New Year’s Eve in Des Moines with Kids 2024
If you are a parent, celebrating New Year’s Eve celebrations may look a little different now with kids. Des Moines, Iowa, and several surrounding communities offer fun events and activities to do as a whole family. Check out all the fun planned and gather some ideas to plan your own New Year event to celebrate the end of 2024.
Keep checking back! We will be adding more events and activities as they are announced throughout the month.
Events happening around Des Moines
New Year’s Family Kits
Urbandale Parks & Recreation
Register by December 24
Countdown to 2025 has begun! What better way to ring in the New Year than having fun with the family? The Urbandale Parks and Recreation department is here to help! With our New Year’s Family Kits, you can have fun in the comfort of your own home. For just $30, you will get all the supplies needed to welcome in 2024. Our kits offer masks, hats, noise makers, snacks, and activities for the whole family to be a part of! If your New Year’s resolution is to spend more time with family, then this is perfect for you. Reserve yours now.
Ring in the New Year with Iowa Wild
Iowa Wild
December 28 at 6 p.m.
Itโs New Yearโs Eve with the Wild and we want to ring in 2025 with YOU! There will be live music on the concourse for our Saturday Night Local Concert Series and make sure you stay in your seats following the game for a special postgame fireworks show! Purchase tickets here.
Scavenger Hunt: New Year’s Around the World
East Side Library
December 30
Join the East Side Library for a week-long scavenger hunt exploring New Year’s traditions from around the world! Search the library for clues and learn fun facts about how different cultures celebrate the new year! Complete the scavenger hunt and earn a festive prize!
Blue Years Eve Party
Playgrounds Cafe
December 31; Various time slots available.
Ring in the New Year at Playgrounds Cafe!! Tickets are now on sale for our 2nd Annual Blue Year’s Eve! ๐
Our Blue Year’s Eve events will be 90 minutes and include:
- a Meet & Greet with your favorite Blue Heeler
- -A dance party, NYE craft, and balloon drop
- Playtime in Playgrounds Cafe indoor play area
- Kids Hot Chocolate & Cake Pop
This year, we are excited to have a Sensory Friendly opportunity during our 1 pm event! This time slot will have dim lighting, no music, and a more limited capacity than our other times. We can’t wait to welcome kiddos that would benefit from an alternative celebration this year!
- 9 a.m.
- 11 a.m.
- 1 p.m. (sensory friendly)
- 3 p.m.
Tickets are $22/child 1-10 years old (adults are free!). Tickets are limited! Make sure to get yours before they’re gone!! ๐โโ๏ธ
Get your tickets here.
Free Family New Year’s Eve Party
Big Grove Brewery
December 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Why should the grown-ups have all the fun? Once again, weโre making sure the little ones get to ring in the New Year their way โwithout staying up past bedtime.
๐พ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
โข A kid-approved music playlist to get those little feet dancing
โข THREE balloon drops to recreate that NYC midnight magic (because one just isnโt enough!)
โข Countdown videos on the big screen to make it feel oh-so-real
โข Yummy snacks to keep the energy high
๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐!
โข Party 1: 11 AMโ12 PM | Balloon Drop at 12 PM
โข Party 2: 2 PMโ3 PM | Balloon Drop at 3 PM
โข Party 3: 5 PMโ6 PM | Balloon Drop at 6 PM
Noon Year’s Eve Ball Drop
Paws & Pints
December 31from 10 a.m. to Noon
Join Paws & Pints for an early New Year celebration with your furry friend!
Enjoy a festive New Year’s Eve Brunch and a special noon ball drop. Take part in the fun for a chance to win a LIFETIME Membership and other fantastic prizes. Letโs raise a glass to 2025 together!
New Year’s Eve Goodie Bags
Central Library
December 31
Celebrate the upcoming year by grabbing a New Year’s goodie bag at the Central youth desk! One per child, while supplies last.
Noon Year’s Eve Party
North Side Library
December 31 from 11 a.m. to Noon
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the North Side Library! Enjoy snacks, crafts, and sensory activities for the whole family while we count down to noon.
Noon-Years Eve: Around the World Celebrations
East Side Library
December 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Inspired by New Year’s traditions from around the globe. We will recreate some New Year’s traditions, crafts, and dances. Join us for a countdown to noon and kick off the New Year with fun and excitement!
Noon Year’s Eve
Urbandale Public Library
December 31 from 11 a.m. to Noon
Not sure you can make it to midnight on New Yearโs Eve? Celebrate early at the library! They will have crafts, dancing, balloons, and bubbles to make this a rockinโ good time for the whole family! At noon they will have the Urbandale Fire Department drop a disco ball so we can sharpen our count-down skills!
Noon Year’s Eve Children’s Balloon Drop
Holiday Hullabaloo
December 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ring in the New Year with all your favorite Holiday Hullabaloo characters! Everyone will have the opportunity to make their own New Yearโs Eve head gear with a little help from the Holiday Hullabaloo Elves. Magician Johnathan May will be on hand to amaze, and there will be plenty of GIANT party games, including Chess, Jenga, Connect 4, and Tic Tac Toe. They will serve kid-friendly NYE drinks and treats, and provide goodie bags for all kiddos in attendance. All attendees must have a ticket. Children must be accompanied by at least one parent.
Noon Year’s Eve at Pump It Up
December 31 from 10:30 a.m. from 12:30 p.m.
