New Year’s Eve is famous for glitz, glam, and big celebrations. But if you’re spending the evening with the kids then adult activities are probably out of the question. Luckily, there are plenty of family friendly ways to ring in the new year in California. From late night happenings to daytime spectaculars, check out just a few ways that you can celebrate New Year’s Eve in California!
The Happiest Place on Earth has cooler weather during the winter and fireworks periodically throughout the holiday season, including New Year’s Eve. It doesn’t get much kid-friendlier than Disneyland, with the kids’ favorite characters, rides, and all the other things that make Disneyland the perfect spot for family fun.
For the past few years, LA’s Grand Park and the Music Center have teamed up to put on the biggest NYE event in the city. Combining, music, food, art, and more the park is an urban center in the midst of downtown LA’s resurgence. The event may be best for older kids that are able to stay up all night for the countdown, although families with strollers are welcome.
The LA Zoo is always a great place to enjoy family time and their seasonal Zoo Lights make the grounds sparkle and twinkle. For the Family New Year’s Eve, the zoo is open late and broadcasts the ball dropping in Times Square along with a champagne toast for grownups and apple cider for kids. There’s also dinner, music and more fun for all ages.
LEGOLAND’s kid-friendly New Year’s Eve event rings in the new year early with a LEGO ball drop, party hats, and fireworks. Everything is over in plenty of time to get the youngsters home in plenty of time for bedtime.
Knowing that it’s always NYE somewhere in the world, the Bay Area Discovery Museum celebrates things at noon time before closing up early. Until 2 p.m., kids can check out the exhibits and participate in various art activities as well as the noontime ball drop, complete with DJ.
At the Living Coast, celebrate the new year on East Coast time with a glass of champagne for the grown-ups and hot chocolate and treats for the kids. There’s karaoke for teens, arts and crafts for kids and live coverage of Times Square for all ages to enjoy.
New Year’s Eve is an all-day event at the Pretend City Children’s Museum. All day the museum celebrates as different time zones welcome in the new year. Kids can play and enjoy a variety of different activities as well as plenty of confetti, streamers, and noisemakers to make the new year the best yet.
There’s lots of noise and fun to be had as this museum encourages kids to celebrate in different time zones early in the day. Take the tikes to the museum by day and tucker them out before you celebrate elsewhere. It’s a family friendly event with plenty of activities the little ones will love!
Enjoy and learn everything about the most famous cartoonist in the world at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa. It may not be the Great Pumpkin, but the Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! offers plenty of other memories including hands-on activities and root beer float toasts with balloon drops.