in action at three locations beginning Thursday. Another great part of the annual festivities is Bandfest at Pasadena City College, which features the musicians, dancers, and others who perform in the parade.

Hanukkah, the Jewish eight-day festival of lights, continues through the weekend. Events include the Hanukkah Festival at the Harbor in Ventura and a menorah lighting at Two Rodeo in Beverly Hills. We have a round-up of 18+ Hanukkah events for more options.

Feeling adventurous? Check out our guide to snow sledding and tubing in the local mountains. And for further inspiration, check our list of 40 things to do around LA when other folks leave town for the holidays (leaving lots more room on the 405).

You'll find plenty more to do on our Mommy Poppins Event Calendar, as well as our picks for the month in our December GoList. Read on for some of our favorite outings this week.

Winter Break Weekday Fun in NJ: Art Workshops, Roller Skating, Museums

Submitted by Laurie R on Sun, 12/25/2016 - 4:10pm

Christmas has come and gone, and New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. Sandwiched in between is a week the kids look forward to all year: winter break! A week off from school means a week of digging for entertainment for the little ones. Luckily, Mommy Poppins NJ has a full roster of winter break activities throughout the state.

This week, you can get creative juices flowing with artsy activities, including Kids Mini Camp at Kayla's, Holiday Break Art Workshop, and Unfrozen Holiday Dance Camp. Stay warm at museum exhibits, such as Liberty Science Center’s Meet Curious George or Newark Museum’s Holiday Fun Days. Plus, rejoice at Hanukkah celebrations this week, including Springfield's Grand Menorah Lighting.

Read on for our best children's events the week of Dec 26–30, and don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar and December GoList for even more end-of-the-year happenings.