Starting a new year is all about celebrating the events of the past year and looking into the new one with excitement. This period of new beginnings is a perfect time to create memories or traditions for your family. Even though younger kids might not be able to stay awake until midnight, there are still plenty of fun activities to try throughout the day at home or out in the community.
Keep the kids entertained with these family-friendly activities to help celebrate New Year's Eve at home:
- Pop a balloon every hour – You can fill them with confetti or a piece of paper with an activity for that hour
- Play board games together
- Set a family reading goal
- Create a photo booth with props
- Have a treasure hunt with clues to a prize
- Make a time capsule – Fill with your resolutions then hide it till next year or design a container to collect new items all year long
- Cook a special dinner together
- Make an ice cream sundae bar
- Have a dance party – Freestyle or learn new dance moves from a video online
- Change your Christmas tree into a New Year’s tree – Use shiny and colorful decorations
- Pop bubble wrap and pretend they are fireworks
- Have your own balloon drop with balloons in a sheet or blanket
- Make resolutions or create a bucket list for the new year
- Film an end of the year video – Have kids share their favorite toy, favorite memory of the year, etc.
If you want to celebrate out of the house, here are some events and fun places to visit as a family:
Austintown Bounce, opens a new window
Saturday, December 31 2022
10am – 9pm
6000 Mahoning Ave. Suite 520, Austintown, Ohio 44515
(330) 793-5867
Cosmic Bowling, opens a new window
1-3pm, 5-7pm, 7:30-9:30 pm and 10pm – 1am
Camelot Lanes, 628 Boardman-Canfield Rd. Boardman, OH 44512
(330) 758-6626
Deep Freeze Ice Arena, opens a new window
Saturday, December, 31 2022
1-3:45 pm and 4-9pm
Sunday, January 1, 2023
11:45am - 1:30pm, 1:45-3:15 pm and 3:30-5:15 pm
360 McClurg Road, Youngstown, OH 44512
(234) 719-5000
Elegant Illusions Christmas Lights Drive-Through, opens a new window
“This event features LED displays, the latest in animatronics and over 50 holiday scene displays.”
Saturday, December, 31 2022
6-10pm
Sunday, January 1, 2023
6-9pm
Canfield Fairgrounds, 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Rd, Canfield, OH 44406
Explore OH WOW!, opens a new window
Saturday, December, 31 2022
9am - 12pm
OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology
15 Central Square First Floor, Youngstown, OH 44503
(330) 744-5914
Holiday Light Display, opens a new window
“Enjoy a holiday drive-thru light display at Boardman Park and marvel at the beautiful light displays!”
Saturday, December, 31 2022
5-10pm (through January 4th)
Boardman Township Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Rd, Boardman, OH 44512
(330) 726-8107
Ice Skating at The Rink, opens a new window
Saturday, December 31, 2022
12-4pm
DeBartolo Commons at the Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market St, Boardman, OH 44512
(330) 758-4511
Joy of Christmas Light Display, opens a new window
“The Joy of Christmas drive-through holiday light display features more than one million lights in 80+ holiday scenes.”
Saturday, December, 31 2022
6-9pm
Harvey S. Firestone Park, 338 E. Park Ave, Columbiana, OH 44408
(330) 482-2282
Memories of Christmas Past 2022, opens a new window
Saturday, December, 31 2022
12-7pm
Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave, Youngstown, OH 44502
(330) 743-2589
Saturday Night Skate, opens a new window
Saturday, December 31, 2022
7:30-10pm
Youngstown Skate, 7080 Tiffany Blvd, Boardman, Ohio 44512
(330) 758-8711
Winter Celebration: Festival of Trees, opens a new window
“The visitors center will be adorned with 50 holiday trees, decorated by area nonprofit organizations.”
Saturday, December, 31, 2022
10am - 5pm
Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave, Youngstown, OH 44509
(330) 740-7116
Winter Nights, opens a new window
“The garden grounds will be adorned with dazzling light displays that are sure to spark some holiday joy in all our visitors.”
Saturday, December, 31 2022
5-7pm
Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave, Youngstown, OH 44509
(330) 740-7116
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