New Year’s Eve for Kids in Des Moines

Sharing is caring!

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.

NYE, New Year's Eve kids, New Year's Eve, New Year's Eve, Hotel Renovo, Des Moines, Iowa, events
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.

Itโ€™s New Yearโ€™s 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! ๐ŸŽ‰

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!! ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏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, weโ€™re making sure the little ones get to ring in the New Year their way โ€”without staying up past bedtime.

๐‘พ๐’‰๐’‚๐’•โ€™๐’” ๐‘ฏ๐’‚๐’‘๐’‘๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ?

โ€ข A kid-approved music playlist to get those little feet dancing
โ€ข THREE balloon drops to recreate that NYC midnight magic (because one just isnโ€™t enough!)
โ€ข Countdown videos on the big screen to make it feel oh-so-real
โ€ข Yummy snacks to keep the energy high

๐‘ท๐’Š๐’„๐’Œ ๐’€๐’๐’–๐’“ ๐‘ท๐’‚๐’“๐’•๐’š!

โ€ข Party 1: 11 AMโ€“12 PM | Balloon Drop at 12 PM
โ€ข Party 2: 2 PMโ€“3 PM | Balloon Drop at 3 PM
โ€ข Party 3: 5 PMโ€“6 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. Letโ€™s 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 Yearโ€™s 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 Yearโ€™s 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, weโ€™ll gather to count down to the โ€œNoon 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 itโ€™s 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 Yearโ€™s 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 thatโ€™s packed with excitement. They have tons of fun and games plan. Do not miss it!

Erin Huiatt

Erin is a reliable resource and stepping stone for women and families to find support and make connections within our community. She wants families to feel confident to reach out and ask for help and advice to get pointed in the right direction. She enjoys traveling and exploring with her two children in tow!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *