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Ring in the new year at First Night Alexandria. Photo by Geoff Livingston via Flickr 2.0
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Enjoy snow every night at Winter City Lights. Photo by Kyle Lanzer courtesy of the Winter City Lights event
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The National Museum of the American Indian's imagiNATIONS Activity Center is full of interactive activities for kids. Photo by the author
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Dave & Buster's is fun for all ages! Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters
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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
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
12/26/25 - By Elsa Simcik

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!

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

Kids love to ring in the New Year, and luckily Atlanta has plenty of things to do with kids on New Year's Eve. We love all the kid-friendly New Year's Eve parties and events for families that end at 9pm, and watching spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks. In fact, Atlanta has traded in the Peach Drop for a fireworks and drone show called Countdown Over ATL. The re-imagined New Year's Eve event allows people to view the show from lots of different areas around Atlanta.    

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

New Year's Eve Activities at Home with Kids 

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Additional reporting by Rebecca Ruffin Leffler

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Party the year away at Noon Year's Eve at The Avenue Peachtree City. Photo courtesy of event
Party the year away at Noon Year's Eve at The Avenue Peachtree City. Photo courtesy of event

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

New Year's Bubble Bash at Children's Museum Atlanta

Downtown
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Kids and parents can party into 2026 during the day at the Children's Museum of Atlanta. Visitors enjoy dancing, games, a DJ, and crafts (party hats and noisemakers!). Kids also make their own bubbles to ring in the new year!  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Avalon - SOLD OUT

Alpharetta
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Celebrate NYE early at the Hotel at Avalon with a DJ, crafts and face painting. The event concludes with a giant balloon drop!  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Skyline Park

Midtown
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Skyline Park welcomes families for a special Noon Year’s Eve celebration on the Roof at Ponce City Market. Ticket includes admission, unlimited access to boardwalk games, mini golf, Heege Tower, 3-story slide, and Complimentary Hot Chocolate (while supplies last). READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at The Avenue Peachtree City

Peachtree City - FREE!
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Families head to the Avenue Peachtree City on New Year's Eve morning for a celebration at Central Park. Beginning at 10am, kids enjoy cotton candy, a DJ, a photo booth, face painting, sparkling cider and more!  READ MORE

New Year's Eve Bash at The Battery

Northwest Atlanta - FREE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
The Battery hosts a New Year's Eve celebration that has something for everyone. The Early Innings party, geared towards families, starts at 6pm and wraps up at 8pm with an inflatable baseball drop.  READ MORE

Tallapoosa Possum Drop

Tallapoosa - FREE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Dress warm to watch "Spencer," the stuffed animal possum, drop from the sky in Tallapoosa, just an hour's drive west of Atlanta. The family-friendly New Year's Eve event features live bands, food trucks, and carnival rides.  READ MORE

New Year's Eve Family Par-tee at Fairway Social

Alpharetta - FREE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Fairway Social Alpharetta with the family and free arcade games, back-9 play, hot cocoa & s’mores available for purchase and an 8PM countdown with a mini ball drop!  READ MORE

Noon Year Party at HippoHopp

Brookhaven
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
HippoHopp hosts a Noon-Year Party and balloon drop with Bluey! The event includes a trasure hunt, face painting, a craft, photo booth and of course, bouncy play!  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta

Buckhead
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Ring in the New Year before the clock strikes midnight at LEGO Discovery Center's annual Noon Year's Eve Celebration. Guests celebrate with a LEGO Ball Drop and receive a complimentary party favor (*while supplies last*) plus a glass of sparkling apple cider! READ MORE

Zoo Year's Eve

Grant Park
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Midnight is for adults, but Zoo Year’s Eve is for kids! Kids and parents enjoy a wild and wonderful family-friendly celebration to ring in the New Year at Zoo Atlanta.  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Halcyon

Alpharetta - FREE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
At this family-friendly Noon Year's Eve event, kids enjoy face painting, tenant discounts and specials, New Years swag and more! READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve in Duluth

Duluth - FREE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
As part of their Frosty Fun series, The City of Duluth hosts a free New Year at Noon celebration. Enjoy live entertainment, crafts, and festive activities for all ages. Celebrate with a dance party, free face painting, a Kids New Year’s Resolution Station, and of course the big Countdown to Noon! READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Sloomoo Institute of Atlanta

Buckhead
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
On December 31st, Sloomoo is hosting a Noon Year's Party - where guests walk on over 350 gallons of slime, and at 11:59am to watch the slime drop! Dozens of gallons of glittery slime will be headed straight for Lake Sloomoo to celebrate the New Year.  READ MORE
Catch one of the inflatable baseballs that drop at The Battery during New Year's Eve! Photo by Rebecca Leffler
Catch one of the inflatable baseballs that drop at The Battery during New Year's Eve! Photo by Rebecca Leffler

Atlanta NYE Family Fireworks, Drone Shows, Festivals & Outdoor Fun

Countdown over ATL

Midtown & Downtown - FREE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Countdown Over ATL is the City of Atlanta’s official New Year’s Eve celebration and the event that has replaced the longtime Peach Drop. Instead of a single downtown gathering, Countdown Over ATL features a citywide midnight celebration highlighted by a synchronized fireworks and drone show across multiple Atlanta locations. READ MORE

Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park

Dunwoody - FREE
Final night! Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Families love this free month long light display at Brook Run Park. This year's theme is Cosmic Wonderland.  READ MORE

Holiday Lights of Ellijay

Ellijay
Final night! Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Visitors enjoy this walk-thru light show in quaint downtown Ellijay.  READ MORE

Holiday Lights at Veteran's Park in Canton

Canton
Final night! Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Families drive through a 2-mile-long light show at Veterans Park located in Canton. Holiday Lights at Veterans Park has two drive-through tunnels, animated Christmas displays, and more than 2 million lights. READ MORE

Lights of LIFE at Life University

Marietta
Final night! Wednesday, December 31, 2025
A drive-through holiday light showcase awaits at Life University. In addition to the magical display, a petting zoo, train rides, and pony rides are available for children. READ MORE

Kids' Early New Year's Eve at Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain
Wednesday December 31, 2025
Stone Mountain Park counts down to 2026 with the Christmas Drone & Light Show at 8 PM, including NEW this year- Fire Drones! Then, countdown to the New Year early at 9 PM with music, dancing, a magical snowfall, and fireworks! READ MORE

Noel Magic Light Show at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Hampton
Through Sunday, January 4, 2026
Drive through this huge holiday light show at Atlanta Motor Speedway, synchronized to Christmas music for all ages. READ MORE

Candy Rush Light Show by World of Illumination

Marietta
Through Sunday, January 4, 2026
Take a trip through sugar plum fairies, a gigantic gingerbread village and sweets as far as the eye can see. Candy Rush is the world’s largest animated drive-through audio-visual experience, highlighting larger-than-life Christmas characters and confections. READ MORE

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About the Author

Elsa Simcik
Elsa Simcik has been freelance writing for 20-something years, covering a hodgepodge of fields--health & fitness, human interest stories, and even dating. After becoming a mom she segued into writing for local magazines and websites, focusing on parenting, fun things to do with kids, and travel. The travel part is fun, but not as glamorous as it sounds, because it's traveling with kids. Still, she'll take it.
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