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New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other NYC Celebrations for Kids

The ball drops at noon at CMOM! Photo courtesy of the museum
The ball drops at noon at CMOM! Photo courtesy of the museum
12/23/22 - By Rosalind Muggeridge

New Year's Eve is almost upon us, and there are lots of ways to ring in 2023 in New York City with kids. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations and none include standing in a crowded Times Square to watch the ball drop. Our family-friendly picks include seeing the New Year's Eve fireworks from aboard a cruise around Manhattan, a daytime Noon Year's Eve dance party in Staten Island, and even a special Big Apple Circus performance. However you welcome the New Year, we hope it's a blast.

You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide for NYC Families, and be sure to check out our post on 35 fun things to do over break.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: Really cool things to do with kids often book up quickly, so register or buy your tickets ASAP.

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Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza plays host to a festive New Year's Eve celebration for the whole family. Photo by Andrew Gardner
Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza plays host to a festive New Year's Eve celebration for the whole family. Photo by Andrew Gardner

New Year's Eve Celebrations in NYC for Families

CMOM December

Upper West Side
Grab a cup of cheer at CMOM with traditions old and new, from exploring slime, frost, and snow to celebrating Hanukkah with dreidels and holiday storytelling, and welcoming Kwanzaa with drumming. Don't forget to prep for 2023 with a noon year's eve ball drop! READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Camp

Multiple Locations
Camp hosts a midnight-style celebration in the middle of the day complete with a countdown, sparkling cider, cookies, a dance party, and New Year’s themed crafts to kick off 2023 in style READ MORE

Noon Year’s Eve Dance Party

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
The Staten Island Children’s Museum hosts its very own special Noon Year’s Eve dance party, complete with party favors and a special countdown! Get your groove on to celebrate the coming new year.    READ MORE

New Year's Eve with Ice Theatre of New York

Central Park–FREE
Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) hits the ice at The Rink at Rockefeller Center to celebrate New Year's Eve. To help ring in 2023, ITNY Ensemble members Sarah France and Aaron Singletary perform "atmospheric skating." READ MORE

Prospect Park's New Year's Eve Fireworks

Prospect Heights–FREE
Brooklyn's most spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration returns to Prospect Park's iconic Grand Army Plaza after a three-year hiatus. Quintessential Playlist provides a live concert before the fireworks. READ MORE

Central Park New Year's Eve Fireworks

Central Park–FREE
Central Park's 15-minute-long New Year's Eve fireworks take flight at the stroke of midnight. The show, put on in conjunction with the NYRR Midnight Run, is visible to the general public south of 72nd Street. READ MORE

Big Apple Circus

Lincoln Center
Step right up to experience Big Apple Circus as it sets up at Greater Oaks Expo Center. Guests can expect to see acrobatic acts, trampoline routines, and more. READ MORE

New Year's Eve with Story Pirates

Virtual–FREE
The hilarious and multiple award-winning improv comedy artists Story Pirates invite kids to join the year-end celebration as they lead a freewheeling and hilariously interactive Story Creation Zone, ringing in 2023 across time zones, virtually. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Fireworks Cruise Aboard Eclipse

South Street Seaport
Hop aboard the Eclipse for stunning nighttime views of the Gotham skyline, and see the Statue of Liberty illuminated by a rainbow of fireworks. Drink complimentary champagne, feast on delectable finger sandwiches, and dance the night away. READ MORE

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