Who says you have to stay up late to ring in the new year? Kids can make some noise and welcome 2025 at these daytime and early evening celebrations designed just for young partygoers.
New Year's revelers of all ages (even those with a bedtime!) are invited to ring in the new year a little bit early with a special Noontime New Year's Eve celebration at The Magic House. Visitors will participate in a variety of traditional New Year's Eve festivities including a countdown to noon with the dropping of a sparkly New Year's Eve ball. Any New Year's Eve party wouldn't be complete without a dance floor and dancing tunes! Kids can dance the day away, then pose in a 2025-themed photo booth filled with fun props and accessories. Noontime New Year's Eve activities are free with admission and no reservations are required. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Magic House in Kirkwood and MADE for Kids at 5127 Delmar Blvd.
More information: magichouse.org
Visit City Museum for a New Year's Eve Party for the whole family! Play games, sing your heart out doing karaoke to your favorite holiday tunes at Beatnik Bob's, and enjoy crafts in Art City. To celebrate the new year, visitors can pop the balloons from the balloon drop at 8 p.m. and participate in a dance party with 314DJ in Architecture Hall. The Family New Year's Eve Party at City Museum is happening all day on December 31st and is included with general admission. More information: citymuseum.org
Those of us who can't stay awake until midnight can join the Missouri History Museum for a New Year's Eve countdown with two balloon drops! Visitors will enjoy live music, making crafts a super-sized story time followed by balloon drops at 11 a.m. and noon. The Noon Year's Eve Celebration at the Missouri History Museum is free and part of the Winter Getaway at the museum. Reservations are not required. December 31, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get more information at mohistory.org.
Ring in 2025 with your littles at the Edwardsville Children's Museum! Put on your party clothes and get ready to celebrate New Year's with crafts, face painting, party hats, sensory bins and a balloon drop at noon. The festivities start at 10:30 a.m. and the balloon drop is at noon. General admission is $10-12 per person. Tickets are needed for children only. More information: edwardsvillechildrensmuseum.org
Celebrate New Year's Eve with your family at The Lodge indoor pool. Guests will enjoy traditional New Year's Eve festivities including a countdown to noon with the dropping of hundreds of beach balls! Guests can swim in the wave pool and enjoy the indoor slide, music, dancing and record the occasion at the 2025-themed photo booth complete with props and accessories. All guests will take home a beach ball. December 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Lodge Des Peres. The Lodge Cafe will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration is required by December 27 and space is limited. Open to all; registration fee varies: $10 for members & residents, $14 for non-residents. For all ages. For more information and to register: desperesmo.org
Ring in 2025 with Noon Year's Eve parties for kids at various branches of the St. Louis County Library. These free parties include crafts, music, dancing, and countdowns to the strike of noon! Families and kids of all ages are welcome. Registration is required for some events, and most begin at 11 or 11:30 a.m. Check party times and locations at stlcl.org
New Year's Eve at Winterfest is designed for the whole family, and includes ice skating, fire performers, appearances from some of your kids' favorite princesses and superheroes, fireworks, and more. The ice rink will be open starting at 4 p.m. for ice skating all afternoon and into the evening. There will also be an early New Year's Eve countdown and fireworks at 8 p.m. At the Winterfest Ice Rink in the heart of Kiener Plaza. Attendance is free. There is a fee for skate rentals. More information: archpark.org
Celebrate New Year's Eve by getting creative at Yucandu Art Studio. Kids in grades K-5 can celebrate with arts & crafts projects followed by a countdown to the Stomping of the Bubble Wrap! This workshop is for kids in kindergarten through grade 5 and will be held Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, from 3 to 5 p.m. Cost is $45 per child. At Yucandu Art Studio in Webster Groves. For more information and to register: yucandu.com
Looking for more family fun? Check out our Things To Do calendar here
Come over to the dark side and meet the amazing birds that exist by moonlight. Owl Prowls are an opportunity for families to learn about owls from the naturalists at the World Bird Sanctuary.
Visit the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park and see a star show to experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. Star shows are lead LIVE by one of the Planetarium's educators, creating a new and tailored experience for every audience.
Families are invited to the Saint Louis Art Museum on Sunday afternoon to participate in free hands-on art activities with fun themes and to explore the galleries. Each Family Sunday focuses on a different family-friendly theme.
Young visitors and their families are invited to the Life Science Lab Classroom at the Saint Louis Science Center to enjoy interactive read-alouds of science-themed picture books. Story times are followed by a short demonstration or discussion connected to the book's main concepts.
Sensory Friendly Science Time features reduced noise, modified lighting and sensory-friendly demonstrations at the Saint Louis Science Center.