🎉 Countdowns for kids

Family New Year's Eve

8 ways to ring in the New Year with the kids across SoCal — from daytime "Noon Year's Eve" balloon drops at children's museums to big family parties. Find the closest to you.

Curated by Punita Patel, Editor

Your area

7 spots within 60 miles of 92692

Noon Year's Eve8 mi

Pretend City Children's Museum

Irvine · Noon Year's Eve

New Year's Eve Around the World with multiple confetti countdowns (including noon) so young kids can celebrate before bedtime.

🗓️ Dec 31

💵 see site

Visit site →
Noon Year's Eve18 mi

Discovery Cube Orange County

Santa Ana · Noon Year's Eve

Noon Year's Eve with a giant balloon drop, confetti cannons, noisemakers and a ginger-ale toast at noon.

🗓️ Dec 31

💵 see site

Visit site →
Family NYE (evening)22 mi

Disneyland New Year's Eve

Anaheim · Family NYE (evening)

Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at 9pm and midnight plus DJ countdown dance parties across both parks (requires a park ticket; an evening event).

🗓️ Dec 31

💵 see site

Visit site →
Noon Year's Eve29 mi

The Children's Museum at La Habra

La Habra · Noon Year's Eve

New Year's Noon with a kids' dance party, crafts, face painting and a balloon drop at noon; reservations required.

🗓️ Dec 31

💵 see site

Visit site →
Noon Year's Eve46 mi

Children's Museum of Discovery

Escondido · Noon Year's Eve

Noon Year's Eve with themed crafts, face paint, a noon countdown and a dance party made for kids.

🗓️ Dec 31

💵 see site

Visit site →
Free47 mi

Grand Park's NYELA

Los Angeles

The West Coast's largest free, alcohol-free NYE party with two music stages and a City Hall projection countdown. An evening event, not a noon countdown.

🗓️ Dec 31

Visit site →
Noon Year's Eve49 mi

Kidspace Children's Museum

Pasadena · Noon Year's Eve

Happy Noon Year with a live concert, an 11:30am countdown and a balloon drop at noon plus sparkling cider.

🗓️ Dec 31

💵 see site

Visit site →
Free · weekly $50 giveaway

Never miss a family event near you

We'll send the best family events near you every week — plus this week's $50 giveaway. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently asked questions

What is a 'Noon Year's Eve' event?

It's a New Year's Eve celebration held at noon (or another daytime hour) instead of midnight, so young kids can enjoy a balloon drop, confetti and a countdown well before bedtime. SoCal children's museums — Pretend City (Irvine), Discovery Cube OC and LA, Kidspace (Pasadena), La Habra and the Children's Museum of Discovery (Escondido) — all host them.

Are there family New Year's Eve events in the evening too?

Yes — Grand Park's NYELA in Downtown LA is the West Coast's largest free, alcohol-free NYE party with a City Hall countdown, and Disneyland runs Fantasy in the Sky fireworks and dance parties. Those are evening/midnight events (the museum events are the daytime, little-kid option).

What to do next