Looking for ideas for New Year’s Eve that are family-friendly?
I’m sharing the BEST NYE options for families around Cincinnati.
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.
Yes, this is a unique year, but you still do have options if you choose to go out that day with your family.
Happy Zoo Year at the Cincinnati Zoo
3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH
Day and Time: NYE December 31st 1-9 PM
(The Cincinnati Zoo is also open on New Year’s Day January 1)
Admission: This event is included with Cincinnati Zoo admission
*You need to make a reservation
This New Year’s bash will take place at the Zoo on Thursday, December 31.
Guests are invited to ring in the New Year at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
“Party Animals” of all ages invited to celebrate the 12th annual Happy ZOO Year powered by Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers.
New Year’s Eve Skate at Fountain Square
520 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH
Time: NYE December 31 4:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Fountain Square’s traditional NYE Blast event is canceled due to a state-wide curfew and limit on gatherings, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t celebrate the end of 2020.
All rink patrons will receive *free* 2021 glasses to sport while skating compliments of Cincinnati Bell.
*Also open on New Year’s Day January 1, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm for Winter Wonder Lights
Reservations open on 12/17 and we are expecting them to go fast. A rink reservation will be required to enter the rink platform or warming tent.
Additionally, a Faux Family Countdown will take place at the conclusion of the Winter Wonder Light Show during the 4p, 5:30p, 7p, and 8:30p rink sessions.
*There will be no fireworks at Fountain Square. Advance rink reservation required.*
Have fun at Fountain Square and still make it home for curfew! As always, masks are required.
New Year’s Eve Kids Lunch Cruise With BB Riverboats
Newport Landing Dock in Newport, KY
When: Thursday, December 31, 2020
- Sailing : 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Boarding: 10:30 am
Price:
- Adults GENERAL ADMISSION- $40.00
- Children AGES 4-12- $31.00
Bring the whole crew aboard and ring in the New Year with us….just not so late at night.
The kids will have an absolute blast as we countdown to 12:00 noon!
Your cruise will be complete with all the party favors as well as a DJ for entertainment.
There will be some great activities throughout the day for the kids as well as a tasty lunch buffet. Some of your favorite characters from our Pirate, Princess, and Super Hero cruises will be onboard celebrating with you!
Ring in the new year in style without having to stay up to the wee hours of the night.
Christmas Nights of Lights at Coney Island Amusement Park
6201 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati, OH
Come see over 1 million lights synchronized to traditional and newer, rocking Christmas music played through your car stereo.
With two and a half miles to drive through, your family can see displays and light shows made of over a million lights driven by more than forty thousand computer channels.
When: Open December 31,2020 -January 9, 2021
Christmas Nights of Lights will be open every night including holidays.
Hours: Dusk to 10:00 P.M. Extended hours on weekends.
Any cars still in line at the time of closing WILL be permitted to enter and enjoy the show.
Admission: $7 per person (children 3 and under free)
Tickets can be purchased at the gate upon arrival. The ticket is valid for one person on the day of the visit through January 9, 2021.
Cash & all major credit accepted
HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON THE HILL AT PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK
1763 Hamilton Cleves Road Hamilton, OH
See Journey BOREALIS, an artful adventure through the holiday lights at Pyramid Hill, November 20th through January 3rd.
This 2.5 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 including Brave Berlin, the creators of BLINK Cincinnati.
When: 6-9pm on New Year’s Eve
Admission:
- Monday – Thursday 6 – 9 PM | $20 Per Carload
- Friday – Sunday 6 – 10 PM | $25 Per Carload
- Members Always $15
Open Daily Including Holidays – (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve)
LIGHT UP THE FAIR AT THE BOONE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
859-568-4046
5819 Idlewild Rd Burlington, KY
A Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Drive Through Christmas Lights Display, at the Boone County Fairgrounds.
There are a 500,000 individually controlled LED Christmas lights!
Each and every one of the ½ million LED Christmas lights that adorn the 1.5-mile driving path at the Light Up The Fair this year, are individually controlled.
Captivating displays along the way will light the path with something the whole family is bound to enjoy. Articulately choreographed to holiday-themed music, the show is conveniently broadcast live to the comforts of your car radio’s 97.9 FM channel.
When: December-January 3
- Sunday – Thursday 5:30-9pm
- Friday and Saturday 5:30- 10pm
- Open all holidays including Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, and New Years Day
Admission: $6.00/Person
Children under 3-FREE!
- You can order tickets in advance online or pay with cash or credit at the gate
- Open all holidays including Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, and New Years Day
Tytus and Verity Parkway
500 Tytus Avenue, Middletown, Ohio
The mission of Light Up Middletown is to raise funds to make improvement 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: Open Every Night Thanksgiving Through New Year’s Eve
Admission: Cash donation – you set the price!
Family-Friendly Attractions Around Cincinnati Open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
These attractions do not have special New Year’s Eve events but they are open if you are looking for additional options on that day.
Newport Aquarium
1 Aquarium Way, Newport, KY
Hours: 10am – 6pm on NYE and New Year’s Day
*Make a ticket reservation online
Explore the Newport Aquarium with both Shark and Stingray Touch tanks, penguin viewing, and walk across the Shark Bridge.
There is an assortment of aquatic animals to view including fish, alligators, eels, shark rays, and more!
Go Skiing, Snowboarding, or Snow Tubing at Perfect North Slopes
19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg, IN
Hours: 9:30am – Midnight
Perfect North Slopes will be open for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing from 9:30 am to Midnight!
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.
Kids 3-6 years old also a separate small tubing area to enjoy while they are supervised by their parent or guardian.
Check the Perfect North website for snow tubing and lift ticket pricing.
I highly recommend the tubing option if you have a family with a wide range of ages.
Regardless of age, 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.
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