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This is How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Rockland County, NY with Kids

This is How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Rockland County, NY with Kids

10 ideas to ring in the New Year with your family at home and at New Year’s Eve Events in Rockland County, NY


2021 is coming to an end and we can’t help but be (cautiously) excited for what 2022 has in store for us. That’s why we’re itching to celebrate the New Year and attend New Year’s Eve events in Rockland County, NY. If you’re ready to start planning your NYE celebration, check out this list for 10 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Rockland County, plus a few events in our area for kids and families.

10 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Rockland County, NY

1. Attend One of These New Year’s Eve Events in Rockland County, NY

There are a few New Year's eve activities and events happening in Rockland County, including:

FREE Kid's New Year's Bash
WHEN:
Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1-3pm
WHERE: Newburgh Mall, 1401 Route 300, Newburgh
AGE: All
WHAT: See a live magic show with The Great Charlini then a New Year's countdown as the ball drops with a New Years toast. Then enjoy face painting and fun with Ms. Bubbles and Pals. Snacks and bottles of water will be provided (please note that snacks may not be allergy-friendly).
WANT TO GO? 845-564-1400.

New Year's Eve Kids Night Out
WHEN:
Friday, Dec. 31, 5-7:30pm
WHERE: Peace in Piermont, 458 Piermont Ave., Piermont
AGE: 5-12
WHAT: Drop off your children for an evening of glow-in-the-dark yoga and meditation, create New Year's hats and decorations, craft, and celebrate!
WANT TO GO? $85. Advanced registration required.

New Year's Eve Fireworks
WHEN:
Friday, Dec. 31, 9pm
WHERE: Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ
AGE: All
WHAT: Fireworks and festive music will ring in the New Year!
WANT TO GO? Free with admission. Tickets start at $24.99.

FREE New Year's @ Noon with the Bubble Bus
WHEN:
Friday, Dec. 31, 11-11:40am
WHERE: West Nyack Free Library, 65 Strawtown Road, West Nyack
AGE: All
WHAT: Join the library in the parking lot for the bubbliest New Year's @ Noon ever. Pick up your Kid's DIY New Year's kit then enjoy the music and bubbles, bubbles, bubbles from the Bubble Bus!
WANT TO GO? No registration but kits are limited; first-come, first-served.

2. Learn How Other Cultures Celebrate New Year’s

American New Year’s Eve traditions—like crowding Times Square, kissing at midnight, and champagne toasts—may not be coronavirus friendly. However, every country has its own New Years celebrations and there are surely aspects of their celebrations that you can learn about and implement into your own at-home celebrations this year.  

  • New Year’s in China: Chinese Lunar New Year, many families will hang couplets representing well wishes for good health, fortune, and luck. They also fill red envelopes (hong bao) with money and give them out to friends and family. 
  • New Year’s in Thailand: In Thailand, celebratory dishes include khao chase (rice soaked in flower-scented water), chicken with green curry, and krayasat (a dessert bar made from peanuts, sugar cane, sticky rice, sesame seeds, and coconut).  
  • New Year’s in Israel: In Jewish culture, the New Year (Rosh Hashana) is celebrated on the first and second day of the Hebrew lunar month of Tishrei. Apples dipped in honey are a classic Rosh Hashana sweet. 
  • New Year’s in India: The Hindu lunar celebration, Diwali, was recently celebrated on Nov. 14. Some purchase Diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps, to light up their homes in celebration of the festival of lights. People also thoroughly clear their homes to welcome the goddess of wealth into their home. 
  • New Year’s in Spain: As the clock strikes midnight in Spain, it's tradition to scarf down 12 grapes quickly while making wishes for the new year. 

3. Have a New Year's Movie Marathon 

Common Sense Media has this list of the best New Year’s Eve movies for the family. Some of the best on it include Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year, High School Musical, and Sleepless in Seattle

4. Make a New Year's Resolution Book

This is the best year to make resolutions, goals, and bucket lists for 2022 and stick to them.!



5. Have a Family Decade Party 

Pick a decade and dress up like that year! Throw a 70s disco alongside the roaring 1920s or bust out the scrunchies (which are totally back in) for a 1980s party. Or have each person in your family choose a different decade to dress up as.

6. Watch the Ball Drop on TV 

We don’t know about you, but we’re perfectly content watching the ball drop on TV rather than attending in person (even if we weren’t still recovering from a pandemic!). It’s just as fun (maybe even more so!) to watch an event at home, and it’s warmer, too. 

7. Make New Year's Day Brunch

There’s nothing like a delicious brunch to kick off a much-needed restart in 2022. Take a stab at the Cheesecake Factory’s Cinnamon Roll pancake recipe. 

8. Make a 2021 Scrapbook

Looking back on 2021 may be difficult for some of us, but expressing gratitude and being thankful for all of the happy moments is important. Put together a scrapbook of all of the fun you got to have this year.

9. Pick a 2021 Theme Song

What song perfectly sums up how 2021 went for you? What song do you hope will represent 2022? 

10. Plan a Family Act of Kindness

End this year and start the new one doing something meaningful as a family. Maybe you want to donate to a food bank or volunteer together

Main image by Photographee.eu/shutterstock.com


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