Looking for ideas for New Year’s Eve that are family-friendly?
I’m sharing the BEST New Year’s Eve events for families around Cincinnati.
Many of these New Year’s Eve options with kids still allow you to celebrate the New Year, and you can be home before midnight… if you want to be.
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Our family has personally attended many of these New Year’s Eve events over the years, and they are great ways to create memories together.
There are plenty of options around Cincinnati on New Year’s Eve for families of all ages. I’ve included several events with an early celebration time that are perfect for younger families.
New Year’s Eve at WinterFest at Kings Island
6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason, OH
December 31, 2025, from 5 PM – 12 PM
Celebrate the last night of the year with friends and family at Kings Island’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
This year, there will be two New Year’s Eve countdowns at Kings Island:
- The Festhaus countdown begins at 10:00 PM, perfect for younger families
- Midnight countdown complete with fireworks
Park guests will also experience the shimmering lights, activities, and the extravagant décor of WinterFest, along with the final park rides of the year.
Use these tips for Kings Island Winterfest before you go.
*Rides at Kings Island operate from 5-11 PM
Purchase Discount Tickets for Kings Island Winterfest Here
Happy Zoo Year at the Cincinnati Zoo
3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH
(513) 281-4700
Day and Time: NYE December 31, 2025, 4-10 PM
This is a great family-friendly celebration for guests with small children who have an earlier bedtime.
There is an early countdown at 8 PM featuring the 40-foot-tall digital tree.
(*The Cincinnati Zoo is also open on New Year’s Day, January 1)
Admission: This event is included with Cincinnati Zoo admission
Guests are invited to help ring in the New Year at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
- Photo opportunities
- Glow games
- Giveaways while supplies last
Braxton Brewing Family Friendly New Year’s Eve
8901 US HWY 42, Union, KY
Balloons Before Bedtime takes place on December 31st from 4-8 PM on the Lawn. DJ Nat Jones will play all the kids’ favorite jams, and food and treats are available for purchase from Dewey’s Pizza and Graeter’s Ice Cream.
The balloon drop will be at 7 PM, complete with streamers, party hats, and balloons.
New Year’s Eve at Fountain Square
altafiber’s New Year’s Eve Blast
520 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH
December 31, 2025, 6 PM – 1 AM
You can ring in the New Year by celebrating downtown Cincinnati at Fountain Square.
There is a live DJ from 6- 12:30 PM and two fireworks shows.
The Kids Countdown fireworks show starts at 8 PM
The New Year’s Eve countdown and Fireworks show will be at midnight.
Drink specials at Fountain Square’s Bar are available all night long.
Elm Street Plaza – 150 West Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH (5-minute walk from Fountain Square)
Families can ice skate at the UC Health Ice Rink at the Elm Street Plaza. The $10 admission includes skate rental.
*Also open on New Year’s Day, January 1
New Year’s Eve Kids Lunch Cruise With BB Riverboats
Newport Landing Dock in Newport, KY
Ring in the new year in style without having to stay up to the wee hours of the night.
When: December 25, 2025
- Sailing: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Boarding: 10:30 AM
Price:
- Adults General Admission- $51.00
- Children ages 4-12- $40.00
Bring the whole crew aboard and ring in the New Year….just a little earlier in the day.
The kids will have an absolute blast as they count down to noon!
Your cruise will be complete with all the party favors and a DJ for entertainment.
There will be kids’ activities throughout the day and a lunch buffet. Some of their favorite characters from the Pirate, Princess, and Super Hero cruises will be on board to celebrate.
New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise With BB Riverboats
Ring in the New Year on the river! Cincinnati’s sparkling skyline provides a spectacular backdrop to cruise into the new year!
The magical night includes a three-entree buffet, entertainment, a split of champagne at midnight, a late-night snack buffet, and party favors. * All seating is reserved.
December 31, 2025
- Sailing –9 PM – 1AM
- Boarding -8 PM
Dinner Buffet
- Adults General Admission -$130.00
- Children Ages 4-12 – $90.00
Holiday Lights on the Hill at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
(513) 868-1234
1763 Hamilton Cleves Road Hamilton, OH
This 2-mile, one-of-a-kind, drive-through holiday light spectacular features more than 1,000,000 lights and holiday art installations created by regional artists.
