20-plus kid-friendly ways to ring in 2023

New Year’s Eve is the party night of the year, but what about when bedtime is hours before the big Ball Drop? Here’s a list of family-friendly events in the Philadelphia region on Dec. 31. Celebrate the end of 2022 with your kids and get them in bed on time.

The main event in Philadelphia each year is the fireworks on the Penn’s Landing waterfront with shows at both 6 p.m. and midnight. The first fireworks show is titled “Brilliance” and features music from composers John Williams and Hans Zimmer. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia

Watch fireworks over the Delaware River from the historic deck of the Battleship New Jersey, with music and food concessions. Board the battleship anytime after 4 p.m. to take a tour and join the party before the 6 p.m. fireworks. Tickets are $10, and proceeds go to the ongoing restoration of the battleship. Parking is $10. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, 856-966-1652, battleshipnewjersey.org, @battleshipnj

Get the absolute best views of the fireworks along with other party perks by purchasing tickets to RiverRink NYE Parties on Ice. Your $60 ticket includes ice skating admission and skate rental, live entertainment and interactive activities, one free Ferris wheel ride, soft drinks and water, and food from Chickie’s & Pete’s, Black Iron BBQ, and Skelly’s Pizza. The party is from 5 to 8 p.m. If you skip skating, you can buy a spectator ticket for $50. 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, 215-922-2FUN, delawareriverwaterfront.com, @delawareriverwaterfront

New Year’s Eve marks the final Saturday in the Seaport Museum’s holiday “Sea-son of Lights.” Each week, the museum staff hosts a family-friendly education program in the Citizen Science Lab with mini experiments exploring the science of lights and nautical navigation. On New Year’s Eve, experiments are at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. before the museum closes at 3 p.m.

211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, 215-413-8655, phillyseaport.org, @phillyseaport

Experience Franklin Frost, the Franklin Institute Holiday Celebration featuring a 26-foot-tall celestial-themed tree, three train sets, and multiple photo opportunities, before it ends. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, 215-448-1200, fi.edu, @franklininstitute

» READ MORE: Say goodbye to 2022 at one of these Philly New Year’s Eve parties

Now in its 10th year, the Electrical Spectacle Light Show features more than 200,000 lights centered around the Franklin Square Fountain. Play a round of Chilly Philly Mini Golf, take a spin on the carousel, and grab a bite to eat and sit by the firepits. Crafts from 5 to 6 p.m. lead up to the “Square Drop” from atop SquareBurger. 200 N. Sixth St., Philadelphia, 215-629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square

Enjoy Macy’s light-filled show with songs and stories like The Nutcracker and Frosty the Snowman illuminated by 100,000 lights, backed by sounds of the famous Wanamaker Organ, at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. Make free reservations to walk through Dickens Village — an animatronic retelling of A Christmas Carol. 1300 Market St., Philadelphia, 215-241-9000, macys.com

The Museum of Illusions features more than 60 installations from 2D artistic illusions to fully immersive exhibits where you become part of the illusion. New Year’s Eve is the last day of the Kids Holiday Scavenger Hunt, with a special prize at the end. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Admission is $23 for adults, $18 for children ages 5-12, for timed tickets. Kids 4 and under are free. 401 Market St., Philadelphia, moiphilly.com, @museumofillusions_philly

Countdown to noon at Please Touch Museum with performances from Fyutch, Dance 4 Life, and the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. The museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with activities and a noon countdown in Hamilton Hall. Reservations required. Tickets are $25 with special pricing for members and EBT cardholders. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, 215-581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org, @pleasetouchmuseum

Enjoy a front-row seat to the Rivers Casino New Year’s Eve Fireworks. There will be a Giant Lite Brite, a dance party with live video feed on the pier’s jumbo screens, and activities such as making your own mini golf course out of recycled materials, mural making, crafts, and games. The party is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, and children 2 and under are free. Tickets include free hot chocolate with a cash bar for adults. 121 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, 215-923-0818, cherrystreetpier.com, @cherrystreetpier

Say goodbye to 2022 with Cinderella at Figo, which is hosting a family-friendly New Year’s Eve Brunch with a countdown to noon. Cinderella will be there from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the party and photos. 1033 N. Second St. Philadelphia, 267-245-9625, figoitalian.com, @figoitalian

We Rock the Spectrum, an indoor sensory gym with a variety of swings, climbing features, trampoline, zip line, and imaginative play toys, will host a New Year’s Eve party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are required and cost $25 per child. 12357 Academy Rd., Philadelphia, 215-904-6280, werockthespectrumnortheastphilly.com, @wrts_nephilly

Jump into 2023 at Altitude’s Noon Year’s Eve party from 10 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $30 per person and include a slice of pizza, party favor, and balloon drop. If your kids just want to jump without the extras, the trampoline park reopens to the general public at 12:30 p.m. and stays open until 7 p.m. Make reservations online.

