If you’re spending New Years with
your children, we not only salute you, we want to contribute to your fun. Across the city, there is a great
variety of family-friendly parties at kid-approved venues like Moomah, Dave and Busters, Chelsea Piers and more. See all our ideas below!
Isabellas
Ring
in the New Year with balloons, face painters and MORE! Mini Munchers
are welcomed from 3-5 p.m. for this UWS staple’s Family New Year’s Eve
party. The children’s menu is very well priced and kids will love the
holiday decorations. Reservations are recommended. For more info, click here.
300 New York at Chelsea Piers
Get
the New Year’s Eve celebration started early (3-6pm) with a soiree fit
for the entire family. Packages include bowling with shoe rental,
selection of light snacks, pizza buffet with unlimited fountain sodas,
party favors and balloon drop. Reservations are required. For more info, click here.
Moomah
It
is worth a trip to TriBeCa as Moomah never disappoints! From
noon to 3pm, there will be a noise-maker building workshop,
glow-in-the-dark freeze dance party and hourly countdowns to “midnight”
with complimentary prosecco for parents. For more info, click here.
The Palm Court at the Plaza
Starting
at 5:30pm, your children will have an over-the-top experience fit for a
king/queen. The celebration begins with dinner at The Palm Court –
including a Chef’s Chocolate Factory display with giant lollipops,
gumdrops, a chocolate fountain and sundae bar. Kids then will have fun
in the Eloise at the Plaza shop with Eloise-themed activities for all
ages, followed by a screening of Eloise cartoons and Home Alone 2. End
the night back at The Palm Court for a dessert and a hot fudge sundae
bar. Advance reservations are required. For more info, click here.
Dave and Buster’s New Year’s Eve Party
Everyone is a kid at Dave and Busters, so play some games and watch the ball drop at this mammoth entertainment complex. Kids will enjoy the games, gourmet buffet, party favors, and dancing while adults will enjoy the same, plus drinks! The purchase of your tickets includes access to Times Square for the big count down. Just make sure you have an exit route for leaving, you’ll be right in the middle of everything NYE. Tickets are: 21 $95, under 21 $75, VIP 21 $195, VIP under 21 $185. For more information, click here.
Walk into the New Year
Bundle up and join walkers for the 16th Annual Brooklyn Bridge Walk. From 10:15 to midnight you can enjoy one of NYC’s best tour guides to learn facts about the 19th century’s greatest technical marvel. When the clock hits 12 you’ll see fireworks from Central Park, Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey, and the Empire State Building light show. $40 for adults with credit cards or $50 with cash, $20-$25 for kids. For more information, click here.
Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza
Start your new years with sparkly things–fireworks to be exact. Celebrations at Grand Army Plaza start around 11 p.m. with entertainment and hot cocoa. For more information and exactly where to sit to see the fireworks, click here.
New Years at Madam Tussaud’s
Your kids can have the chance to celebrate NYE with celebrities. Enjoy dancing among the wax figurines into the midnight hour. The offer a juice bar for the kids and a real bar for adults. Tickets range from $65-$425; click here for more information.
Bike Ride and Outdoor Party
Meet at 10:30 at Washington Square Park for a ride into the New Year. Join the 12th Annual New Year’s Eve Bike Ride and Outdoor After Party to start the year off with a little bit of exercise. Ride up to Central Park for a dance party and fireworks! Don’t forget to dress warm and festive! Click here for more info.
Go to Mars for 2011
Have an out of this world NYE at Mars 2112. All ages are welcome for music, an open bar, unlimited arcade games, a champagne toast, and live feed of the ball drop. To join the fun go to their website and buy your tickets now.
An Eloise NYE
Have a lavish NYE with Eloise at the Plaza. Join Eloise and friends for a three-course dinner at the Palm Court, and games and Home Alone 2 after. Ring in the New Year this way for $120, kids under 13 $85. For more information call 212-546-5300 or click here.
and Family Party At Grand Central Station
This New
Year’s eve, take the kids to a fun family-friendly party at Grand Central
Station. Drink sparkling apple cider, listen to a DJ, and ring in the New Year
with your loved ones from 5:00p.m. to 9:00p.m at the Restaurant and Bowling
Lounge. For more information, click here.
Children’s
Museum of Manhattan
Children
ages 5 and up can visit the museum with their families for some New Year’s fun!
There will be fun arts and crafts and an opportunity to make 2011 glasses to
wear as you count down to the new year. Starts at 11:00 a.m. and is free with
museum admission; it also runs several times throughout the day. For more
information, click here.
Ripley’s
Believe It Or Not
Located
in Times Square, families can take their children to see the mysterious oddities
at this wonderous museum! From shrunken heads to a section of the Berlin wall to
a six-legged cow, this exhibit is right by the most happening spot in the city
to watch the Ball drop and is a unique way to spend New Year’s Eve. Ripley’s
Believe It or Not is open 365 days a year, and the museum opens at 11am. They
sell their last admission ticket at midnight. Tickets are $34.73 for adults and
$27.11 for children ages 4-12. For more information, click here (www.ripleysnewyork.com)
The
Empire State Building
Take a
tour to the most iconic building in New York City with your family on this New
Year’s Eve! Marvel at the beautiful view from the 86th Floor
Observatory or take the Skyride and Observatory Combination package! The Empire
State building is open 7:00a.m. to 10:00p.m. on New Year’s Eve and tickets range
from $20.00 to $52.00 for adults and $13.78 to $37.00 for children ages 6-12.
For more information, click here.
–by Carla Sullivan (of Minimunchers.com) Katie Garton and Amanda Ferris
