NYC's 5 Best Family-Friendly New Year's Events
Ring in the New Year with the one's you love – including the littlest ones in your family. Check out these NYC family-friendly events to celebrate New Year's Eve and Near Year's Day together. By Sarah Shaker.
This annual free celebration in Brooklyn is perfect to bring the whole family - as long as it doesn't rain or isn't too cold. Enjoy live entertainment and hot refreshments at 11 p.m. followed by an eye-catching fireworks show at midnight. Your kids will be thrilled to not only stay up late, but also stay up late outside of your apartment. The best viewing spots include Grand Army Plaza, inside the Park on the West Drive and along Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza and 9th Street.
Where can you ring in 2013 with your favorite musicians, celebrities, sports figures and historical icons? For a kid-friendly NYE party in Times Square, Madame Tussauds is the place to be. The 85,000 square foot, multi-level museum is hosting a night of food, fun and cocktails. Only half a block from the legendary Ball Drop, you can celebrate above the crowds in Times Square with over 200 life-sized wax creations. The museum offers family packages, or if you're looking for the VIP treatment, packages with private tables, early access, and bottle service are available.
Looking for a fun action packed afternoon for your kids? Brooklyn Bowl will be opening their doors at 2pm for bowling and brunch on New Years Day. Start 2013 with some strikes, spares and a tummy full of food like their Cinnamon Toast Pizza with strawberries, bananas and Nutella, Baked Buttermilk Pancake and Sloppy Josephine with baked eggs and mashed potatoes.
In honor of its 35th anniversary, Big Apple Circus is putting on a special show! On New Year's Eve head to the circus at Lincoln Center to end your year with tons of laughter. Families are treated to an extra-special performance on NYE with a champagne (or cider) toast and a circus-style countdown to midnight.
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Bill's Bar & Burger in Rockefeller Center and Meatpacking will be hosting kid-friendly New Year's Eve parties from 2-6pm this December 31st. Celebrate with the family while dining on your kids favorite bites - shakes, fries, and burgers, of course. And just for your little ones on New Year's Eve, there will be face painting, balloons, noisemakers, party favors and a sparkling apple cider toast.
Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.
