Long Island New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

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The Long Island Children's Museum's New Year's Eve party has themed activities, a ball drop, and a confetti-filled dance party. Photo courtesy LICM

Discover family-friendly events, fireworks, early countdowns, and fun ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2025–2026 on Long Island with kids of all ages.

No matter how old your kids are, there are plenty of family-friendly New Year's Eve events across Long Island to help you welcome 2026. Our top picks for daytime New Year's Eve celebrations include roller skating, ball drops, and gaming.

At night, head to a downtown area for a Times Square feel as Farmingdale, Lindenhurst, Huntington, and Patchogue light up their Main Streets with celebrations.

Find more fun in our Family Activity Calendar and Holiday Fun Guide. And be sure to subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Westchester and the Hudson Valley's New Year's Eve Guide 2025 for Families

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Celebrate New Year's Eve in daylight hours at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

Looking for kid-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations in Westchester and the Hudson Valley? Look no further, because we have rounded up an assortment of family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations in the area. Many are FREE and end at a reasonable hour.

Our picks for family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations include Noon Year's Eve at Legoland Discovery Center, which has a dance party with the Lego characters and a Lego balloon drop, and the FREE New Year's Eve Fireworks at Hunter Mountain, featuring early fireworks and a torchlight parade.

For more fun, bookmark our guide to Christmas vacation activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and keep close tabs on our Family Activities Calendar for more fun things to do. Happy New Year!

Best Sledding Hills in Westchester for Kids

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Westchester has sledding hills for everyone from tots to teens. Photo by Marisa Iallonardo

When the flakes fly, visions of sledding hills fill kids' heads, and all they can think of is bundling up and getting outside for some snow day fun. If your family's plans include sledding, consider heading to one of these popular sledding hills in Westchester County. We've also got a separate post with top picks for sledding hills in the Hudson Valley in case you want to make your wintery adventure a daycation, plus some helpful tips for keeping little ones safe while they sled.

Be sure to check our Guide to Winter Fun in Westchester and our Boredom Busters Guide for more ideas to keep kids busy on cold winter days.

Atlanta New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

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Kids and parents can party into 2026 at the daytime New Year's Bubble Bash at Children's Museum of Atlanta. Photo courtesy of the museum

Usher in 2026 with New Year's Eve events for families in Atlanta! We've got the details on Noon Year’s Eve and NYE activities for kids in Atlanta—many of which end early since the kids usually can't last until midnight. Another fun way to celebrate the new year? Drive or walk through one of Atlanta's many holiday light shows! It's your last chance to catch some of our favorites like Noel Magic Light Show and Brook Run Park's Holiday Lights. 

For more inspiration over New Year's weekend, read our Fun Things to Do Over the Christmas Vacation with Atlanta Kids, as well as our Winter Activities Guide in Atlanta. And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletters to stay in the know of all the 2026 kid-friendly events and activities in Atlanta!

Best Sledding Hills on Long Island for Families

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Sledding and smiles go hand in hand on these Long Island sledding hills.

I've found that sledding hills near me on Long Island are a perfect way to spend a fun-filled snow day with the kids. Below, is a list of some of the best local sledding hills to catch fresh powder and wintertime thrills. 

Before sending kids careening down these Long Island sledding hills, always check the area for rocks, sticks, and other hazards. We recommend wearing helmets and proper snow gear for your sledding adventure, too.

Read ahead for all the sledding details before you bundle up your littles for a snowy family adventure. For even more seasonal activities check out our Long Island Kids Winter Fun Guide, with local skiing and snowboarding destinations, ice skating rinks, and more.

Orlando New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

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Celebrate New Year's Eve at the magical Walt Disney World. Photo courtesy of Disney

New Year's Eve is almost here and that means 2026, and Orlando New Year's Eve fireworks, are just around the corner! While several Orlando New Year's Eve events are geared toward adults, there are many family-friendly parties to celebrate with kids. Many of these NYE activities for kids count down at an earlier hour, so you can still follow normal bedtime routines. If you have tweens and teens that can make it to midnight, some Orlando evening events include fireworks at the turn of the year. Read on for all the details of what's happening for Orlando New Year's Eve!

New Jersey's New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

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Forget a regular old ball, Hammonton is dropping their Giant Blueberry to ring in 2026! Photo courtesy of Main Street Hammonton

If all-night celebrations are a thing of the past for you and your family, you can still make the most of New Year's Eve with family-friendly festivities throughout New Jersey.

We've rounded up New Year's Eve events the whole family can enjoy together, from indoor theme park adventures to New Year's Eve fireworks and First Night celebrations. 

Looking for pre-New Year's entertainment? Keep busy with these Staycation Ideas, and be sure to check our Family Activity Calendar for more happenings. Happy New Year, New Jersey!

Best Sledding Hills in New Jersey for Families

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Get ready to hit the sledding hills in New Jersey. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

New Jersey sledding hills are cold, slippery, and ridiculously fun. NJ is home to plenty of perfect sledding hills for all ages, and we've compiled this list of 26 great sledding spots throughout the state. So, once the flakes have flown, it's time to break out your sleds, bundle up (helmets recommended!), and venture out to one of these great local sledding hills in New Jersey.

Don't forget the safety check! Take a minute to make sure your chosen sledding hill isn't too steep or bumpy for your child and that there's enough of a "landing" spot so your little sledder can safely glide to a halt. Avoid spots near ponds and trees, and be sure the sledding hill doesn't end in a street or parking lot. Skip rocky hills, too.

For even more winter fun, bookmark our Guide to Winter Activities for New Jersey Families.

DC New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks, & More

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Ring in the new year at First Night Alexandria. Photo by Geoff Livingston via Flickr 2.0

New Year's Eve with kids might feel as wild as those pre-children celebrations with sugar highs and post-holiday excitement —just earlier in the day, and everyone falls asleep well before midnight! When my now teenagers were a baby and a toddler, we attended the very first Noon Yards Eve. It's grown and become the premier DC event for kids to celebrate the new year. I can't recommend it enough!

But that is only one of the many great things to do with kids on New Year's Eve in the DC area. There are daytime New Year's Eve events like the Rocknoceros New Year's Eve Party at Jammin Java and Noon Year's Eve at the B&O Railroad Museum. Families with older kids might enjoy nighttime New Year's Eve family parties like the popular First Night Alexandria or the new New Year's Eve Drone & Fireworks Show in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

From fireworks and ball drops to drone shows and parties, here's what to do with kids on New Year's Eve in DC.

New York City New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

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The ball drops at noon at CMOM! Photo courtesy of the museum

New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and there are lots of ways to ring in 2026 in New York City with kids, even if staying up late is not on your family's agenda. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations, including Times Square's legendary ball drop. Our family-friendly picks include the fireworks over Prospect Park and a special Big Apple Circus performance. However you welcome the new year, we hope it's a blast.

You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide for NYC Families, and be sure to check out our post on fun things to do over Christmas vacation.