Let’s ring in the New Year with our kids!
If you are someone who wants to go out or if you prefer to stay home, we’ve got you! The wonderful thing about celebrating the New Year is that there are no rules. There is just the feeling of rejuvenation and celebration. Let’s kick off 2024 with positivity and happiness!
Out & About
For those with youngsters that can’t stay up until midnight, consider celebrating Noon Year’s Eve. This. means you count down until 12 pm instead of midnight so that everyone can join in the festivities. This helps avoid meltdowns or major routine changes. There are quite a few daytime events happening in and around Albuquerque.
- ABQ BioPark New Year’s Eve Before Dark – Celebrate the end of 2023 with your favorite plants or animals.
- ABQ Public Library – Decorate a party hat at the Central & Unser or Cherry Hills branches.
- Watch a New Year’s Eve Matinee of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at Central & Unser.
- Balloon Museum New Year’s Eve Before Dark – Participate in New Year-themed activities and watch a mesmerizing Bubble Show by Lauren Coons. The food truck With Love, Waffles will be onsite serving delicious treats.
- Explora – Come celebrate the New Year at noon with a balloon drop for the whole family.
- Jungle Jam – A red carpet event with different activities and a special appearance by Queen Elsa and Princess Anna.
- Liv & Mimi’s Play Cafe – Countdown to noon with a balloon drop and open play session.
- Rio Rancho Public Library – Out of This World Noon Year’s Eve Party at the Esther Bone Memorial Library on Saturday, December 30th.
- Santa Fe Children’s Museum – Ring in 2024 before bedtime with special guests, activities, and a balloon drop at noon.
Older children and teens may enjoy later celebratory events at local vendors around the city. You can get your creative juices flowing at Kelly Jo’s Design by Wine NYE Blacklight Acrylic Pour Party or enjoy an immersive dinner experience at Electric Playhouse.
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Stay Home
If braving crowds and dressing up doesn’t sound enjoyable, keep the festivities at home. You can make this a celebration of any size for all ages. Host your own Noon Year’s Eve party and invite friends and family. For the older kids, throw a family-friendly New Year’s Eve bash. Or, stay in your pajamas for family game night as you watch the Times Square Ball Drop. Here are some other fun ideas for celebrating at home . . .
- Movie marathon – for a twist, have a popcorn bar where the kids can add their own flavors or candies to their popcorn bowl.
- Activities by the hour (put activities in bags that are opened on the hour until midnight) – activity ideas could be playing a video game, writing down resolutions, singing karaoke, etc.
- Special drinks – make holiday-themed mocktails for the kids with something special for adults if they would like.
- Special foods – set up an ice-cream sundae bar, s’mores bar, chocolate fountain, or kid-friendly charcuterie boards.
- Dance party – this is my mom’s favorite activity . . . she brings out the disco ball and turns the volume up for an at-home family dance party!
- Arts & Crafts – DIY party hats, confetti poppers, noise makers, or ribbon wands to celebrate the countdown to midnight (or noon).
- Fireworks – NYE is full of new and sparkly things, which could include sparklers and fireworks for you and your neighbors.
- Wishing Tree – write down all of your hopes, dreams, wishes, and goals for the new year and hang them in a homemade tree or one you have in your yard.
- Glow party – throw a family-friendly rave at home by decorating shirts with glow paint and dancing the night away under a black light.
- Puzzle – for a quiet night in, complete a puzzle with the family.
- Snowball fight or Nerf war – my kids could spend all night throwing our reusable snowballs at each other or creating barriers to dodge Nerf gun ammo (Mom Tip: Don’t have snowballs? Use marshmallows instead)!
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Being present and having fun is the best advice I have for saying goodbye to 2023 and celebrating the start of 2024!
Regardless how big or small your celebration, your family will remember the feeling of excitement and the rush of happiness.
I am wishing you and your family a year filled with memorable moments to be cherished for a lifetime.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
