Planning a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration in Sussex County, Delaware? Your little ones may not have the stamina to stay up until midnight, and let's be honest, an early bedtime might be a welcome relief for everyone! Here are some fun and festive ideas to ring in the New Year with your tiny party animals while enjoying the magic of the Delaware beaches.
New Year’s Eve Countdown Bags
This is a DIY idea that you can customize to meet your family needs. There is no right or wrong ways to celebrate the new year. Need to start the party earlier with a noon countdown? Do it! I included some of my children’s favorite activities in our bags like glitter slime. Glitter is normally a no-go in our house due to my husband’s pure dislike of it but he’s a GREAT sport on New Year’s. A few of our other favorite things are Gingerbread playdough, water beads (haul in that outdoor water table for some seriously FUN indoor play!), and a sleepover. We allow crashing on the couch (family sleepover!) which as simple as it is, it’s a HUGE treat for my crew. We also made bags for little kids, and our bigger kids who can hang until the ball drops. I close my bags and if it’s an activity that requires a lot of items, I have them ready to go (hidden in my pantry) with just a note inside of the bag with directions.
Materials
- Lunch bags
- Printable clock faces or hand written hours (use an index card)
Countdown bag ideas
- Make your own slime
- Make your own playdough
- Water bead play
- Minute-to-win-it games
- Knock the pom-pom off the cup with party blowers
- Pom-pom toss: who can catch the most pom-poms in their team cup
- Cookie race: place a cookie on forehead and using only face, get cookie into their mouth.
- It's a Wrap- use toilet paper or streamers to "wrap" your teammate first!
- The Shake! Tie a tissue box around a player's waist and have them shake out as many ping pong balls as they can in a minute!
- The Countdown! Fill boxes with different numbers of bells(1-5). Players shake boxes and place them in order of number of bells the box contains.
- Hot cocoa bombs & Go Fish!
- Ice Cream in a Bag - get the recipe here.
- Candy-bar Train
- Family movie with popcorn *Marshmallow popcorn with sprinkles is our go-to “special treat” get the recipe here.
- Decorating Gingerbread houses (I buy them AFTER Christmas for a significant discount)
- New Years Word of the Year
- Glow Stick Party
- Family Puzzle
- Coloring pages & Word Searches
- Party Poppers/Sparklers/ Confetti
- Make your own glasses-cheap plastic glasses with stickers, pipe cleaners
- Build a Snowman (white playdough/pipe cleaners/buttons)
Noon Year's Eve Celebrations
STOMPing into the New Year 10am-noon
Delaware Museum of Nature and Science
Experience live bird encounters, interactive activities, and a unique science-related ball drop. This event is perfect for families and individuals of all ages.
Members:$3, Non-Members: $17/ages 3 and up, $7/non-members ages 1-2
NYE Confetti Countdown 11am-1:30pm
The Delaware Children’s Museum
December 31st
The Delaware Children’s Museum is hosting not one but THREE confetti countdowns at 11am, noon, and 1pm. There will be firework painting, a chalk wall, and photo op.
Noon Years’s Eve Party! Selbyville Public Library 11am-noon
December 28th
A family friendly celebration to say goodbye to 2024! There will be crafts, games, and a countdown to noon.
Click here for more information.
Noon Year’s Eve at Brandywine Zoo 10am-12pm & 12pm-2pm
December 31st
Party like an animal with a group countdown to 11am & 1 pm. Program takes place outside in the zoo, please dress for the weather!
Hot chocolate will be available for purchase at the snack bar. Please note that some animals may not be out because of the cold weather.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY!
*Delaware Zoological Society Members will be admitted free but must register online and be prepared to show membership card upon entry. The Zoo will not be accepting any guest passes or other promotions.*
$5/ticket Children under 3 are free. Members are free.
Sailsbury, MD
Sweetfrog 11am-noon
December 31st
On New Year's Eve, bring the kids in for a party of their own! They will dance, play games, eat snacks and pizza, have a yogurt and then celebrate with a countdown to noon! The countdown will include noisemakers! Fun for all ages! This is NOT a drop off event.
No charge for parents/chaperones. Adults may purchase yogurts during the event for normal weigh-and-pay.
Click here for tickets.
Evening Fun
New Year's Eve Drone Light Show at the Riverfront 6pm
Enjoy a dazzling display of technology and artistry that promises to create unforgettable memories.
WANT MORE FIRST STATE FAMILY FUN?
- New Castle County ā¶ļøMacaroni Wilmington- New Castle Macaroni KID makes it EASY to find your family fun around New Castle County. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here. Follow @mackidnewcastlede on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Kent County ā¶ļø Macaroni KID Dover - Milford - Smyrna makes it EASY to find your family fun around Kent County. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter. Follow @mackiddoverde on Facebook and Instagram.
- Sussex County ā¶ļøMacaroni KID Sussex Delaware makes it EASY to find your family fun around Sussex County. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here. Follow @mackidsussexde on Facebook and Instagram.
