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Pre-parenthood, I never would have imagined how satisfying an early-in-the-day New Year’s Eve celebration with an all-ages crew could be. But I am converted — you get to share all the excitement and energy only kids could bring to the party and then enjoy going to bed at a reasonable time, no babysitter required! The best thing? You are ready to face the next morning.
We’ve rounded up great ideas to help you and your crew say goodbye to 2025 and welcome 2026 as a family, with celebratory events for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Family activities for New Year’s Eve: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025
Noon Year’s Eve with KiDiMu
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: $35
Join the daytime fun at this Bainbridge children’s museum with a countdown to noon and lots of fun activities.
New Year’s Eve Countdown at Kidsquest
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cost: $18
The fun starts early and continues all day at KidsQuest’s New Year’s celebration featuring fun activities every hour. You have four chances to ring in the new year at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. or 4 p.m.
Fossil Finders: It’s About Time — New Year’s Party
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Included with admission ($24 adult; $16 youth; ages 3 and younger are free); or membership
Party like it’s 66 million years ago and celebrate the new year with dino-mazing crafts and activities at the Burke Museum. Craft volcano hats and ammonite noisemakers, make discoveries in the dig pit and join the Noon Year’s Eve countdown and dino dance party.
Skate Your Way Into the New Year
Date and time: Wednesday–Thursday, Dec. 31–Jan. 1, times vary
Cost: Varies by location
Close out 2025 or ring in 2026 with a family ice-skating outing. Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink, Oly on Ice, Tulalip Lights and Ice, and new this year, Kirkland Winter Ice Rink, are all open for skating on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1. Hours and prices vary, check locations for specific times.
Noon Year’s Eve Pajama Party
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Cost: Included with admission ($19.95; ages 17 months and younger are free); or membership
Come to play in your pajamas and welcome the new year at Hands On Children’s Museum’s coziest ever Noon Year’s Eve countdown party. Enjoy a ball drop and a bubble dance party every hour. Then, design your own nightcap, skate in your socks, watch wacky science experiments, get crafty and engineer your wildest dreams.
Noon Year’s Eve Colorful Countdown
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Cost: $20 non-members; $10 members
Experience a burst of color at Seattle Children’s Museum’s joyful end-of-the-year celebration with three dazzling ball drops, screen painting, paintball throwing, confetti slime and more.
Noon Year’s Eve Balloon Drop
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Cost: $35 non-members; $30 members
Make some noise! This party for kids ages 6 months to 10 years at the My Gym Bellevue location promises to be epic with dancing, games, gymnastics and, of course, a festive balloon-drop countdown to noon. Preregister.
CMSC New Year’s at Noon
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Cost: Included with admission ($9.75 per person; infants younger than 12 months are free)
Children’s Museum of Skagit County hosts a countdown to noon and ball drop with treats, fun activities, a sing-along to “Auld Lang Syne” and more.
New Year’s Eve Celebrations at Local Libraries
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, times vary
Cost: Free
Looking for budget-friendly festive fun? Bring the fam for a grand time making crafts, playing games, listening to stories, dancing and counting down to noon at a free New Year’s celebration hosted by local libraries in every region of our area.
Forum Social House Candyland New Year’s Eve
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, noon–3 p.m. and 5–8 p.m.
Cost: $30; ages 5 and younger are free
This whole-family New Year’s Eve celebration includes dancing, mini golf, party favors and a countdown celebration at a bedtime-friendly hour. There will also be lots of special appearances and tasty snacks!
New Year’s Celebration
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1–1:45 p.m.
Cost: $20 non-members; $15 members
My Gym in Kent is ringing in the new year with fun activities just for kids ages 10 and younger. Bubbles, games, gymnastics and a dance party are on tap to get everyone moving.
Early Night NYE Celebration at Dave & Buster’s
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 4–7 p.m.