1045 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville, 215-357-5867, altitudefeasterville.com, @altitudefeasterville

Christmas House is a fully immersive, indoor walk-through of all things Christmas, with the usual sights, sounds, and smells coming to life in more than 12 themed rooms (think Harry Potter, Buddy the Elf, and Nightmare Before Christmas). You can even have a snowball fight in the first ever Snow Room. Christmas House is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 31. Tickets can be bought online at $28 for adults and $20 for kids ages 3 to 10. 160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia, christmashousekingofprussia.com, @christmashousekop

Colorful Christmas at Crayola Experience runs through Jan. 3 with exclusive holiday activities, including helping Santa save Christmas, meeting a singing snowman, and taking a photo with a life-size snow globe. On New Year’s Eve, there will be Colorful Countdowns at noon and 2 p.m. Enjoy hands-on activities such as naming and wrapping your very own crayon, climbing through a Crayola-themed playground, making wax molds, and much more from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

30 Centre Square, Easton, 610-515-8000, crayolaexperience.com, @visitcrayola

A Lego fan’s paradise located inside Plymouth Meeting Mall, Legoland Discovery Center hosts theHoliday Bricktacular celebration through New Year’s Day. Buy tickets online to save a few dollars. Legoland Discovery Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.

500 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, 267-245-9696, legolanddiscoverycenter.com/philadelphia/

Christmas is the most magical time of year to visit Longwood Gardens with 500,000 twinkling lights, spectacular fountain shows, more than 100 Christmas trees, and much more. From 4:30 until 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, there will be a variety of live music performances throughout the grounds. Timed tickets are required so reserve ASAP, as there are limited tickets available.

1001 Longwood Rd., Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, longwoodgardens.org, @longwoodgardens

At this party center, kids can climb through the indoor playground, play with puppets, blocks and other toys, play make-believe in the miniature town, and more. Choose from two special open play sessions either from 1 to 3 p.m. or 4 to 6 p.m. Grab some necklaces and hats and pose by the photo backdrop and decorations, including juice toast and balloon drop. Reservations are required, $35 per child, $30 for additional siblings. 860 Town Center Dr., Langhorne, 267-568-2348, playpadbucks.com, @playpadbucks

Peddler’s Village goes all out for the holidays with more than one million lights strung around the trees, restaurants, and more than 65 locally owned shops and boutiques. Stop by the Giggleberry Fair, an indoor family fun center with an indoor obstacle course, carousel, arcade games, and a toddler zone. Peddler’s Village and Giggleberry Fair are both open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

📍Rte. 263 and Street Rd., Lahaska, 🌐 peddlersvillage.com, 📷 @peddlersvillage

This annual Bethlehem New Year’s Eve tradition is an outdoor festival that culminates with the descent of a 400-pound Peeps chick and fireworks. Tickets are $5 per person and include a goodie bag and a coupon to redeem a free s’mores kit for all kids under 12. Expect activities, crafts, live musical performances, a scavenger hunt, and games.The festival is from 3 to 6 p.m. with the Peeps drop at 5:35 p.m. 789 E. First St., Bethlehem, 610-332-1300, steelstacks.org, @steelstacks_pa

Little ones 5 and under can have some New Year’s Eve fun of their own with six different countdown play session times. Each 45-minute party includes playtime in the gym, activities led by Romp n’ Roll instructors, a balloon drop, and bubble dance party. Tickets are $40 per child, $35 for members. Preregistration is required.

2856 W. Moreland Rd., Willow Grove, 610-580-0442, rompnroll.com, @rompnroll_willowgrove

Stroll through millions of lights, watch a holiday-themed show with music and dancing, and soar and spin on rides — all with a Sesame Street twist. Sesame Place is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 31. Book in advance to attend The Count’s Countdown to New Year’s Dine events at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., or 4 p.m., a $45 buffet-style meal that includes special meet and greets with characters.

100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne, 215-702-3566, sesameplace.com, @sesameplace

New Year’s Eve is the final hurrah for Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular at the Fairgrounds at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, an outdoor holiday experience with 1.2 million lights, an 8000-square-foot ice rink, a 162-foot ice slide, food and drinks, and more. Tickets start at $20 for adults and $15 for children under 13; kids 4 and under are free.

Perkiomen Mill Loop, Oaks, info@tinseltownholiday.com, tinseltownholiday.com, @tinseltownholiday

See the Philadelphia Zoo in a whole new light during LumiNature. The zoo is lit by over one million lights with highlights including a 40-foot-tall penguin that glows, a 25-foot-tall pink flamingo tree, a 100-foot aquarium tunnel, and more. Buy your reserved time tickets online. Time slots start at 5 p.m. and end at 7:45 on Dec. 31.

3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, 215-243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org, @philadelphiazoo

Spend the morning playing with the fam at Main Event. The family entertainment center is hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tickets are $18.99 and include all-you-can-play arcade games, bowling, billiards, laser tag, and gravity ropes. There will be party favors and a Shirley Temple toast when the clock strikes noon.

2900 Fashion Center Blvd., Newark, 302-722-9466, mainevent.com, @mymainevent

About the writer: Michelle Reese is a freelance writer who also runs the kids activities blog Sweet Mini Moments. She lives in Bucks County.