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New Year's Eve Weekend 2023 in San Francisco: Balloon Drops, Noon Years Eve

Count down to Noon Year's Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
Count down to Noon Year's Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
12/27/23 - By Sandra Lee

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area over New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for New Year's Eve weekend.

It's time to say goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024. The kids are still on school break, toys are being played with (or moving to the donation/regifting pile), and the holidays are winding down. The Bay Area has grand events, from early celebrations for the little ones to a traditional bell ringing. Check out Noon Year's Eve at the Bay Area Children's Discovery Museum in Sausalito, the Bell-Ringing Ceremony at the Asian Art Museum, and a late-night celebration complete with midnight fireworks on New Year's Eve at Winterfest Great America. 

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Ring in the new year at the Japanese bell ringing ceremony at the Asian Art Museum. Photo courtesy of Rafu Shimpo
Ring in the new year at the Japanese bell ringing ceremony at the Asian Art Museum. Photo courtesy of Rafu Shimpo

New Year's Eve Weekend Events in San Francisco and the Bay Area for Kids

Fairy Winterland

Oakland
Tuesday - Saturday, December 26 - 30, 2023
December sparkles at Children's Fairyland for the return of Fairy Winterland, a tradition for over 20 years. See twinkling lights, Santa Claus leading the Festival of Lights Parade, special performances like tap dancing penguins and trees, a wishing wall, complimentary hot chocolate or cider, and more Don't forget to drop your letter to Santa in the special mailbox!  READ MORE

New Year's Train at Roaring Camp

Felton
Tuesday - Sunday, December 26 - 31, 2023
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

Hiller Aviation Museum Kid's Carnival

San Carlos
Friday, December 29, 2023
Hiller Aviation Museum is hosting a kids-only event featuring aircraft checkouts, cockpit exploration, and helicopter and glider construction perfect for little aviators.  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve Family Storytime

Danville - FREE
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Hear a special story the day before New Year's Eve in the Reading Room for Family Storytime. Sing along to songs, enjoy festive favors, and even a celebratory bubble wrap stomp on the floor.  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve Celebration in Pinole

Pinole - FREE
Saturday, December 30, 2023
The library is hosting a fun New Year's Eve party the day before the holiday. Stories, a dance party, and a noon countdown.  READ MORE

The Lion King

San Francisco
Ends Saturday, December 30, 2023
Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Lion King is at the Orpheum Theatre for the holidays to bring the magic of the Pride Lands. Featuring some of the most beautiful music from artists Elton John and Tim Rice, this musical is perfect for the whole family.  READ MORE

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

San Francisco- FREE
Sunday, December 31, 2023
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

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!

Santa Rosa
Sunday, December 31, 2023
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

Noon Year's Eve Celebration

San Jose
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Celebrate the arrival of 2024 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. READ MORE

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

San Francisco
Sunday, December 31, 2023
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

Noon Year's Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum

Sausalito
Sunday, December 31, 2023
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

23rd Annual Balloon Drop at Chabot

Oakland
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Count down to 2024 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

Bouncy Ball New Year

Novato - FREE
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Head to downtown Novato to celebrate the end of 2023 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

Holiday Windows at Macy's Union Square

San Francisco - FREE
Ends Sunday, December 31, 2023 Free
The cutest San Francisco tradition is back at Macy's. The Holiday Windows, featuring adorable, adoptable kittens and puppies will be on display daily. Snuggle with one of the SF SPCA's Animal Assisted Therapy ambassadors on select days, and bring blankets, toys, towels, and flat sheets to the donation station.  READ MORE

Victory House New Year's Eve Family Party

Santa Rosa
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Celebrate the New Year at the Poppy Bank Epicenter with a family party. Victory House is catering the entire event, with a ton of fun activities for kids.  Kids tickets include a buffet meal ticket, sparkling cider toast, and passes to all the fun like a trampoline park, bowling, arcade games, face painting, magician, glow dance party, and more. Adult tickets include the buffet meal, with an option to upgrade for all the games.  READ MORE

2023 Grand Finale at the Lawrence Hall of Science

Berkeley
Sunday, December 31, 2023
The annual family-friendly celebration to ring in the new year is back at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Confetti canons go off several times a day, so register early and get in on the fun.  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Happy Hollow

San Jose
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Countdown to 2024 with the little ones at noon at Happy Hollow. Starting at 11 am, families can enjoy activities like magic with Dan Chan, live entertainment, scavenger hunt, crafts, food, and rides. Countdown with a lowered disco ball and confetti blast at noon.  READ MORE

Swings and Wings New Year's Party

Alameda
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Head over to Swings and Wings for a New Year's party just for kids. Enjoy food, a dance floor, a photo booth, and crafts.  READ MORE

New Year Balloon Drop Extravaganza at Kids Play Zone

Oakland
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Come and enjoy a fun morning bringing in the New Year with a countdown, toast, bubble dancing, and lots of fun for the kids and adults. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Celebration at Gilroy Gardens

Gilroy
Sunday, December 31, 2023
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

New Year's Eve at Winterfest Great America

Santa Clara
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Ring in 2023 at Great America during Winterfest. The family-friendly celebration includes activities, shows, and rides that are open late, ice skating at Snow Flake Lake, and a fireworks spectacular at Orleans Place behind Flight Deck. READ MORE

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