Cozy up to some holiday fun in Connecticut as December 2025 brings a little joy to the Nutmeg State! Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
19 Best Things To Do in Connecticut with Kids December 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors
Raise a hand if you're excited for the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Connecticut! Magic of Lights photo courtesy of the XL Center
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Families will wonder at the best neighborhood Christmas light displays in Connecticut this 2025 holiday season. Photo courtesy of Amarante's Winter Wonderland.
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Connecticut is full of happiness, joy, and free Christmas and holiday activities in 2025, like Santa at Cabela's Wonderland. Photo courtesy of Bass pro Shops
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Santa Claus is coming to town, for breakfast, brunch, and photos with Santa in CT! Photo by Anne Ogden for the Mystick Chamber of Commerce.
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Find fun for all ages at these Connecticut attractions, museums, and things to do! Photo courtesy of the Yale Peabody Museum
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The kids can hang out and have fun with the top free things to do in Connecticut! Earthplace photo by Zoe Brown, courtesy of the center.
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Our ultimate Connecticut bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut with kids! Mystic Seaport photo by author Kelly Patino
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By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
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Hop aboard for a trip through Litchfield County and fun things to do with kids! Naugatuck Railroad photo courtesy of the Railroad Museum of New England.
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Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
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Top New Year's Eve Celebrations in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Kids and Families

Celebrate New Year's Eve in daylight hours at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
Celebrate New Year's Eve in daylight hours at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
12/22/24 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

Looking for kid-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations 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 includes 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!

To stay in the know, sign up for our newsletters and follow us on Facebook.
 

What Are the Best Things To Do with Kids on New Year’s Eve in Westchester and the Hudson Valley?

Since we know that most families aren't up for midnight fireworks, we have rounded up lots of New Year's Eve countdowns for kids during the day. 

At-Home New Year’s Eve Ideas If You Don’t Want to Go Out

 

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Early Countdown Events for Kids Who Can’t Stay Up Till Midnight

Noon Year's Eve at Legoland Discovery Center

Yonkers
Wednesday, December 31
Celebrate the new year with a Lego balloon drop and a dance party with the Lego characters at Legoland Discovery Center's Noon Year's Eve Celebration. Grab a complimentary noise maker and ring in the new year with a glass of sparkling apple cider! READ MORE

New Year's Eve Kids' Countdown - Westchester Children's Museum

Rye
Wednesday, December 31
Ring in the new year at this all-day celebration at the Westchester Children's Museum with cupcake decorating, a DJ dance party, crafts, and a confetti-filled ball drop and countdown. READ MORE

New Year's at Noon at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Center

Poughkeepsie
Wednesday, December 31
Celebrate New Year's Eve in daylight hours at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum with music provided by Lutz Entertainment, special activities for kids of all ages, refreshments, and of course, noisemakers, as everyone counts down to noon. READ MORE

Shake it Off New Year's Eve Party for Kids

Scarsdale
Wednesday, December 31
Kids can ring in the new year at Shake it Off with bounce houses, crafting, a dance and pizza party, and a countdown to a balloon drop.  READ MORE

Early New Year's Party for Families at Dave & Busters

Pelham Manor
Wednesday, December 31
Celebrate the new year early at Dave & Buster's in Pelham and get the kids to bed on time! The New Year's Celebration includes food, arcade games (unlimited game play all night long!), a video ball drop, hats and noisemakers, and fun for the whole family. READ MORE

Rye Noon Year's Eve Party

Rye – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
Celebrate the new year at the Rye Free Reading Room with themed crafts, snacks, and a countdown to 12 noon. This party is a great option for kids who want to celebrate but are not yet ready to stay up until midnight. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Fireworks at Hunter Mountain

Hunter – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
Ring in the new year at Hunter Mountain Ski Resort with a torch light parade, fireworks, and surprises! READ MORE

Countdown to Noon - New Year's Eve at Peek-a-Boo Family Music

Peekskill
Wednesday, December 31
Join Peek-a-Boo Family Music for a kid-friendly New Year's Eve celebration as you count down to 12... noon! Includes New Year's party favors, mom-approved treats, and lots of musical fun. READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Hudson's Mill Tavern

West Haverstraw
Wednesday, December 31
For those who won't make it to midnight with your littles, ring in 2026 early with our Family Noon Year’s Eve Party. Enjoy music and dancing, a festive buffet, complimentary sparkling toast, face painting, and a noon countdown with confetti! READ MORE

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley (2025–2026)

New Year's Eve at Dave & Buster's - Palisades Center

West Nyack
Wednesday, December 31
Ring in the New Year with zero boring moments and all-the-fun vibes at Dave & Buster’s! The evening includes games, food, and drinks, plus early and late family-friendly countdown celebrations. READ MORE

New Year’s Eve Party at The Kartrite

Monticello
Wednesday, December 31
Ring in the New Year at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark, where the celebration is as vibrant as the setting itself. Start the night with a Splash — the ultimate waterpark party full of excitement and energy — and end with a bang as fireworks light up the night sky. READ MORE

Peekskill New Year's Eve Fireworks & Ball Drop

Peekskill – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
The annual Peekskill New Year's bash is a late-night event featuring a live band, confetti, and a fireworks display.  READ MORE

White Plains New Year's Eve Family Spectacular

White Plains – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
This New Year's Eve celebration—reportedly the largest in the New York metro area outside of Times Square—features live music, a crowd countdown, and an illuminated ball drop. Best suited for the older crowd as it ends after midnight! READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Katherine Dhurandhar
Katherine Dhurandhar is a Community Publisher for Mommy Poppins, representing the Westchester and Hudson Valley region of New York, and a freelance copyeditor for Westchester Publishing Company. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling with her husband and son.
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