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

The ball drops at noon at CMOM! Photo courtesy of the museum
The ball drops at noon at CMOM! Photo courtesy of the museum
12/26/25 - By Drew Kristofik

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.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: Really cool things to do with kids often book up quickly, so register or buy your tickets ASAP.

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What Are the Best Things To Do with Kids on New Year’s Eve in NYC?

Midnight fireworks are fun, but not every kid (or parent) wants to stay up late. New Year's can be the perfect time to catch a holiday show, visit the Bronx Zoo to check out the indoor exhibits and Holiday Lights, or expend some pent-up energy in one of NYC's cool indoor play spaces.

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

If you're looking to celebrate at home, why not cue up one of these top picks for a family-friendly movie night or bookmark our list of the best at-home New Year's Eve celebrations for families?

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events in New York CIty

Make Noisemakers at the South Beach Library

South Beach, Staten Island – FREE
Tuesday, December 30
Prep for New Year's Eve by creating noise makers at the South Beach Library. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Extravaganza at CMOM

Upper West Side
Tuesday, December 30-Wednesday, December 31
New Year’s Eve is two days long at CMOM! Ring in 2026 in style by crafting wearable art of your own design and take home your own family time capsule READ MORE

The Music of Taylor Swift for Kids at the Brooklyn Bowl

Williamsburg, Brooklyn Wednesday, December 31
The Rock and Roll Playhouse rocks a Noon Year's Eve party, featuring the music of Taylor Swift. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Edition of Milk & Cookies Comedy Show at the West Side Comedy Club

Upper West Side
Wednesday, December 31
Fart machines, balloon animals, and an occasional juggling act have been known to make an appearance at family-friendly Milk and Cookies comedy shows! Ditch the screens for an early New Year’s Eve celebration and share some laughs together as a family.   READ MORE

New Year's Eve Fireworks Cruise

Chelsea
Wednesday, December 31
Enjoy a smorgasbord of delightful finger food as you gaze upon a dazzling fireworks display in the middle of New York Harbor. READ MORE

Big Apple Circus at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Wednesday, December 31
The magic of the Big Apple Circus returns to New York City — bolder, brighter, and more breathtaking than ever — with the comedic genius of Johnny Rico, the jaw-dropping trapeze artistry of the Flying Maluendas’ from Chile, and the high-energy acrobatics and human pyramids of Ukraine’s Bingo Troupe. READ MORE

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

Noon Year's Eve 2026 Celebration at the Adams Street Library

Dumbo, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, December 29
Celebrate 2026 a few days early at Adams Street Library with a Noon Year's Eve celebration that includes a countdown, craft, and dance party. READ MORE

New Year's Countdown Party with Fyütch at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library

Midtown East – FREE
Tuesday, December 30
Grammy-nominated music artist Fyütch pops into the library to perform high-energy songs about social justice and environmental health with affirming chants and dances. READ MORE

New Year's Movie, Craft, and Sing-Along at Ulmer Park Library

Gravesend, Brooklyn – FREE
Tuesday, December 30
The Ulmer Library hosts a New Year sing-along of odol proportions! Grab a bag of KPOP Demon Hunter swag (while supplies last), and paint your own 3D printed rotating calendar. There's also karaoke if you want to sing along!  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve Family Celebration at the Tremont Library

Tremont, the Bronx – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
Children's staff at the Tremont library host a special family-friendly celebration of the New Year that includes a special storytime, followed by crafts, snacks, and a countdown to noon to rival even the biggest midnight ball drop. READ MORE

NYE Origami Fortune Cookies at the Stavros Niarchos Library

Midtown East – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
Teens can set their goals for 2026 by making origami fortune cookies with inspirational messages for the New Year. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Dance Party & Countdown at the Staten Island Children's Museum

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Wednesday, December 31
Patrick and the Rock-A-Silly Band perform, and fun includes confetti cannons and a balloon drop! Be sure to arrive 30 minutes before the countdown of your choice to enjoy all the fun! READ MORE

Kids' Noon Year's Eve Countdown at the Harlem Library

Harlem – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
Countdown to 2026 with crafts, activities, and a Noon Year (12pm) celebration.   READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at SlooMoo Institute

Soho
Wednesday, December 31
Sloomoo Institute—Soho's museum of slime—invites visitors to celebrate the new year at noon on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. At 11:59am, Lake Sloomoo becomes the backdrop for a countdown to Noon Year’s, where you can walk on over 350 gallons of slime to watch a glittery slime drop that rings in the New Year. READ MORE

NYE PAR-TAY! To Benefit C.H.I.P.S Food Pantry and Shelter

South Slope, Brooklyn
Wednesday, December 31
Kids explore potential and kinetic energy while constructing party poppers, holding a bubble without popping it, and celebrating the New Year with a colorful dance party countdown and hot cocoa!   READ MORE
Prospect Park is ready to send 2025 out with a boom. Photo by Jordan Rathkopf/courtesy of the park
Prospect Park is ready to send 2025 out with a boom. Photo by Jordan Rathkopf/courtesy of the park

NYC NYE Family Fireworks, Festivals, and Outdoor Fun

New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square

Midtown West – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
America’s go-to annual New Year’s tradition celebrates the year’s very best in music and rings in the new year with more than 5½ hours of dynamic performances. At midnight, the ball drops to welcome 2025. READ MORE

Prospect Park New Year's Eve Fireworks

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn – FREE
Wednesday, December 31
The annual fireworks display includes live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist starting at 10pm. Fireworks begin at midnight, lighting up the skies above Brooklyn’s Backyard. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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