New Year’s Eve with Kids in Indianapolis
Looking for family friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations in Indianapolis? We have the scoop on all of the New Year’s Eve parties for kids. So this year, take advantage of the many offerings of our great city which allow you to celebrate 2019 as a family, and many of them take place well before midnight, there are even day time children’s New Year’s Eve parties.
Day Time New Year’s Eve Parties
Countdown to Noon at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Experience a countdown with your family at a reasonable hour. Join in the music, confetti, and fun on Dec. 31, 2018, for countdowns to the New Year at noon and again at 1 p.m. with musical performance with Zak Morgan. There will be free Happy New Year visors while supplies last. Also, enjoy one of the last few days of the museum’s traditional Jolly Days Winter Wonderland exhibit.
Cost: Included with museum admission
Date/Time: December 31st, 10-3
Main Event New Year’s Eve
On Monday, Dec. 31, the ultimate entertainment destination is inviting guests to celebrate New Year’s Eve with its New Year’s Eve Monday Madness special. Starting at 4 p.m., guests can have unlimited FUN for the mad price of only $10.95 per person when they choose one of these celebratory offers:
All-You-Can-Play Activities – All-you-can-play access to bowling, billiards and multi-level laser tag.
All-You-Can-Play Games – Unlimited arcade game play in the games gallery featuring more than 100 of the latest interactive arcade games.
New Year’s Eve Family Skate at Skateland
Have fun with the latest music and a balloon drop. Admission includes skate rental and unlimited pizza and drinks.
Cost: $12/person
Date/Time: December 31st, 6pm-9:30pm
Noon Year’s Eve at the Zion Nature Center
New Year’s Eve is a great time to celebrate all we’ve done and all we will do in the coming year. However, midnight can come too late for young ones, and let’s face it, sometimes the adults. Join the Zion Nature Center as we have a HOOTING good time celebrating the New Year a little early. Your family can raise a toast with some tasty juice, watch a balloon drop at Noon, and party with Nature Center friends during this year’s owl themed celebration!
Please register through email by Dec. 30 as space is limited at naturecenter@zionsville-in.gov
Cost: FREE {This event now has a waitlist}
Date/Time: December 31st, 10-Noon
New Year’s Eve at Urban Chalkboard
Ring in the New Year Toddler Style! Celebrate with New Year’s Eve themed invitations to play, noise makers, an apple juice toast, and of course a countdown to noon. The Chalkboard will be open at 9 a.m. and close at 1 p.m. on December 31.
New Year’s Eve at Johnson County Library
Celebrate the new year a little early with music, dancing, games, and crafts! This event will be held at the Franklin and Clark Pleasant branches of the Johnson County Public Library.
New Year’s Eve Night Parties for Families
Early New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop at Incrediplex
An 8pm balloon drop allows the whole family to ring in the new year together. A paid event ticket includes: Entrance, Laser Tag, Unlimited Video Games *Non Redemption Games, Bounce & Climb wristband (4 large inflatables & 4 story obstacle course) that is designed for kids 12 and under, access to sports surfaces, face painting, balloon activities, party favors, door prizes & giveaways throughout the event.
Cost: $17/person in advance, $20/person at the door. *$5 Admission required if you do not purchase $20 wristband, and you will receive a $5 game card in return.
Date/Time: December 31st, 5-8pm
New Year’s Eve at ComedySportz
Ring in 2019 with two special, all-ages ComedySportz matches on New Year’s Eve! Countdown to the new year with ComedySportz at the Basille Theatre in the Historic Athenaeum: 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis
Cost: $20, students & seniors: $18
Date/Time: December 31st, 7:30pm & 10:30pm
Family New Year’s Eve at the Indiana State Museum
Welcome 2019 with face painting, magic, music, dancing and a balloon drop (8 p.m.) at this family-friendly New Year’s Eve party! Reserve your spot early so you don’t miss out. This is an alcohol-free event.
Cost: $10 for members, $16 for non-members
Date/Time: December 31st, 6-9
New Year’s Eve at Books & Brews
Come join Books & Brews for a FREE Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Party complete with crafts, dinner, a movie, and a special meet-and-greet with Cinderella herself! Food and beverage available for purchase.
New Year’s Eve at Muncie Children’s Museum
Help us to ring in 2019 with our annual New Year’s Eve Around the World celebration! From 12 to 5 p.m., learn about New Year’s Eve traditions from around the world. At 6 p.m., it’s time to party — featuring noise makers, sparkling grape juice, a countdown and then a balloon drop at 8 p.m.! This event is included with the price of regular admission.
I remember many a New Years Eve pre-kids. We were guaranteed to be out late celebrating, dancing, having fancy food and drinks, and having a great time. While things have changed a bit since having children, many of the things we enjoyed childless we can still enjoy now…except a little earlier. Here are some fun kid friendly activities you can do at home with your family to ring in the New Year.
Decorate
Festive decorations automatically make things more fun! Pick up fun plates, napkins, décor, and noisemakers from the closest party store, CVS, or rush an Amazon Prime order….OR make your own. Task your kids to make “Happy New Year!” signs in bright colors adorned with stickers. Blow up balloons and stick a glow stick inside and print off some of these cute party hats from Merriment Designs! Or, get one of these awesome DIY Balloon Drop kits.
Have Some Fun
I LOVE this fun balloon countdown idea from How Does She? Put a balloon up for every hour starting at 1 p.m. all the way to midnight. Inside each balloon place an activity or game like read a story by the fireplace or paint with shaving cream. Each hour you pop the balloon to reveal that hour’s special fun!
Ring in the Noon Year
Last year we spent New Year’s Eve at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ Countdown to Noon and had a great time! There’s a number of family friendly NYE celebrations around the city but if leaving the house isn’t your thing, adopt the same tradition at home. Find a past NYE countdown on You Tube and do a countdown from 10 right at noon or catch the Netflix countdown at 9:00! Don’t forget the noisemakers and balloons!
Make a Fancy Dinner
It doesn’t have to be lobster tail and filet mignon to be fancy! Many party stores have faux-fancy placemats and plates. Take a look in the wedding section for doilies, lace printed plastic tablecloths, and plastic stemware. If you really want to go all out, have your kids put on something nice and light some candles. My kids think fondue is about as fancy as it gets! Dig out that fondue pot you received as a wedding gift or just melt some cheese on the stove and use skewers to “fancy up” your dinner. Even if it’s not fancy, doing a dinner that’s out of the ordinary will help make your evening even more memorable. Make-your-own pizza bars, breakfast for dinner, a meal of all appetizers, or a backwards dinner (dessert first!) are other fun ideas for the evening…and don’t forget the sparkling cider!
Family Room Slumber Party
Maybe your kids want to try to make it to midnight to ring in the New Year officially. Pull out the air mattress, take the mattresses off of the beds, or simply grab some blankets and pillows and set up camp in the family room! Make a fire, kill time by watching a favorite movie or playing games, and get cozy.
