Staying awake through midnight to ring in the New Year isn’t for everyone, and neither is all the hardy partying that tends to come with it. This is especially true for older folks and families with young children.
Fortunately, over the years, more and more alternate, earlier-in-the-day endeavors have started to emerge, allowing those not counted among the night owls the chance still to enjoy New Year’s Eve follies and festivities. Sometimes referred to by such names as “Noon Year’s” celebrations or other creative monikers, these parties cater to children and families, providing good, clean fun in a safe setting free of drugs, smoking, and alcohol.
While such celebrations are now universal in most parts of the United States, I’ve compiled a guide highlighting some of the best earlier-in-the-day New Year’s Eve celebrations to consider throughout Maryland and Virginia, specifically.
Maryland
First Night Talbot
A tradition 31 years in the making, this family-friendly folly provides a safe, drug-free, alcohol-free evening for all to enjoy. Made possible by the Talbot Optimist Club, the evening happenings begin at the Waterfowl Building at 6 p.m. This year, Easton EDC is partnering with Union Baptist Church to provide activities specifically designated for children. These include games, a photo booth, kids’ crafts, face painting, hot cocoa, and more. There will even be a live DJ! The sendoff comes at 9 p.m. with the first Crab Drop of the evening.
Following the earlier evening festivities, all the action and activities will move to the Avalon Theatre, where an evening concert will commence. Then comes the big Crab Drop at midnight for those who managed to stay up late. Take note that all events following the 9 p.m. Crab Drop are still family-friendly and entirely free. Learn more about First Night Talbot by clicking here.
Midnight Noon
The Maryland Science Center in Baltimore is holding an all-out noontime New Year’s Eve celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free for all to attend (with paid admission to the museum), this mainstay family tradition—now in its 17th year—promises loads of fun, hands-on attractions, games, and activities. Rainbow Rock Band—an educational favorite for children—will be in attendance, keeping the scene alive and hopping throughout the event. The main attraction will, of course, be the noontime ball drop happening onsite. To find out more, visit the website event link here.
Noon Year Party at Port Discovery
Another Baltimore-based venue of great acclaim is hosting happy “Noon Year’s Eve” happenings for the kiddos. The grand occasion will kick off at 10 a.m. at Port Discovery and run through 5 p.m. The day’s lineup will include a vast array of interactive games, performances, activities, confetti, and a noon balloon drop!
This event is free to attend with regular museum admission. Visit the site link for all other additional details.
New Year’s Eve at Noon at the Zoo
True party animals take note of a New Year’s Eve at Noon party happening at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Fun starts at 10 a.m. and is set to last until 4 p.m. As part of their ongoing Holly-Days at the Zoo!, the multi-hour event will be held on location at the Penguin Education Station and entail an abundance of hands-on activities. The lineup includes kids crafting, scavenger hunts, face painting, photo ops, music, and storytime. The main event, however, is the countdown to noon with a special treat!
Attendance at this event is free with regular admission. Find out more about New Year’s Eve at Noon at the Zoo here.
New Year’s Eve—Countdown to Noon!
Urban Air in Frederick is celebrating the New Year earlier in the day with two onsite happenings. The main attraction is their New Year’s Eve—Countdown to Noon blowout, taking place between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Here, kids get to watch a televised countdown to noon via a large screen, with a balloon drop at noon and a “special guest.” As a bonus, some of the balloons contain prizes inside!
Later on in the day, there’s going to be a Confetti Drop. This event will occur between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Learn more about both events on the Urban Air website.
Noon Year’s Party at sweetFrog Timonium
sweetFrog Timonium is welcoming in the new year with a “sweet” endeavor between 11 a.m. and noon. It’s their Noon Year’s Eve Party. The occasion welcomes kids to celebrate the New Year with an afternoon countdown and party complete with all the works in the way of snacks and other delights. It’s an opportunity to dance, play games, enjoy pizza, be treated to yogurt, and enjoy the ultimate blast!
Attendance at the party is just $15 per attending child. There is no charge for accompanying parents and chaperones, who are welcome to purchase yogurts via the usual weigh-and-pay method during the party. Learn more on the event link.
Noon Year’s Eve at the B&O
The B&O Railroad Museum has its own set of family-friendly activities for ringing in the New Year earlier in the day. This Noon Year’s Eve at the B&O celebration is slated for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and comes with a vast array of fun follies. Highlights include creating celebratory party hats and mirror balls (and heading over to the Resolution Station to set future goals), a ball drop at noon with an apple juice toast and confetti poppers, photo ops, train rides, and so much more. Go to the website to learn more.
