Top 10 New Year’s Eve Parties for Kids & Families in Greater Houston

Give your kids a taste of live New Year’s Eve countdowns at family-centric Noon Year’s Eve evens around Houston, inside and outside of the Loop on New Year’s Day, Sunday, December 31, 2023.

New Year’s Eve may be noted for staying up late to welcome the new year, but you can give the kids in your life an age-appropriate tease at events that count down to the hour, and feature balloons, entertainment, and more.

We’ve gathered ten events across the Greater Houston area that are great fun for kids and families this New Year’s Eve.

2023 New Year’s Eve Events for Kids & Families in Greater Houston

• Resolution Run Houston along Buffalo Bayou | Downtown – Whether you’re trying to sneak in a resolution in the final hours of the year or just trying to start the year right, this annual run event offers lengths from a family 1-miler and 5K to half-marathon. The course starts in Downtown and follows Memorial Drive past Shepherd and back. Registration starts at $55 for the 5K, up to $80 for the half marathon; family 1-mile run/walk is $40. 7:30am.
• Rockin’ New Year’s Noon Bash at Children’s Museum Houston | Museum District – Bring the kiddos out to the Rockin’ New Year’s Noon, a family-friendly end-of-year bash that rings in the new year at the stroke of noon with a parade and shimmering ball drop at the Children’s Museum of Houston. $17 for ages 1 and up. 10am to 3pm.
• New Year’s Noon at Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center | Sugar Land – Join in a confetti party at noon at the Fort Bend children’s museum. New Year’s revelers can come by to pick up a New Year’s necklace, dance to DJ jams, visit with a juggler and more. $15 for ages 1 and up. 10am to 3pm.
• Noon Year’s Eve at CityCentre | Memorial | FREE – Welcome in the new year at a family-friendly Noon Year’s Eve celebration where the kiddos can dance to DJ music, enjoy face painting and balloon artists, cap the noon hour off with bubbles, and more. 11am to 1pm.
• New Year’s Eve Family Celebration at Wakefield Crowbar | Garden Oaks | FREE – The Garden Oaks bar hosts a family-friendly New Years celebration in the afternoon with a ball drop at noon, Legacy Man blading through to perform some tunes, and free play on the playground and giant sandbox. 11am to 1pm.
• Sharkey’s New Year’s Eve Bash at Downtown Aquarium | Downtown – Ring in the new year with this family-friendly party that features a buffet brunch, a balloon drop, party favors, live DJ, dancing and games, and more. Admission also includes 50%-off an All-Day Adventure Pass. $31.99; $23.99 for ages 10 and under. 11am to 1:30pm; 3pm to 5:30pm.
• New Year’s Eve Family Celebration at Kemah Boardwalk | Kemah | FREE – Welcome the New Year with a day of family-friendly entertainment in Kemah. There will be live music, kid’s crafts, a bubble countdown, and fireworks at 9pm. 1pm to 10pm.
• New Year’s Eve Family Fun at Galveston Island Brewing | Galveston | FREE – The Galveston brewery just a block from the seawall hosts its annual family-friendly event for New Years, offering an early evening of fun, NYE swag, sparkling cider for kiddos and a countdown to “midnight” at 6pm. The Shepherd Mix food truck will be on-site supplying the grub. 4pm to 6pm.
• New Year’s Eve Family Bowling Bash at Max Bowl | Humble – Get together for a bowling party with this package that includes two hours of bowling, shoe rentals for up to six pairs, a large pepperoni pizza and a pitcher of soda, party favors, music and prizes. $99.99 and up. 5:30pm to 10pm.
• New Year’s Eve in the Square at Redemption Square | Northeast Houston | FREE – The shopping and dining destination in Northeast Houston hosts a New Year’s celebration for the whole community, complete with live music and entertainment, plus a fireworks show at midnight to ring in 2024. 7pm to midnight.

Additional contributions by Holly Beretto.

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