New Years Eve for families in and around Washington, DC

New Years Eve is going to be much different than others of course and probably a year we are all ready to put behind us. {Although there are things I cherish from this past year that could not have happened in a typical year & I won’t forget those} We are thankful for some fun options that our Bambinos can participate in safely this NYE. Perhaps our kids stay up until midnight and watch the ball drop this year, because why not?! Or maybe we order from a local restaurant to show our support and set it up at home like we are dining out at a fancy eatery. Maybe we treat it as any other night and that’s fine too because after all it is 2020 and we are all so over it. Whatever you choose, we wish you a happy and healthy 2021 and are so thankful to have spent another year sharing adventures and events with you all.

9:00am-11:00am: Forest Bathing at the U.S. National Arboretum
The U.S. National Arboretum will help you disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with nature in this 2-hour program where they help you relax deeply and raise your mood, immune system, and sense of coherency. The forest bathing walk will end with a modified tea ceremony and a small pre-packaged snacks to close the walk. Sounds like a great way to recharge and set some intentions for 2021!

10:00am-2:00pm: Midnight Noon
Celebrate the ball drop before bedtime with the Maryland Science Center at Midnight Noon. Join in on the socially-distanced festive fun before rocking out to a virtual performance by popular kids band, Milkshake. The entire science center will be open and ready for you to explore. Make a sound shaker, fill a snow globe, and take on your family members in giant games that will be stationed all across the building. Tickets should be reserved in advance due to attendance limits.

11:00am-12:00pm: Noon Yards Eve
The Yards has reimagined its annual Noon Yards Eve celebration into a take-home celebration kit paired with a virtual party for guests of all ages. The free, family-friendly Noon Yards Celebration Kits will be available by reservation with everything guests need to party at home!

11:00am-6:00pm: Kids Craft Day at Hops n Shine
Make your own Noisemaker on the heated patio. Then, join a kid-friendly virtual countdown and ball drop at Noon on New Year’s Eve! You may select from other dates too.

12:00pm-10:00pm: Color Burst Ice Rink at Merriweather
Enjoy a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for the entire family + festive and fun cocktail pop-up bar.

12:30pm: “Noon Year’s Eve Party” and Annual Balloon Drop 
Families are encouraged to grab milk, hot chocolate, or their favorite treats and dress in their formal best for the festivities, which will feature a performance by Tunes with Tim, followed by a noon countdown and toast to 2021.

3:00pm-4:00pm: Story Pirates New Years Bash
Your favorite Story Pirates DJ is planning a huge party to ring in 2021! Unfortunately, his old nemesis Yorma the ice dragon is trying to spoil the fun with her icy dragon magic. Will DJ Squirm-a-Lot, Peter, Meghan, Rachel, Nimene, Eric, and the rest of the Story Pirates be able to foil Yorma’s plans? With your kids’ help, they just might have a fighting chance!

6:30pm & 9:30pm: First Night Alexandria
Ready to get out of the house? Load up the car and celebrate the arrival of 2021! Sing-along, dance and enjoy a night filled with classic hits, local food trucks and exciting giveaways! Or…Planning an intimate gathering in the comfort of your home? Let First Night Alexandria be the soundtrack for your party, featuring the same great music as the Drive-In experience, streamed to you!

Year Cheer can help you get in the celebrating mood, while supplying fun decorations and games in a box that is delivered to your doorstep. We are big fans of the curated boxes and love supporting a local Mom!

Also, don’t forget about ice skating, holiday displays and checking off ideas from our winter bucket list.

Plan ahead:
Registration for DC Public Library’s winter reading challenge runs from Jan. 1-Mar. 31. Kids and teens can sign up to earn badges for reading, staying active, and win prizes from the Wizards. 

KID Museum is offering virtual Winter Break Workshops, December 28-30, for families looking to enhance the holidays (and maybe head off boredom?) We’ve scheduled fun, creative options for K-4th and 5th-8th graders at varying times throughout the day. From building a Rube Goldberg machine, to learning about coding, or designing a kinetic sculpture or video game, there’s a program for everyone. The price is only $15 for KID Museum members, $20 for nonmembers. See website for details and to register.

January 9 from 10am-2:00pm
Mark your calendar to bring your holiday tree to Murch Elementary School (corner of Davenport & 36th Street). Watch Branches Tree Experts recycle it into mulch on the spot! In exchange for a recommended donation of $10-$15 to the Murch Home School Association (HSA), they’ll take your tree and save you the trouble of calling 311 for tree collection. You can even take home a bag of mulch for your yard if you’d like. Keep your curb clean, recycle your tree in an eco-friendly fashion, and support a local elementary school all at once!