Great River Children’s Museum Rings in the New Year Early with First-Ever Noon Year’s Eve Party

(KNSI) – For parents who struggle to keep their eyes open until midnight, the Great River Children’s Museum has the perfect solution: a New Year’s celebration that happens at noon.

The museum will host its first-ever Noon Year’s Eve party on December 31st from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., featuring traditions from around the world, interactive activities, and a ball drop with no late bedtime required.

Director of Experience and Community Engagement at Great River Children’s Museum, Dave Kaczor, filled KNSI News in on some of the plans, which include looking at how other cultures bring in the new year around the globe. “South America, for example, does a green grape eating at midnight. They eat 12 green grapes to celebrate each month of good luck. We’re converting that into a playful beanbag toss.” To honor Asian traditions, a giant red envelope will be set up for making good luck wishes throughout the year.

The highlight of the celebration comes at noon. Kaczor explained that the museum is starting its own countdown tradition leading up to the noon hour. “We have a three-story climber to the clouds. It goes all the way from the basement up to the third story. We’re going to be dropping a big disco ball up from that third-story climber. There’ll be some confetti to go along with it.”

Following the ball drop, families can enjoy a glow-in-the-dark dance party and continue exploring the museum’s exhibits and activities.

Throughout the morning, families can participate in African drumming sessions in the Teaching Kitchen, create New Year’s-themed arts and crafts, snap photos at a festive photo booth, and enter drawings for prizes.

General admission is $14, with no pre-registration required. The museum continues to offer its Museums for All program, providing $5 admission for families receiving food, heating, or medical services.

Museum members receive free admission. For details on the event, click here.

___