Happy New Year! It’s time to say goodbye to 2024 and celebrate a new year and new possibilities. 

Whether you want to go all out in celebration, or have a more relaxed New Year with your family, there is an option for everyone. Winter break goes by so fast, so make the most of December 31 and January 1 before the kids go back to school! Be sure to check our Family Events Calendar for fun things to do every day!

Looking for events on the Main Line and western suburbs? Say Goodbye to 2024 with Main Line Parent! Closer to or live in Bucks County? Bucks County Parent, has fun NYE events listed, too!

Countdown to New Years at the Please Touch Museum

4231 Avenue of the Republic
9-11:30 am or 1-3:30 pm

If you want to celebrate the new year with your little ones without staying up late, The Please Touch Museum is the perfect place to do it! The museum will conveniently be offering two timed sessions (morning and afternoon), so you can plan your visit according to your own schedule. Enjoy special performances by Johnny Shortcake, Xperience Dance Academy and Give and Take Jugglers, while rocking to the sounds of DJ Neeek Nyce and Kid DJs. Of course, guests will also have access to all of the museum’s exhibits. Both the morning and afternoon sessions will end with a big countdown to the ball drop with more confetti than ever before! Note: The museum will be live-streaming both ball drops on the Museum’s lower level for those who want/need a quieter countdown experience.

Betsy’s 273rd Birthday!

239 Arch Street 
11 am – 3 pm

Help celebrate the 273rd Birthday of America’s most beloved seamstress! Join the Betsy Ross House for a day of activities, stories with Betsy and, most importantly, cake(!) all to celebrate Betsy’s historic life. Festivities are free with house tour admission, and children 12 and under will receive a free audio tour with the purchase of a house tour.

Disney on Ice

Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street
10 am, 2 pm, and 6 pm

Who better to spend the last day of the year with than Mickey Mouse and his crew? Join your favorite Disney characters as they remix some of your favorite Disney tunes. From Timon and Pumba to Ariel and her underwater pals, you’ll be moving and grooving your way to a fun New Year with Disney on Ice presents Let’s Dance!

Noon Year’s Eve Kids Skate at Philly SkatePlex

11586 Roosevelt Boulevard
12 – 3 pm

In the Northeast, you can head over to the Philly SkatePlex for a fun-filled afternoon New Year’s Eve celebration. Grab your skates and your family and enjoy some roller skating fun and music. Tickets can be purchased online and at the door. 

Celebrate the New Year EARLY at Dave & Buster’s!

325 N. Columbus Boulevard
4 – 7 pm

Join Dave & Buster’s for a New Year’s Celebration that will guarantee fun for the whole family. Admission includes unlimited video game play, a $20 Power Card, all-you-can-drink soft drinks, and a chef-curated banquet of Dave & Buster favorites. Enjoy Fireworks on the Waterfront, a special video countdown and Ginger Ale Toast at 6 pm to ring in 2025!

A Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown at Franklin Square

200 N 6th Street
5 – 6 pm

Can’t stay up late enough to watch the ball drop? Check out the square drop! At 5 pm, head over to Franklin Square for the most family-friendly New Year’s celebration in town. Enjoy music and crafts, then watch the square drop from atop SquareBurger at 6 pm. You can also watch the New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront from Franklin Square, which will remain open until 8 pm.

New Year’s Eve Family Part with PopUpPlay at Cherry Street Pier

121 N Christopher Columbus Boulevard
5 – 7 pm

Calling all Superheros! Cherry Street Pier will be holding their annual New Year’s Eve Kids Countdown, and this year, it’s Superhero themed! PopUpPlay will be on hand helping little ones create their own Superhero identity, cape and shield, build their own robot, and even putting them through a Superhero training camp! Don’t miss special appearances by Spiderman, Black Panther, and Captain America, and Unless Kids will be there offering opportunities to dress up as your favorite villian. Additional activities include a balloon drop, make-and-take crafts and games, music, and so much more!

Visit PA New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront 

101 S Christopher Columbus Boulevard 
6 pm & 12 am

It’s not New Years without some fireworks! At 6 pm and 12 am, you can watch the fireworks along the Delaware River waterfront. Each show will have synchronized music with the display. Find the best spots at Race Street Pier, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, and the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing! 

Speaking of the RiverRink, enjoy fun for the whole family with Parties on Ice, a ticketed event with both an ice skating and spectator option, where you can enjoy interactive live entertainment, delicious food, and a ride on the ferris wheel, all under the beautiful New Year’s Eve Fireworks!

Mummers Parade

1400 John F Kennedy Boulevard
9 am – 6 pm

It wouldn’t be New Years in Philly without The Mummers Parade, one of Philadelphia’s favorite traditions. The iconic show of music, colors, and elaborate costumes is always a fun time for the entire family. 

Beginning at 9 am, the Mummers will strut from City Hall, south down Broad Street all day long, so you are sure to see a great show no matter what time you arrive. The parade is free to attend, but if you prefer bleacher seating, you can purchase tickets and pick them up at the Independence Visitor Center before the show.  

In addition to the outdoor parade, the Fancy Brigades will put on two Broadway-style performances at the Philadelphia Convention Center for ticket holders. The indoor shows are at 11:30 am and 5:00 pm, so you can choose which works best for your family!

Ice Skating at the RiverRink and Dilworth Park

RiverRink: 101 S Christopher Columbus Boulevard
January 1, 2025, 11 am – 12:30 am

Dilworth Park: 1 S 15th Street
January 1, 2023, 11:30 am – 9 pm

Visit one of Philly’s two outdoor ice rinks to get some movement in with the whole family. The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, located in Dilworth Park outside City Hall, offers 90-minute skating slots. The Blue Cross RiverRink, located on the Delaware River waterfront, has reservations available for New Year’s Day specials. 

After you’ve skated your heart out, both rinks have lounges where you can grab a bite to eat and some hot chocolate to warm up before your next activity.