All dressed up ands SO many places to go for family fun over Easter Weekend 2025 in Connecticut!
Easter Weekend 2025 in Connecticut: Easter Egg Hunts, Yard Goats, and More Top Things To Do
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.
100 Free Things To Do in Connecticut with Kids
Easter Egg Hunts and More Best Things To Do in CT April 2025 with Kids
Summer camps help kids learn new skills and make new friends
GUIDE
Connecticut Summer Camp Guide
Our ultimate Connecticut bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut with kids! Mystic Seaport photo by author Kelly Patino
Ultimate Connecticut Bucket List: 100 Things To Do With Kids in CT
From swimming to survival skills, Bushy Hill Day Camp features a range of fun nature-focused activities.
Bushy Hill: A Nature-Focused, Tech-Free Day Camp for Preschoolers to Teens in Connecticut
Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
Fun Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Tweens and Teens
Indoor spots offer plenty of adventure in Connecticut.
GUIDE
Connecticut Guide to Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones
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
Best Museums for Kids in Connecticut: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums
Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
Best Indoor Water Parks in New England for Easy Family Getaways
Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut with Kids: Top Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway
New England Family Travel Guide
Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do for Connecticut Kids
Groupon's online marketplace offers tons of discounts on activities for kids and families.
Save On Top-Rated Connecticut Outings and Experiences for Kids and Families
Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
GUIDE
Connecticut Day Trips & Weekend Getaways Guide
Photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
Best Petting Zoos in Connecticut: Animals Up Close at Farms and Petting Zoos
Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
Best Breakfast Restaurants in Connecticut
As classic as the roller rink or modern as a VR experience, these fun indoor places are perfect spots for teens and tweens to hang out! Photo by Ally Noel
Fun Places in Connecticut Where Tweens and Teens Can Hang Out Indoors
Parents can enjoy some relaxation when their kids spend time at the
10 Family-Friendly Hotels and Spa Resorts in Connecticut
A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
The Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Connecticut
Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
Great Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Preschoolers
Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Canva
Kids Eat Free: Connecticut Restaurants for Every Day of the Week
Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
A Dozen Short Hikes in Connecticut for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
Top Attractions in Connecticut: Best Things to See and Do with Kids
From rolling hills and lakes to scenic views and summits, there's great outdoor adventure for families at Connecticut state parks. Photo courtesy of Visit CT
25 Connecticut State Parks and Forests That Are Great to Visit with Kids
Outdoor fun and healthy activity await at one of the top Connecticut playgrounds! Jonathan's Dream playground photo courtesy of O'Brien & Sons
Top Connecticut Playgrounds That Families Will Love
Run through the vineyards at Aquila's Nest. Photo courtesy of Aquila's Nest, Facebook
The Best Family-Friendly Vineyards and Wineries in Connecticut
Practice new skills at Calf's Pasture Beach, photo courtesy of Norwalk Skate Park, Facebook
Top Skate Parks in Connecticut
Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
  VIDEO
25 Preschool Science Experiments: Simple Science for Toddlers through Kindergarten Kids
Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
Best Nature Centers in Connecticut To Visit with Kids
We’ve rounded up the best escape rooms in Connecticut for a fun family outing!
Awesome Escape Rooms in CT: Kid-Friendly Parties and Family Adventures
The festivities get downright magical with Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT! Photo courtesy of Dean Davids Magician
Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT That Come To You
Get out for some Fraggley fun in CT this weekend with Fraggle Rock LIVE at the Warner Theater. Photo credit: © Heather Henson and The Jim Henson Company
Fraggle Rock, Easter Egg Hunts, and More Fun Things To Do in CT This Weekend

12 Best New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other San Francisco Celebrations for Kids

See the snowfall on New Year's Eve! Photo courtesy of Gilroy Gardens
See the snowfall on New Year's Eve! Photo courtesy of Gilroy Gardens
12/22/24 - By Sandra Lee

New Year's Eve celebrations in the San Franciso Bay Area are as unique and spectacular as the city we live in. Your family can ring in 2025 with everything from fireworks at Gilroy Gardens to a New Year's train ride at Roaring Camp. And for little ones with early bedtimes, there are a bunch of Noon Year's Eve parties throughout the Bay Area from Sausalito to San Jose. 

In true San Francisco style, New Year's Eve events celebrate the many cultures on New Year's Eve, including Kwanzaa and a Japanese bell-ringing ceremony. However you celebrate, grab those noisemakers, and start the countdown—Happy 2025, everyone! 

The festivities don't end with the New Year's Eve! Many holiday events and activities in the Bay Area continue after January 1. New events are added to our San Francisco calendar every day, so check it frequently to find a perfect family outing over Christmas vacation in San Francisco. 

