Best New Year’s Eve Family Events in NYC Out of Times Square
Wondering how to celebrate NYE with your Family Out of Times Square? Most of us want to avoid the overcrowded Times Square on NYE, even the tourists! And especially if you’re in New York with Kids. So I made a list of great things to do for New Year’s Eve with Kids and out of Times Square.
Dress warmly for the NYE family events happening outdoors! New Year’s Eve can be very cold in NYC.
You might want to check out:
Kid-friendly Activities happening at Children’s Museums during the day.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Central Park
A very cool family-friendly event in Central Park! You can watch the fireworks for free or be part of the Kid-Friendly midnight run after the countdown to 2019 while watching the fireworks.
Midnight Run 2019-2020 & Fireworks
Celebrate with music, dancing, a countdown to 2019 and an exciting 4-mile run with the amazing fireworks lighting up the sky and the start of the new year!
Race is open to participants ages 6 & up.
Prices:
$25-$60. View website.
Location:
Race Route Map. Central Park (for registered runners and their guests only).
Event Hours:
- 10pm: Music & dancing.
- 11:59pm: Countdown to midnight.
- MIDNIGHT: Start of the 4-Mile Run & Fireworks.
How to Watch Central Park Fireworks for Non-Runners
You can still view the fireworks from any park entrance south of 72nd St (between 59th to 72nd Streets).
Free to the general public.
Brooklyn Bridge Walk into the New Year
View the NYE fireworks at the stroke of midnight from the Brooklyn Bridge! It’s a 1.5-hour walking tour of the City Hall Park, World Trade Center Grounds and Brooklyn Bridge by some of the best NYC tour guides.
Tour available in many languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese.
Prices:
$50 adult; $25 child. Book tickets.
Hours:
10:30pm – Midnight.
Meeting Point:
The McDonald’s located at 160 Broadway between Maiden Ln & Liberty St.
NYE Family Cruise
Celebrate the start of 2019 on the water with an incredible NYC skyline & fireworks display. TV located onboard to view live coverage of the ball dropping!
NY Water Taxi welcomes all ages. Ask if this year children are allowed! Buffet, dessert, beer, wine, juice and soft drinks aboard.
Departure:
Pier 81 on W. 41st Street & the West Side Highway.
Price:
$229 adult – $169 child. Book your tickets here.
There’s only the 9pm cruise now, not suitable for Children.
Hours:
- Check-in: 8/8:30pm.
- Departure: 9pm.
- Return: 1am approx.
New Year’s Eve in Prospect Park
Live music and fireworks at midnight. The favorite spot for Brooklyn neighbors!
Admission:
Free & open to the public. RSVP here.
Location:
Grand Army Plaza. Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Start Time: 10:30pm. Up to 12:30am approx.
Best viewing spots to watch Prospect Park NYE Fireworks
- Grand Army Plaza.
- The Park’s West Drive.
- Along Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza & 9th St.
- A friend’s rooftop nearby!
NYE Family Events in Coney Island
Enjoy free rides, a countdown to 2020 and fireworks at midnight!
6pm – Midnight. Free live entertainment begins 9pm.
More info here on their website.
Admission: Free.
Location: Coney Island, Brooklyn.
Steeplechase Plaza at Boardwalk and W. 19th Street.
It can get very crowded. Not as crowded as Times Square though but still…
Dinner Options in Coney Island
Future Positive New Year’s Eve Bike Ride & After-Party
Admission: Free.
8pm – 1am.
Organized by the volunteer non-profit groups: Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) and Time’s Up, which has made so many sustainable positive changes in NYC.
Bike Ride
Bike rides will end up at TIME’S UP’s Musical After-Party.
Start time & Locations – 3 options:
- 9:45PM: Start at the Brooklyn-side entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge; or
- 10PM: Join in at Washington Square Park Arch in Manhattan; or
- 10:20PM: Madison Square Park, 23rd St. & Broadway in Manhattan.
- More info here.
After-Party
10pm – 1am.
Location: MoRUS (museum) at 155 Ave. C, Lower East Side in Manhattan. If you don’t want to ride, you can just meet here!
Free valet bike parking!
There will be slide shows by East Village activist/artists including Fly.Live music by Banji and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra.
New Year’s Day Family Bowl in Williamsburg
Family Bowling on NYE
Welcoming all ages. Bowling with the family with a kid-friendly brunch menu!
When: January 1, 2019 | 12pm – 6pm.
No cover! View website.
Location:
61 Whythe Ave. Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Enjoy the NYE Family Events in New York! Looking forward to hearing about your New Year’s Eve experience in NYC!
If you have any other family events and suggestion not listed here feel free to let us know by filling out this form.
Happy New Year!
@NewYorkerTips