Noon Years Eve includes jumping, sliding, racing and more. At the end, there will be a Glow in the Dark GIANT Balloon Drop. They will hand out noise makers, hats and do a big count down. Special events registration is strongly suggested, as this is normally a sold out event. Everyone will needs socks and a waiver to play. You must be 34″ tall to play on the inflatables. $15 if preregistered $20 at the door. Adults are FREE. Click reserve now to register. PARENTS ARE FREE
Kid’s Noon Year’s Eve Party
Pathway Church – Johnston
December 31 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Bring the kiddos for their own special celebration to count down the new year! Party starts at 10:30AM and ends with a big dance party, countdown to noon and a giant balloon drop (Toddlers will have their own special balloon drop within the big party room!). Prior to the dance party the kids will have the chance to enjoy carnival games with prizes, play laser tag, make fun crafts, or enjoy some yummy snacks as we bring in the new year (12 hours early)!
Noon Year’s Eve Party
West Des Moines Public Library
December 31 from 11 a.m. to Noon
Welcome in the new year with us at the library! They will have a fun celebratory storytime starting at 11:00 AM and will finish with a countdown and a streamer drop right at noon. The library closes at 12:00 PM on New Year’s Eve, so this will be the last hurrah as we go out and into 2025. This storytime will be best suited for ages 2-6 and their caregivers. No registration required.
Noon Year’s Eve
Get Air
December 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There’s no need to stay up late โ ring in the new year early at Get Air Trampoline Park. They will be celebrating 2025 with a countdown and balloon drop at noon! Don’t miss out on the games, giveaways and prizes! Tickets will be sold at the door. Pricing will be the same as regular ticket pricing.
End of Eras Era: Noon Years Eve Celebration
Des Moines Heritage Center
December 31 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Meet us at “midnight” (or noon in this case) at the Des Moines Heritage Center to shake it off in celebration of the iconic Eras Tour. An event for all ages, but tailored to the youngest swifties, we’ll have a photo station with Kelsey Arganbright Photography, a silent disco, and a special balloon drop at noon.
Get ready to dance, reminisce, and make enchanting memories. This event is all about embracing the past while looking forward to the future (when she finally releases Reputation TV). Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to relive the joy of our Eras era! Purchase tickets here.
Noon Year’s Eve
Norwalk Easter Public Library
December 31 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon
Ring in the new year without staying up late! Celebrate with dancing, crafts, and kids activities at this free event. At noon, weโll gather to count down to the โNoon Yearโ together. This event will be held instead of the regularly scheduled Tuesday Storytime.
Family Fun New Year’s Eve
Backpocket Pin & Pixel
December 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bring the whole family to this fun filled day at Backpocket! They will have face-painting, a photo booth set up with props, a DIY party hat making station, a balloon drop and sparkling cider toast at 2p.m., food and drink specials, and more! All with plenty of time to get the kids ready for the sitter for your more adult evening afterward, or just to be cozy at home together, ringing in the New Year!
Countdown to Noon
Warrior Lanes
December 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Countdown to the “noon” year at Warrior Lanes with a special Noon Year’s Eve party! Enjoy glow-in-the-dark bowling, concert lights, and black lights. Prices start at $65 per lane and include 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, large 1-topping pizza, and soda.
Noon Year’s Eve
Science Center of Iowa
December 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join the Science Center of Iowa for activities, experiences, and an official countdown at noon with their infamous balloon drop to celebrate the new year. Activities are included with general admission. Tickets are limited, so we recommend reserving in advance. Purchase tickets here.
New Year’s at Noon
Des Moines Children’s Museum
December 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Celebrate the new year a few hours early with crafts, dancing, and not one, but two beach ball drops! Beach ball drops will happen at 10 a.m. and noon. $10 for ages 1-9, $4 for ages 10+, free for infants and members.
A Wicked New Year’s Eve Party
SingleSpeed Brewing Co.
December 31 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Ringing in the New Year, it should always be a Wicked Good Time. This year, join SingleSpeed Brewing Co. as they celebrate in a Land of Oz-inspired TapRoom with Oz-themed decorations, Wicked cool bracelets, Sparkling Juice Tower of Oz, and a balloon drop @ 7 pm. Learn more here.
Parent’s Night Out
West Des Moines RecPlex
December 31
4 to 10 p.m.
Join West Des Moines Parks and Recreation for a very special version of Parentsโ Night Out to close out the year 2024! These extended hours will allow parents to take a little more time to close out the year while their kids are having the time of their lives with them! They will be having an early balloon drop, fun NYE-themed activities and crafts, a glow-in-the-dark dance party, open playtime, snacks, and of course a pizza party. $35 per person. Register before all spots are filled.
Other activities to celebrate the end of the year!
Ice Skating
Lace up your skates and close out the year ice skating in one of many spots in the Des Moines area.
Dome for the Holidays
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
December 30 & 31st
Stroll through the transformed tropical oasis as you enjoy a dynamic display of thousands of twinkling lights, an incredible collection of blown glass sculptures, festive music, train display, gnome hunt, refreshments, and more. This enchanting holiday display is sure to be a sought-after, unforgettable family tradition, as itโs the perfect way to experience all the magic of the season.
Miracle on 86th Street
Urbandale, Iowa
Charles Gabus Memorial Park is filled with more than 50,000 holiday lights, a large custom-built train, large ornamental displays, fun photo opportunities, a sleigh to sit in, an ice skating rink, and more. Take a look at all the fun!
Skateland
Open skating will be offered to 1 to 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and Glow Skate from 5 to 9 p.m.
New Yearโs Eve Family Glow Skate at Skateland! Kick off the New Year at Skateland! They are welcoming 2025 a few hours early with a family-friendly Glow Skate Night thatโs packed with excitement. They have tons of fun and games plan. Do not miss it!
