16 Things to Do with Kids on New Years Eve 2025 DC Area & Home

Sharing our family's favorite events and things to do with kids on New Years Eve at home! (Updated)

And most of these Top 10 Holiday Spots in DC will be open New Years Eve and Day!

Things to Do With Kids on New Years Eve Table of Contents:

1. DC New Years Eve (2)
2. Northern Virginia NYE (6)
3. Maryland (2)
4. At Home (6)

I use affiliate links for Amazon Associates. This means that if you make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you which helps cover hosting fees, thanks!

Things to Do with Kids on New Year’s Eve in DC:

#1 Noon Yards Eve at Yards Park DC

The popular Noon Yards Eve is back for 2025. From 10 AM to 1 PM on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. From their website: More details will be on up on their website soon I hope!

---

#2 Noon Years Eve Family Pajama Party at Kraken Kourts (Pickle Ball and Roller Skating)

**Waiting to confirm for 2025 but below is information for previous years.

Bring your family to Kraken Kourts to watch the PickleBALL drop!
$15 per skater gets you admission plus skate rental, party favors, a DJ and a ball drop at
NOON Year's Eve.
Fun for the entire family.
9am-1pm
PickleBall drop at NOON.

All ages welcome. Details here!

---

Things to Do with Kids on New Year’s Eve in Virginia:

#3 First Night Alexandria, Virginia

First Night Alexandria is celebrating over 30 years with tons of activities from Noon until Midnight.

More info on performances and more here: https://firstnightalexandria.org/

---

#4 Rocknoceros at Jammin' Java in Vienna, Virginia - Noon Ball Drop with Apple Juice Toast (included!)

"Raise a glass of apple juice and count down to 12pm with Rocknoceros. Yes, that is 12PM, kids!  The ball will drop on the stage at noon for all of us who plan to turn in before midnight."

Date: 2 shows on December 31 at 11 AM and 2 PM.

Early Reservations recommended!

---

#5 Shipgarten New Years Eve Party on Tuesday McLean, Virginia

Kids New Year’s Eve Party with Rumi & Spider‑Man at Shipgarten! Give your kids all the New Year’s Eve excitement before bedtime! Join us at Shipgarten in Tysons/McLean for a magical afternoon with a live performance, meet & greet, balloon drop, Petting Zoo, music, and nonstop fun from 12–6 PM. Watch their faces light up as they dance at our Kiddo Rave, visit the Petting Zoo, meet KPop Demon Hunters Rumi & Spider‑Man, and count down to a special kids’ balloon drop at 3 PM. Meanwhile, parents can relax with great food and drinks across four unique food concepts while the little ones play. Event Highlights Petting Zoo – 12:00–2:00 PMA huge favorite with families! Kids can get up close to the animals and enjoy a sweet, hands‑on experience to kick off the day. Live Performance & Meet & Greet with KPop Demon Hunters Rumi & Spider‑Man – 3:15 PM Kids New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop – 3:00 PM Kiddo Rave – 12:00–6:00 PM Magician – 2:00–3:00 PM Face Painting & Party Favors Two Moonbounces Large Outdoor Playground – plenty of space to run, climb, and play all afternoon This is a ticketed event. Grab your tickets in advance so your kids don’t miss the Petting Zoo, the live show, and the balloon drop moments you’ll definitely want on camera! Grab your tickets now and let your kids ring in the New Year early at Shipgarten!Invite friends, cousins, and neighbors for a full day of family‑friendly celebration. Event Logistics Date & Time: Tuesday, December 30 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Location: Shipgarten – 7581 Colshire Dr, McLean, VA 22102 Parking: FREE & large parking available at 1700 Old Meadow Rd with easy access to Shipgarten Ages: Family‑friendly event, perfect for kids and their grown‑ups Food & Drinks: Enjoy 4 different food concepts in one place – something for every taste, from picky eaters to hungry parents

---

#6 New Year's Eve Around the World at the Children's Science Center in Fairfax, VA.

🪩 Ring in the new year—without staying up 'til midnight! 🪩‍

Wednesday December 31 • 10am, 1pm, 3:30 pm

Come ring in 2026 in STEM style, and enjoy all the fun of New Year's Eve without staying up late! Create your own creative, crafty 2026 headband, make some noise for the new year and build your own percussion instrument, stir up some sparkly celebration slime, and count down to "midnight" as we drop the ball and toast to 2026 at the end of each session! 🥂

Purchase tickets here and read our review of the Science Center here.

#7 LEGO Discovery Center Noon Year's Eve - Springfield Virginia New Years Eve with Kids

Skip the late-night festivities and bring the kids to LEGO Discovery Center’s annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration! On December 31st, families can countdown to the New Year at 12 pm with a cheerful LEGO Ball Drop, complimentary party favors (while supplies last), and a sparkling cider toast — all included with your general admission. Whether your little builders are busy creating new brick masterpieces or enjoying a festive drink with their favorite minifigures, this is a perfect way to ring in 2026 a bit earlier while keeping nap and bedtime routines intact.

