Best Kid-Friendly Destinations to Spend New Year’s Eve

Most of us associate New Year’s Eve with Times Square in New York City, counting down the hours, then minutes, then seconds until a sparkling ball descends to ring in a new year.

I don’t know about you, but just the thought of dealing with the crowds in New York gives me extreme anxiety. I need an actual vacation after the crazy demands of the holidays.

You may want to go somewhere to celebrate the new year (especially after the year we’ve had!), but NYE celebrations always seem so focused on the impending clock striking midnight, and it’s not always possible for little ones to stay up that late.

So, with that in mind, here are some of my favorite destinations for ringing in the new year as a family.

1- Aruba

In Aruba, the New Year’s celebrations begin days before January 1st, when the streets of Oranjestad come alive with the crackle of firecrackers meant to chase away evil spirits. Kids will especially love watching the lively “Dande” musicians as they travel from place to place, spreading blessings and good wishes for the year ahead through joyful music and dance.

On New Year’s Eve, the island truly shines with a family-friendly celebration that starts early in the evening, making it perfect for little ones who can’t quite make it to midnight. Fireworks light up the sky across the beaches, and while most hotels offer great views, the best spot to take it all in is Flamingo Beach. If you want to make it extra special, consider booking a room at the Renaissance to ring in the new year with a dazzling fireworks display.

2- Panama City Beach, FL

Why watch one ball drop when you can see 10,000? Panama City Beach, Florida takes New Year’s Eve to the next level with not one, but two unforgettable celebrations. The streets of Pier Park are closed to traffic and transformed into a massive beach party complete with live music, fireworks, and plenty of coastal cheer.

Families will love the first celebration at 8 p.m., when over 10,000 colorful beach balls are released into the sky, making it perfect for little ones! And for those with the energy to make it to midnight, the night wraps up with a second countdown featuring an 800-pound, LED-lit beach ball drop that lights up the shoreline. It’s the perfect mix of family fun and festive Florida flair!

3- Hershey, PA

For a chocolate-flavored New Year’s Eve kiss, head to Hershey, Pennsylvania. The fun kicks off early with a bubble wrap stomp at 11 a.m. (something my younger self would have absolutely loved!) and continues throughout the day with live teen rock and pop performances.

This is a non-alcoholic event, making it perfect for families, and of course, there are plenty of snack vendors ready to satisfy every chocolate craving. The highlight comes at midnight, when a dazzling 300-pound, seven-foot-tall Hershey’s Kiss descends from the sky in Chocolatetown Square, making it one of the best New Years’ destinations for kids.

4- Austin

Austin definitely knows how to throw a New Year’s Eve celebration worthy of its title as the Live Music Capital of the World. The city hosts a massive, family-friendly hoedown across four stages with incredible performances, food, and fun.

Families with younger kids will love the celebrations at The Thinkery, which hosts two three-hour family-friendly events which include three simultaneous balloon drops and bubble wrap stomps. Two of those events are reserved for young revelers of all ages, while the third is hosted upstairs, exclusively for toddlers. All partygoers can enjoy music, winter crafts, craft their own noisemakers, enter the Texas “snowball” arena, and experience special performances during each 3-hour celebration, the first of which starts at 11 a.m.

Later in the afternoon, the downtown event kicks off at 3 p.m. with a dedicated kids’ area filled with activities and food vendors, followed by fireworks at 10 p.m. so parents can tuck the kids in before sharing a quiet midnight toast. For families looking to make a full getaway of it, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa offers its own on-site festivities, complete with a carnival, fireworks, and a kid-friendly dance party.

5- New Year’s Eve Around the World, Seattle Children’s Museum

Kids can ring in the New Year early (and often!) with a glass of sparkling apple juice in hand at this fun, family-friendly international celebration. Starting at 11 a.m., each hour marks the arrival of the New Year in a different country around the world, complete with themed activities and crafts inspired by places like India, Russia, France, and Morocco.

Little travelers can enjoy cultural crafts, make their own noisemakers, and join in on hourly countdowns that end with a lively Brazilian celebration at 5 p.m. It’s the perfect way to celebrate global traditions and get kids excited about the world—no staying up past bedtime required!