6-9 PM for the drive-thru on New Year’s Eve 2025
Admission:
- $25 per carload for non-members
- $15 per carload for members
Guests can purchase their tickets online for a quicker check-in experience at the gate.
Light Up Middletown
Smith Park
Tytus and Verity Parkway
500 Tytus Avenue, Middletown, Ohio
Light Up Middletown is a drive-thru fantasy light display.
The mission of Light Up Middletown is to raise funds for improvements to Middletown City Parks and to present a first-class holiday event that will draw guests not only from the immediate area but from a wider region.
By working with other local holiday event planners and light displays, Light Up Middletown hopes to make Middletown a hub of holiday activity.
When: New Year’s Eve from 6 PM to 10 PM
Admission: Cash donation – you set the price!
Go Skiing, Snowboarding, or Snow Tubing at Perfect North Slopes
19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg, IN
*Weather permitting
Hours: 9:30 AM – Midnight December 31, 2025, and New Year’s Day
Perfect North Slopes will be open for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing from 9:30 AM to Midnight!
There is a DJ in the main ski lodge starting at 8PM, a torchlight parade by ski instructors to start the countdown til midnight, and a fireworks show at midnight.
The event is free for spectators, but lift tickets are required for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing.
One person is allowed per tube, and there is no minimum height required for tubing. Perfect North prefers that the child be at least 4 years old to tube on the main hill.
Younger kids, ages 3-6 years old, also have a separate small tubing area to enjoy while being supervised by their parent or guardian.
Tubing Tickets are available for a 2-hour session. Tickets are grouped by ages 12 & under, 13-59, and 60+.
Check the Perfect North website for snow tubing and lift ticket pricing.
I highly recommend the snow tubing option if you have a family with a wide range of ages.
Snow Tubing allows everyone in your group to have a great time and stay together. The moving sidewalk makes it easy to return to the top of the hill after your ride down.
There are also lanes specifically for groups who want to link up and go down the hill at the same time.
Cincinnati Cyclones New Year’s Eve + Indoor Fireworks
Heritage Bank Center -100 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH
When: December 31, 2025
Doors open at 5 PM and the puck drops at 6PM.
Enjoy the Cincinnati Cyclones hockey game against the Indy Fuel on New Year’s Eve, followed by indoor fireworks.
This is a fun adventure for families of all ages.
New Year’s Eve at Dave & Buster’s
Family-friendly NYE 4PM – 7 PM on December 31, 2025
Dave & Buster’s will have NYE events at two local locations:
- Tickets for Florence location -781 Heights Blvd, Florence, KY
- Tickets for Springdale location – 11775 Commons Dr, Springdale, OH
NYE at Dave & Buster’s Admission includes:
Family Food and Play – 4PM
Ticket for 1 person, includes:
- Appetizer Banquet & Dessert
- Unlimited Soft Drinks
- $20 Power Card with Unlimited Video Game Play
- Party Hats and Favors
- Ginger Ale Toast
Tickets are required for all attendees; toddlers under 2 are the exception, but they don’t receive food and gameplay without a ticket.
Any minors need to have a chaperone or guardian with them.
Visit the Newport Aquarium
1 Aquarium Way, Newport, KY
Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM on New Year’s Eve and 9 AM – 5 PM on New Year’s Day – There isn’t a special NYE event, but the attraction will be open.
Purchase Discount Tickets for Newport Aquarium Here*Make a ticket reservation online
Explore the Newport Aquarium with Shark and Stingray Touch tanks, penguin viewing, and walk across the Shark Bridge.
There’s an assortment of aquatic animals to view, including fish, alligators, eels, sharks, rays, and more!
Explore the Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, OH
The Cincinnati Museum Center houses multiple museums – Cincinnati History Museum, The Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Huumanity Center, and the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX theater.
There isn’t a special event for New Year’s Eve, but the museum center will be open from 10 AM to 5 PM for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
You can save on your visit to the Cincinnati Museum Center with a Cincinnati POGO Pass.
The POGO Pass includes – One (1) Museum Admission ticket to Cincinnati Museum Center, which includes… The Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, and Cincinnati History Museum.
Use “ADVMOM” for 50% off the POGO Pass.
