Ring In The New Year Early At the Long Island Children's Museum

The Long Island Children’s Museum will be roaring into 2020 with its annual “Noon” Year’s Eve celebration, “Countdown to 12!” The annual family-friendly event allows visitors to take part in all the traditional elements of the holiday on a schedule designed for children — and exhausted parents.

Activities start at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 31 and feature themed crafts, face painting, a DJ-led dance party and two ball drops to kick off and conclude the year-ending party.

“LICM will be putting a twist on the theme of ‘Roaring’ 20s,” said Aimee Terzulli, LICM director of education and visitor experience. “At our family-focused New Year’s celebration, we’re weaving the king of the jungle, the lion, into our activities so kids can truly ‘roar’ into 2020.”

Mid-day is substituted for midnight, but all the other New Year’s Eve party elements are part of the experience — music, dancing and fun activities. During the afternoon children will design “Mane” Event new year hats, Hear Me Roar noisemakers, Tick Tock! Lion Clocks and Lions Rule necklaces; chomp into some “I Ain’t Lion” cookies and spring into the Ferocious Feline face painting station.

DJ Mike will be on hand to help visitors show off their fierce dance moves. All Countdown activities are included with Museum admission on Tuesday, Dec. 31. To skip the lines, purchase general admission tickets online at www.licm.org

LICM created “Countdown to 12!” in 2005 to provide families with the opportunity to celebrate this special occasion together. Family-focused New Year’s celebrations were lacking in the area, but families looking to celebrate certainly were not. More than 25,000 visitors have rung in the new year at the Long Island Children’s Museum since “Countdown to 12!” was launched.

All activities will be held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave. in Garden City. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Museum admission is $14 for adults and children over 1 year old, $13 seniors, free to museum members and children under 1 year old. Additional fees for theater and special programs may apply. For additional information, call 516-224-5800.