Virginia
Children’s Museum Noon Year’s Eve Celebration
Both the Downtown and Chesterfield locations of the Children’s Museum of Richmond will be offering up a festive, family-friendly Noon Year’s Eve celebration. Laden with lots of fun activities, both onsite happenings will get underway as early as 9:30 a.m. and continue with a 1 p.m. wrap-up. Attending guests will get the chance to make their own Noon Year’s Eve Shakers before the grand event, which will commence with a 10-second countdown. Loveable mascot Seymour will be at both locations leading in a dance party at noon.
To find out more about the Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at the Children’s Museum, go to the website.
First Night Alexandria
Marking the 30th year as a mainstay tradition, First Night Alexandria is Historic Old Town’s premier family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. All festivities begin early at 2 p.m. Comprising the lineup of the “Matinee” event is family-oriented live music, comedy, town-wide presentations of ongoing activities and attractions, and more. This culminates in a 6 p.m. sendoff in the form of dazzling fireworks over the waterfront.
Evening entertainment begins after the 6 p.m. fireworks and lasts through midnight. Note that all later evening offerings are still family-friendly, but in case the kiddies need to get home earlier, the Matinee offerings will suffice. Click here to read more about First Night Alexandria.
Hardywood Noon Year’s Eve
Hardywood West Creek may be a noted brewery, but they’re providing a special kid-friendly Noon Year’s Eve celebration at their location from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A ticketed balloon drop will be offered between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., at which time the brewery will be closed to the general public. The official opening for non-ticket holders will be at 1 p.m.
The first part of the day will feature such highlights as Jonathan the Juggler at 11:45 a.m., train rides from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., performances by singer/songwriter Chris Campbell, and the official balloon drop at noon. Some activities will continue with the general opening to the public, including Jonathan the Juggler onsite at 1:30 p.m. and train rides between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Other featured follies will include sweet treat specials, visiting vendors, Food from Salty’s and Timber Pizza, and much more. Go to the link to find out more.
New Year’s Eve Around the World
The Children’s Science Center Lab in Fairfax is presenting a New Year’s Eve Around the World event beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting through 5:30 p.m. Fun for the entire family, you are presented with three two-hour timeslots to choose from. Then, enjoy a range of hands-on activities, from engineering Firework Pinwheels, indulging in the glittery excitement of “Celebration Slime,” and even creating your very own New Year’s headbands. But the greatest part of every offered timeslot is the ball drop and sparkling apple cider toast. Visit the website to learn more.
Noon Year’s Eve at Stonypoint Fashion Park
Stonypoint Fashion Park in Richmond is providing its own free Noon Year’s Eve treat for the whole family. The grand event, which runs for a two-hour duration, will get underway at 11 a.m. in the Triangle Park. Games, face painting, crafts, live music, and giveaways are all part of the party, as are rides on the RVA Mini Express Train and many more activities. This all culminates in a climatic countdown to noon. Visit the website for all other details.
Olde Year’s Day at Torpedo Factory
As one of Alexandria’s greatest arts destinations for five decades and counting, the famed Torpedo Factory retains a regal reputation while continuing to cater to folks of all ages and intents. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that they’re leading in one of the most creative, hands-on, regional, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations around. From arts and crafts to meet and greets with live artists, provided music, and more, this free-to-attend folly has a little something for everyone and then some. All events presented as part of the Olde Year’s Day celebration will take place between noon and 4 p.m. Learn more by clicking here.
Rocknoceros New Year’s Ball
As a beloved annual tradition at Jammin Java in Vienna many years now, the Rocknoceros New Year’s Eve Ball provides the perfect family-friendly, earlier-in-the-day way to rock into the New Year. It all begins with live tunes from Rocknoceros. Every performance concludes with an apple juice toast, New Year’s resolutions, and a family-friendly ball drop! Preregistration is required for two one-hour shows. The first is happening at 11 a.m., and the next one is at 2 p.m. Go to the website to register and discover more.
From library events to those provided at play centers and other organizations, there is no shortage of regional family-friendly follies to take in for an earlier New Year’s Eve celebration. These include other Mid-Atlantic states in addition to Maryland and Virginia.
Just remember, no law dictates that you need to stay up past midnight to have the ultimate New Year’s blast.