#8 Hops N Shine Kids New Year’s Eve – Alexandria, Virginia Things to Do with Kids on New Years Eve

For a laid-back, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration right here in Del Ray, head over to Hops N Shine for their Kids Noon Year’s Eve party! Starting at 12 pm and going until about 5 pm, this free celebration features arts and crafts, music, fun treats, and a festive balloon drop at 2 pm — giving little ones a chance to toast the New Year early without staying up till midnight. It’s a relaxed, joyful way to send off the year with the whole family in a neighborhood favorite spot.

Things to Do with Kids on New Year’s Eve in Maryland:

#7 Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore Noontime New Year!

"Help Port Discovery ring in 2026 with the annual Noontime New Year Event. Take a family photo in front of our New Year’s Eve backdrop. Make your own confetti cannon or number template. Write or draw your resolution on our Wish Tree. Watch a comedy show and make your own jokes or listen to stories and play musical instruments. Participate in a sensory exploration. And don’t forget to countdown to noon!

This year, we will also offer a sensory friendly countdown."

Included in admission, more details here.

---

#8 Midnight Noon at the Maryland Science Center

**Waiting to confirm for 2025. Details from last year below

"Count down to New Year at noon!

Everyone’s favorite ball drop before bedtime is back again. Make memories and party, Science Center style, at MSC’S 16th annual Midnight Noon celebration! Enjoy loads of festive activities and games, explore all three floors of hands-on science exhibits, and help us ring in the New Year with a noontime ball drop!

All activities are free with paid admission or membership."

More details here and review of our visit here.

---

New Year’s Eve Kids Activities At Home

#1 Balloon “Ball Drop” from Chandelier

This is a great idea from @500parks that’s so simple. We tried it last year and it was really fun! We did a countdown to the London New Year (7 PM EST) which makes it easier for young kiddos. I found a detailed tutorial to make one here or I will probably just use a bedsheet! And if you want to add a little pizazz to your party, here are a couple of items specifically for New Year's Eve:

• New Year's Eve Pin the Time to the Clock Game (Like Pin the Tail on the Donkey!)
• 2026 NYE Craft - DIY Photo Frame
• Of course, Glowsticks! (144 count)
• 24 Pcs Hats and Noise Makers for New Year Eve Party

---

#2 Play a Board Game Together

Below are our family's favorites that have stood the test of time (and I don't hate playing...looking at you Chutes and Ladders!)

Ages 3-5

1. Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
2. Zingo (4+)
3. Let's Go Fishin' (have seen a lot at thrift stores, although this a good price I think)

Ages 6-9

1. Outfoxed (current fav in the house)
2. Connect 4
3. Slamwich (or cheaper version without the lunchbox here)
4. Mouse Trap (got at a thirft store and still fun/my childhood!)

---

#3 Take a “Last Day of the Year” or “First Day of the Year” Hike as a family!

Lots of ideas in previous posts including Children's Outdoor Activities in DMV and 20 Northern Virginia Kid-Friendly Hikes.

---

#4 Family Time Capsule Video

This is inspired by one of my favorite YouTubers, Amon and Christina from Our Rich Journey’s most recent video here. I’m not going to be fancy and fill in with videos throughout the year. We did this last year and will do it again this year. I am sure we will treasure it in the years to come!

1. What is an amazing thing you expect to do by 2034?
2. Favorite recent memory?
3. What made you laugh the hardest recently?
4. Favorite Movie?
5. Favorite Song?
6. Favorite Book?
7. What are you best at?
8. What made you really proud this year?
9. What is something new that you think will be invented by 2034?
10. 2025 in one word?
11. What advice would you give your future self?

---

#5 Simple Thing to Do with Kids on New Years Day...“What We are Proud of in 2025” Poster

Put a sheet of paper on your fridge or wall and ask family members to record what they are proud of in 2025. It can be simple or profound. It’s so fun to read everyone’s contributions on New Year’s Eve. We did this last year and it was wonderful to have all our moments on one sheet of paper. Last year, my 4-year-old son said “I’m proud I had a dream about doing an experiment with Dino Dana” his favorite tv show! One that my 7-year-old wrote was, “I’m proud of learning more math.”

---

#6 Sesame Street Countdown on YouTube (pre-recorded)

Great suggestion from @Chelsey_dc to watch the pre-recorded ball drop (from a seal?) and drink some bubbly juice with your little one!

---

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a wonderful new year with the people you love!

Full List of Things to Do with Kids on New Year’s Eve in DC:

1. Noon Yards Eve, Washington DC
2. Noon Years Eve Family Pajama Party at Kraken Kourts (Pickle Ball and Roller Skating)
3. First Night Alexandria, Virginia
4. Rocknoceros at Jammin' Java, Vienna
5. Shipgarten McLean, Virginia
6. New Years Around the World at Children's Science Center, Fairfax, Virginia
7. Port Discovery Children’s Museum Noontime New Year
8. Midnight Noon at the Maryland Science Center
9. At Home: Balloon “Ball Drop” from Chandelier
10. At Home: Play a Board Game Together
11. At Home: Take a “Last Day of the Year” or “First Day of the Year” Hike as a family
12. At Home: Family Time Capsule Video
13. At Home: “What We are Proud of in 2025” Poster
14. At Home: Sesame Street Countdown on YouTube (pre-recorded)