This New Year’s Eve, don’t hire a babysitter or stay in to watch movies. In this article you’ll find four picks around Washington, DC and Baltimore that will please the entire family.
First Night Alexandria
Family-friendly First Night events take place in multiple Virginia and Maryland locations, but First Night Alexandria is the closest to Washington, DC. Easily accessible by metro or car (with free parking for First Night), the event takes place on and around King Street in Old Town Alexandria. First Night Alexandria starts at 5:00 pm with a one-mile race down King Street, and by midnight participants will have had the opportunity to enjoy 200 performances, as well as clowns and face painters. Free shuttle buses bring revelers between events. On the First Night Alexandria website, there is a list of events, times, and locations, including icons to indicate music, drama, comedy, and story-telling events. Kids aged 12 and under are free, and adults pay $15 each.
Greenbelt New Year
On December 31, bring the family to Greenbelt Youth Center (99 Centerway, Greenbelt, Maryland) and transport them to Venice for New Year’s Eve. This free event runs from 6:15 pm to midnight, and includes a variety of performances and games. Among other highlights, participants can make their own Venetian carnival masks. For those feeling reflective, there will be an area to write a letter with New Year’s Resolutions (which will be mailed to the writer in 2008).
Baltimore New Year’s Eve Spectacular
Baltimore families can head to the Inner Harbor Amphitheater at the corner of Pratt and Light Streets for an evening of fun at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Activities and musical performances will entertain the whole family from 9 pm to 12:30 am on New Year’s Eve. At midnight a fireworks display will light up the harbor! This event is free, but families can also visit the Top of the World Observation Level of the Baltimore World Trade Center for a nominal fee.
Night 365 at the Maryland Science Center
Another family-friendly event at the Baltimore Inner Harbor is Night 365 at the Maryland Science Center. Night 365 starts at 7 pm. Special programs, such as IMAX and planetarium showings, end just before midnight and the Inner Harbor fireworks, but the Maryland Science Center remains open until 12:30 am. Not only will all permanent hands-on exhibits be open, but a Kids Room with face painting, puppet shows, and other activities will be available for children 8 and under. A kid-friendly dinner will also be served. Cost is $35 per person (or $30 per person for members), with free entry for children under 3 years old. The entry fee includes reservations for one IMAX showing and dinner, as well as access to the museum’s exhibits.
Sources:
Akeya Dickson, “Best Bets.” Washington Post.
“Baltimore New Year’s Eve Spectacular.” Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts.
“Night 365: Maryland Science Center.” Maryland Science Center.
“Washington Post City Guide.” Washington Post.
