Looking to celebrate the end of 2015 and start of 2016 with a family-friendly event? Even if the kids can’t make it to midnight there are plenty of options for earlier celebrations in Chicago and the suburbs.
Pre-New Year’s Eve
Pre-New Year’s Eve Party, Little Beans Play Cafe, 1809 W. Webster, Chicago
- Wednesday, December 30 from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm
- $25 for 1 child, $15 for each sibling. Purchase tickets online.
- DJ, pizza, dancing, punch, & a countdown with balloon drop.
Noon Countdowns
Bubble Bash 2015: An Out of This World New Year’s Eve, DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 North Washington Street, Naperville
- 9:00 am-Noon
- $20/member, $25/non-member. Online registration ends December 30 at Noon; limited tickets will be available at the door.
- Intergalactic adventure with moon sand, slime, rockets, jet packs, live performance by Boogers, and countdown at noon.
Family New Year’s Eve Party, Vaughn Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail, Aurora
- 11:00 am-1:00 pm
- $7/person (under 2 free) in advance (barcode 85778), $10/person day of event. (Day of event admission does not include snacks or party favors.)
- Inflatables, arts & crafts, dance, prizes, toddler area, and balloon drop at noon.
- 10:00 am-Noon
- For ages 1-6 years old
- $10 for residents, $15 for non-residents
- Inflatables, riding toys, play areas, & balloon drop at noon.
Noon Year’s Eve Jump, 1095 Pingree Road, Crystal Lake
- 11:20 am-1:20 pm and 1:40 pm-3:40 pm
- $15/child
- Jumping, pizza (for child & non-paying adult), a balloon drop, and all day open jump admission
- 10:00 am-Noon
- General admission applies: $8/person. Free for members.
- Crafts, activities, and countdown with balloon drop at noon.
- 11:00 am-Noon
- General admission applies: $14/person
- Crafts, noisemakers and countdown at noon.
Noon Year’s Eve Bash at Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview
- Two sessions: 8:30 am-11:00 am & 12:30 pm-3:00 pm
- $22/person for members, $32/person for non-members. Tickets can be purchased online.
- Joel Frankel concert (morning), DJ (afternoon), party hats & horns, dancing, kids party styling by KidSnips, family photos, and confetti cannons.
Wonder Works New Year’s Eve Party, Wonder Works, 6445 W. North Avenue, Oak Park
- Noon-5:00 pm.
- General admission applies: $6/person.
- Food, games, singing.
Evening Countdowns
Countdown to Fun at the Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main Street, Rockford
- 12:30 pm-4:30 pm
- General admission applies: $8/person.
- Crafts, games, music, art, live entertainment, party hats, confetti. Hourly countdowns to celebrate the New Year around the world.
Fireworks at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago
- Fireworks at midnight
- Free
- Winter WonderFest open until 8:00 pm.
- Noon-6:00 pm
- Free
- Scavenger hunts, deals, performers, and giveaways. Countdown will be at 6:00 pm at the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower.
New Year’s Eve at Liberty Lanes, 115 Lw Besinger Dr, Carpentersville
- 4:30 pm-7:00 pm
- $50/lane with reservation, $55/lane walk-in
- 2.5 hours of unlimited bowling for up to 6 people, one pizza & pitcher of soda per lane, free shoe rental, kids party favors, toast at “midnight” (6:30 pm).
- 3:30 pm-6:00 pm
- $16/child, $8/adult
- Bouncing fun, rock wall, pizza & drink, indoor petting zoo, countdown with ball drop, hats & noisemakers.
Pinstripes’ New Year’s Eve Celebration, Pinstripes in Northbrook, South Barrington, and Oak Brook
- Balloon drops at 8:00 pm and midnight
- No cover charge, but reservations recommended. Bowling, food, & bocce courts available for purchase.
- Live entertainment and complimentary party favors.
Zoo Year’s Eve at Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield
- Countdown at 8:00 pm.
- General admission and parking fees apply. $16.95/adult, $11.95/child 3-11, children under 3 free. $10/parking.
- Music, games, party favors, and a countdown at the Holly Jolly Theatre. Crafts and kid-friendly countdown (designed for kids 6 and under) at the Hamill Family Play Zoo.