Cost: $33.79
Grab tickets for the whole family then head to one of our area’s Dave & Buster’s locations. There will be plenty of yummy snacks, unlimited video game play, party favors and a ginger ale toast countdown.
Family-Friendly Glice Rink NYE Party
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 5–9 p.m.
Cost: $25 adult; $18 child
Bring the whole family to take a spin on the new seasonal artificial ice rink at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at Southport. Ring in the new year with the East Coast at 9 p.m. by raising a glass of sparkling cider (bubbly for grown-ups), donning party hats and skating to your favorite tunes.
Tacoma Light Trail Kick-Off
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 5:30–10 p.m.
Cost: Free
The Tacoma Light Trail’s festivities on New Year’s Eve open with a light parade led by a fire-breathing dragon. The celebration continues with live outdoor entertainment at Tollefson Plaza including circus arts, craft stations, dance performances and more. The light displays stay up 5–9 p.m. nightly, through Jan. 11. Check the events schedule or follow on social media for all of the happenings.
Des Moines Burning Boat Festival
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 6–9 p.m.
Cost: $10–$25; ages 4 and younger are free
This family-friendly celebration at the Des Moines Marina raises funds for City Park and Recs Youth Scholarships. It features the ceremonial burning of a wooden boat filled with wishes written by participants to welcome the new year with hope and renewal. Kids (and adults!) can enjoy s’mores and hot cocoa, warm up by fire pits and partake in the festive fun.
Arena Sports New Year’s Eve Celebration
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 6–10 p.m.
Cost: $29.99–$54.99
Prebook your tickets to this all-ages party with unlimited arcade play, a delicious pizza buffet, party favors and festive balloon drop at 9 p.m. at Arena Sports Mill Creek or Issaquah locations.
All Ages NYE Glow Party
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 7:30
Cost: Starting at $14.50 per person
Buy your tickets online, then turn up at the Mosaic Room, a Seattle community space for families, for an all-ages celebratory glow party complete with dancing, drinks and snacks, games, and other fun activities. Choose between a family party starting at 7:30 p.m. with a ball drop countdown at 9 p.m. and midnight, or a supervised drop-off option at 9:30 p.m. for older kids.
Magical NYE Rock & Bowl
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8–11:30 p.m.
Cost: Starting at $20
Bowl your way into the new year at Gig Harbor’s Ocean5. In addition to one-hour bowling sessions, this all-ages celebration includes DJ hits, game options, and up-close magic tricks performed by an award-winning magician.
New Year’s at the Needle
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
The New Year’s show at the Space Needle, which always promises to dazzle, will be back. Expect to witness hundreds of drones take to the sky and a spectacular fireworks show for this year’s pyrotechnic showstopper. Watch in person from the grounds of the Seattle Center or cozy up with the family at home and watch live on King 5.
Family activities for New Year’s Day: Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026
Polar Bear Plunges
Date and time: Thursday, Jan. 1, times vary
Cost: Varies by location; some are free
For a truly invigorating start to 2026, might we suggest one of the region’s several polar bear plunges? Pick your poison — a brisk dip in Puget Sound, a lake or even an unheated outdoor pool. Even if you can’t stomach a plunge yourself, it’s fun to watch others show their courage. But bring your towel just in case you get caught up in the moment.
First Day Hikes
Date and time: Thursday, Jan. 1, times vary
Cost: Free
Kick off 2026 with a healthy dose of nature. Several Washington state parks offer staff-led group hikes and snowshoe hikes on New Year’s Day. (Bonus: Jan. 1 is a state park free-entry day, too.)
Washington State Parks Free-Entry Day
Date and time: Thursday, Jan. 1, times vary
Cost: Free
Bundle up and start the new year strolling through an old favorite or new-to-you state park. Jan. 1 is the first of 12 days in 2026 when the Discover Pass parking permit requirement is waived.
More winter fun for Seattle-area families: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published many years ago and was updated most recently on Dec. 23, 2025, by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara, to include this year’s New Year’s events.