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Pop in for the balloon drop on Noon Year's Eve at the Hiller Aviation Center. Photo courtesy of the center
Pop in for the balloon drop on Noon Year's Eve at the Hiller Aviation Center. Photo courtesy of the center

Best New Year's Eve Celebrations for Kids in San Francisco

New Year's Train at Roaring Camp

Best Train Ride
Felton
Thursday - Tuesday, December 26 - 31, 2024
Bring in the new year aboard the New Years Holiday Train. Ride vintage train cars beautifully decorated with holiday lights through the streets of Santa Cruz. Light-up hula hoopers and a live DJ will keep spirits bright and help bring in 2025 right. READ MORE

39th Annual Japanese New Year’s Bell-Ringing Ceremony

Best Bell-Ringing Ceremony
San Francisco
Sunday, December 29, 2024
The Asian Art Museum is ready to ring in the New Year with a 2,100-pound, 16th-century Japanese temple bell. The ceremony includes a purification ritual and chanting of the Buddhist Heart Sutra. Then it's open to the public, giving families the chance to leave behind anything negative from the previous year. READ MORE

Thrive City Winter Wonderland: Kwanzaa & Noon Year's Eve

Best Kwanzaa Event
San Francisco - FREE
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Chase Center rings in the New Year with a Kwanzaa celebration with music, arts and crafts, treats, and a countdown drop at noon. The Rock and Roll Playhouse will feature music from Fela Kuti, and Winter Wonderland is open for all the holiday fun.  READ MORE

Bouncy Ball New Year

Best Free New Year's Event
Novato - FREE
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Head to downtown Novato to celebrate the end of 2024 at this free, family-friendly event. 23,000 small bouncy balls are dropped onto the street from a ladder truck 40 ft. in the air with a countdown at noon. Kids get a souvenir "hard hat" and can collect as many bouncy balls as they can carry.  READ MORE

Annual Balloon Drop at Chabot

Best Balloon Drop
Oakland
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Count down to 2025 around the world with balloon drops at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. at the Chabot Space and Science Center. With drop times for the 5 and under and 6-12, this family-friendly event is a great way to celebrate the New Year! READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum

Best Noon Year's Eve Event in North Bay
Sausalito
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The Bay Area Discovery Museum is hosting a Noon Year's Eve Party complete with a dance party and a countdown with an epic ball drop. Then, enjoy all the winter-themed spaces and activities around the museum for the rest of the day like iceless skating!  READ MORE

Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Hiller Aviation Museum

Best New Year's Eve Concert for Kids
San Carlos
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Head over to Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos for a fun, family-friendly Noon Year's Eve party! Activities include live music, face painting, magic shows, a puppet show, and three balloon drops at noon.  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve Celebration at Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

Best Noon Year's Eve Event in South Bay
San Jose
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Celebrate the arrival of 2025 with the whole family by participating in the “countdown to noon across time zones” with family hugs, a lively celebration, and the museum’s version of the famous Ball Drop in Times Square with lots of confetti.  Make a party hat and snap a commemorative photo. At the ball drops, “shout outs” will be given to different countries and what people in those countries might be doing at that time. Special guest performance by Choo Choo Soul!  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Happy Hollow

Best Toddler New Year's Eve Event
San Jose
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Countdown to 2025 with the little ones at noon at Happy Hollow. Starting at 11 am, families can enjoy activities like a ventriloquist and magic show, activities, scavenger hunt, crafts, food, and more. Countdown with a lowered disco ball and confetti blast at noon.  READ MORE

New Year's Eve Celebration at Gilroy Gardens

Best Fireworks Show
Gilroy
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Gilroy Gardens is hosting a grand New Year's Eve celebration for families of all ages to welcome 2025. Activities include a Charlie Brown and Snoopy dance party, live music, a photo booth, unique food items, and fireworks at midnight.  READ MORE

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!

Best Family Movie Event
Santa Rosa
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The Peanuts gang is hosting a New Year's party complete with fun crafts, and a showing of Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! on the big screen. Kids of all ages enjoy two balloon drops, a Baby Balloon Drop (for kids 4 and under) at noon, followed by another one at 3 p.m. READ MORE

2024 Grand Finale at the Lawrence Hall of Science

Best Confetti Launch (every 45 minutes)
Berkeley
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The annual family-friendly celebration to ring in the new year is back at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Confetti canons go off every 45 minutes, so register early and get in on the fun.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee is the community publisher and social media manager for Mommy Poppins Bay Area. With nearly a decade of writing in the parenting space, she’s passionate about helping parents create unforgettable memories with their kids. Her work has appeared in Tiny Beans, Zulily, and more. When she's not exploring or creating content, you’ll find her baking or practicing her hip-hop moves.
Recent Articles By Sandra Lee:
Read more articles by Sandra Lee.