Seven New Year's Celebrations for Bay Area Families

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There are lots of fun ways to celebrate New Year's in the Bay Area with the entire family. Here is a round-up of great family friendly options for ringing in 2018.

Noon Year's Eve, 9am-2pm, dance to DJ jams, count down to noon and watch the ball drop in Festival Plaza. Stop by Studio 10 and make a festive party crown, Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito.

Japanese New Year's Bell-Ringing Ceremony, 9:30am-2:30pm, The bell will be struck 108 times on New Year’s Eve to usher in the New Year and curb the 108 mortal desires (bonno) that, according to Buddhist belief, torment humankind. While you wait your turn, paint a Year of the Dog charm (netsuke) and make a wish for the New Year, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.

Happy New Years, Eve Charlie Brown!, 10am-4pm, Ring in the New Year with Snoopy, hands-on crafts for kids, and Up-Down and Baby Balloon Drops at noon, and root beer toasts, Schultz Museum, Santa Rosa.

New Year's Eve Day Party, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, Bring the whole family to the Hall on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve for exciting scientific activities. Raise your apple cider glasses and toast another year of scientific discovery and fun at our annual New Year’s Eve celebration, Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley.

Wacky Winter Wonderland, 8pm-12:30am, special activities and family fun for every generation, and pack a bit more fun into the year before it is over, Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, El Cerrito. 

New Year's Eve Balloon Drop Celebration, 11am, 1pm, and 4pm, Ring in the New Year without staying up all night! Celebrate strokes of midnight from around the world while kids count down and catch hundreds of colorful balloons as they drop from the ceiling and participate in fun activities to receive a special prize. Now the kids can ring in the New Year without staying up past their bedtime!, Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland.

New Year's Eve Sleepover at the Monterey Aquarium with a sparkling cider toast—plus, small bites and beverages will be available for purchase, including beer, wine and kid-friendly drinks. Throughout the evening, you can take a silly snapshot in our photo booth, satisfy your sweet tooth at our sundae bar, and enjoy more fun activities and programs! In the morning, wake up with the fishes as our first guests on New Year's Day. Enjoy a full breakfast in our Cafe, and then join our naturalists in watching wildlife from the Great Tide Pool deck to welcome 2018.