10 Family-Friendly Ways to Ring in the New Year in St. Louis

The countdown to 2018 is on! No matter your kids' ages, there are plenty of fun ways to celebrate the New Year as a family. Here are some of the best kid-friendly celebrations happening in the St. Louis area:

Winterfest New Year's Eve

UPDATE: 12/28/17: This event has been cancelled due to expected dangerously low temperatures and wind chill. New Year's Eve at Winterfest is designed for the whole family. The ice rink will be open starting at 2 p.m. for skating all afternoon and evening. There will also be children's characters, performers, giveaways, an early New Year's Eve countdown and fireworks. "Frozen" characters Elsa and Olaf will also skate and pose for photos with kids. The celebration is free and goes from 2 to 9 p.m. in Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis. For more information, visit archpark.org.

Noontime New Year's Eve at The Magic House

New Year's revelers of all ages 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 on from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests 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, a dance floor and dancing tunes. Kids can dance the day away, and then pose in a 2018-themed photo booth filled with fun props, and accessories. No reservations are required. Free with regular admission to The Magic House in Kirkwood. For more information, visit magichouse.org.

New Year's Eve Party at Steinberg Skating Rink

Skate in the new year at Steinberg outdoor ice skating rink in Forest Park. This day-long New Year's celebration includes party favors, noisemakers and 27,600 square feet of frozen fun. The party goes from 10 a.m. until 30 minutes after the New Year's Eve countdown. Admission is $7. Skate rental is $6. For more information, visit steinbergskatingrink.com.

Fire & Ice at Webster Groves Recreation Complex

Hosted by Webster Groves Parks and Recreation, Ring in the New Year with friends and neighbors at this fun and festive annual party at the Recreation Complex that includes ice skating, basketball, pickleball, and Wii® games. (Skate sizes are first-come, first-served.) Concessions are available for purchase. Afterwards, view a spectacular fireworks display from the comfort of your car at 8:30 p.m. in the Recplex parking lot, located at 33 E. Glendale Road in Webster Groves. The event begins at 6 p.m. For more information, visit webstergroves.org or the event's Facebook page.

New Year's Eve Lock-In at St. Peter's Rec-Plex

Kids ages 8 to 13 can kick off the New Year in style with an all-night New Year's Eve Lock-in party at the St. Peters Rec-Plex, located at 5200 Mexico Road. Under adult supervision, kids will have the time of their lives swimming, ice skating, playing games and hanging out. Parents are free to go out and do their own thing as Rec-Plex staff works to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for the kids. Lock-in participants can purchase items from the food court during the evening. Each child must be registered in advance. For Rec-Plex members, the event is already just $25 — half off the regular St. Peters resident price of $50 – and it’s free to Gold+ members. The fee for the general public is $60. The party goes from 7 p.m. on December 31 to 7 a.m. on January 1. For more information, or to register, visit stpetersmo.net.

Family New Year's Eve at The Timbers of Eureka

Ring in the New Year with the Eureka Parks and Recreation Department at a fun-filled night at The Timbers of Eureka Recreation Center, located 1 Coffey Park Lane in Eureka. The party goes from 5 to 8 p.m. and includes games, food and more. The cost is just $2 for members, $3 for residents and $4 for non-residents. For more information, visit eureka.mo.us.

New Year's Eve Fireworks Display and Carriage Rides at Westport Plaza

Update: 12/30/17: This event has been cancelled due to extremely low tempuratures. Celebrate New Year's Eve at Westport Plaza's Annual Fireworks Display, starting at 6 p.m. Following the show, complimentary carriage rides will be offered from approximately 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis, beginning in the front of the Plaza near St. Louis Bread Co.  For more information, visit westportstl.com.

New Year's Eve Crown Workshop at Yucandu Art Studio in Webster Groves

Wear the most creative hat at the New Year's Eve party. Kids can make a beautiful New Year's Eve crown while they celebrate with lemonade and popcorn and count down to the stomping of the bubble wrap. This workshop is for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and is offered on both Saturday, December 30 from 6-8 p.m. and Sunday, December 31 from 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m. at Yucandu Art Studio in Webster Groves. The cost is $35 per child. For more information and to register, visit yucandu.com.

Party at the Pointe in Ballwin

Celebrate the New Year a day early on Saturday, December 30 with live music, refreshments, face painting, swimming, a movie, carnival games, inflatables, a climbing wall and more at The Pointe, located at 1 Ballwin Commons Circle in Ballwin. The party is open to all and goes from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $3 - $4 depending on residency. For more information and to register, visit ballwin.mo.us.

A Cosmic New Year's Themed Celebration at Trout Lodge in Potosi

Visit the YMCA's Trout Lodge for an amazing family-friendly New Year’s weekend celebration from December 30 through January 1. Saturday, spend the day doing all of Trout Lodge's awesome year round activities along with cookie decorating and caricatures, and that night, show off your trivia knowledge with a team trivia challenge. On Sunday, there will be face painting, crafts, a drawing class, wish boat making, medic ball and more. Then kick it up a notch on New Year’s Eve night with a cosmic bingo and cosmic costume contest, carnival, dance party, bonfire, wish boat launch, fireworks display and more. The fun takes place at scenic Trout Lodge, located just 85 miles south of St. Louis in Potosi, Missouri. For more information and reservations, visit ymcaoftheozarks.org.
 

Find even more New Year's Eve fun in our Things To Do calendar and get our Things To Do email so you'll never miss opportunities for family fun!