Awesome Ideas for Celebrating New Year's in the Bay Area

Revelers can ring in 2017 at the New Year's Eve Fireworks Celebration on the Bay at the Ferry Building near Pier 14 in San Francisco, but, for some young children, staying up late is not possible. There are lots of fun ways to celebrate New Year's in the Bay Area during the day with the entire family before the explosive midnight fireworks happen. Here is a round-up of great family friendly ways to ring in the New Year and avoid a disastrous New Year's Day.

Noon Year's Eve, 9am-2pm, Ring in the New Year with your little ones at the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Noon Year’s Eve! This kid-friendly affair includes music by DJ ManCub, a celebratory ball drop at noon, dancing, and various art activities like crown making. In addition, enjoy access to the museum’s indoor and outdoor exhibits like Lookout Cove and Bay Hall, Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito.

Happy New Years, Eve Charlie Brown!, 12-3pm, Ring in the New Year with hands-on crafts for kids, and Santa Rosa’s only Up-Down and Baby Balloon drops at Noon, and root beer toasts!, Schultz Museum, Santa Rosa.

Noon Year's Eve, 10am-1pm, Kids and parents, come celebrate the New Year with music, activities, face painting and a countdown balloon drop at noon!, Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos.

New Year's Eve Balloon Drop Celebration, Balloon Drop: 11am, 1pm, and 4pm, celebrate strokes of midnight around the world.  Kids will count down and celebrate with hundreds of colorful balloons dropping from above, times vary by age, Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland.

Japanese New Year's Bell-Ringing Ceremony, 9:30am (members) 11:30pm (public)-1pm, Ring in the New Year by taking a swing at a 2,100-pound, 16th-century Japanese temple bell and participants may then take turns ringing the bell to leave behind any unfortunate experiences, regrettable deeds or ill luck from the previous year. While you wait your turn, add to the 1,000 origami cranes and make a wish for the New Year or pick an omikuji (fortune)! Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.

New Year's Eve Day Party, Start your year off right with science. Bring the whole family to the Hall on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve for exciting scientific celebrations, including a huge balloon drop. Count down to 2017 at our New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop—held at 2:00 p.m. because, hard as we might try, not all of us can stay up until midnight. As you get showered with hundreds of balloons, raise your apple cider glass in a toast to all the growing and learning experiences your family will have at the Hall in the New Year, Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley.

Wacky Winter Wonderland, 8pm-12:30am, pinball, games and more, Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, El Cerrito. 

Will your kids be staying up until midnight on New Year's Eve?