6- Boston

Boston has always known how to make New Year’s Eve a true family celebration. The city’s walkable layout and spread-out events make it easy to join the fun without feeling lost in the crowds.

Kick off the evening around 6 p.m. with your choice of a free figure skating show on the Frog Pond at Boston Common or join the People’s Procession parade as it makes its way down Boylston Street. Then, stick around for the 7 p.m. fireworks, perfectly timed so little ones can enjoy the excitement and still make it to bed at a reasonable hour.

For night owls, there’s a second fireworks display over Boston Harbor at midnight. If you want to enjoy the show without bundling back up, consider staying at the InterContinental or Boston Harbor Hotel, where you can watch the fireworks right from your window after the kids are asleep.

7- Pickle Drop – Mt. Olive, NC

During World War II, pilots boasted that they were so accurate they could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel. The the Mt. Olive Pickle Company decided to have a little fun with that claim and created one of the most unique New Year’s Eve traditions in the country: the Pickle Drop!

Each year, a glowing green pickle descends at 7 p.m. (which is technically midnight Greenwich Mean Time), making it the perfect early celebration for families with kids. Enjoy live music from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., plenty of small-town charm, and of course, free refreshments—including, you guessed it—pickles! It’s quirky, family-friendly fun that could only happen in Mt. Olive, North Carolina.

8- Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hilton Head, South Carolina, is one of my favorite family getaways year-round, but it’s especially fun at New Year’s. The Sea Pines Resort hosts a kid-friendly celebration called the Golf Ball Drop at Harbour Town, and it’s every bit as charming as it sounds (and don’t worry—you don’t need to know anything about golf to participate)!

Families can enjoy live music and entertainment from local children’s entertainers like Lollipop the Clown and Juggle Stuff, keeping little ones entertained all evening long. There’s an early golf ball drop at 7 p.m. for younger kids who can’t stay up late, followed by a second drop at midnight.

9- Atlanta, Georgia

Hershey’s Kisses, Beach Balls, Balloons, Pickles and Golf Balls—why not add peaches to the mix? That’s where Atlanta‘s Peach Drop comes in, one of the best New Year’s Eve events for kids.

At the Family Fun & Budding Peach Stage, kids can enjoy carnival rides, face painting, games, and plenty of delicious food from local vendors, while live music fills the air all day long. Then, when night falls, an 800-pound glowing peach drops at Woodruff Park to ring in the new year.

With so many family-friendly activities in this city like the zoo, aquarium, children’s museum, botanical gardens, and the World of Coca-Cola, there’s plenty to do for a fun-filled family vacation!

10- San Diego

Another one of my favorite family destinations does not disappoint when it comes to New Year’s celebrations. You can have an incredible evening without ever leaving the hotel!

At the Hotel Del Coronado, adults can ring in the New Year at The World’s Greatest Legend, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration with dazzling star attractions and awe-inspiring performances.

Meanwhile, the kids get a party of their own from 7:00pm until 12:30am! The night includes dinner, ice skating (ages 8+), special shows, games, a s’mores roast, and a midnight toast with sparkling cider. Teens ages 13-17 can also hang out in their own dedicated lounge and watch movies as they mingle.

If you’ve always wondered what it would be like to spend New Year’s Eve in New York city, head to Legoland, where they drop a ball 22 feet over a lego replica of Time Square, complete with live music and fireworks!

The children’s museum also hosts a pajama jam that includes New Year’s-themed art activities, games, a dance jam, photo booth, catered dinner, and a fun countdown balloon drop.

You don’t have to stay up until midnight—or brave massive crowds—to make New Year’s Eve magical for your family.

Whether you’re watching beach balls soar over Panama City, snacking on chocolate in Hershey, or toasting with sparkling cider in San Diego, there are so many ways to welcome the new year that fit your family’s travel style (and bedtime).

If you’re ready to trade the chaos of big city celebrations for a night of fireworks, fun, and family connection, I’d love to help you find the perfect destination to ring in the new year with your kids—one that feels joyful, stress-free, and unforgettable. Let’s plan a celebration that starts the new year off with magic and meaning.

Who is Christina?

Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists.  After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation too.

She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, Europe, and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.