Happy new year, Milwaukee!
You may not be celebrating New Year’s Eve like you used to, but there are plenty of ways to ring in the new year with little kids.

If you’re hunting for fun, family-friendly ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve without keeping the kids up past bedtime, you’re in luck! Milwaukee has a lineup of fantastic “Noon Year’s Eve” events tailored just for families.
From dance parties to balloon drops, there’s something for every pint-sized party animal.
Let’s dive into some of the coolest New Year’s Eve celebrations designed especially for kids and families:
Confirmed for 2024-2025:
New Year’s Eve at Noon
Where: 929 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI
When: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Event closes at 2 p.m.)
Celebrate with:
- Face Painting!
- Dance Party: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with DJ Shawna.
- DIY Noisemakers: Create your own in the Be A Maker space.
- Countdown & Ball Drop: 12 p.m. in the Museum’s Atrium.
- Exclusive member access from 9:00-11:00
Tickets: Available at www.bbcmkids.org
Zoo Year’s Eve at Wild Lights
Milwaukee County Zoo
December 31st, 2024
Introducing Zoo Year’s Eve, a unique New Year’s Eve celebration at the Milwaukee County Zoo. This special occasion transforms the zoo into a luminous wonderland with a 1-mile path adorned with animal-themed light displays and hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights.
Ideal for a romantic evening or a family outing, Wild Lights offers a festive and visually stunning experience, promising to add a memorable touch to New Year’s Eve festivities.
Kid Boogie Down’s Noon Year’s Eve Dance Party
Bavarian Bierhaus in Glendale, WI
Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 from 11:00-2:00 at the Bavarian Bierhaus in Glendale.
Ring in the “new year” with at noon with Kid Boogie Down. There will be a live music and video show by DJ Lukewarm complete with lights, lasers, bubbles, and more! Plus, cotton candy will be spun onsite, there will be a special guest from Fairytale Birthday Company, and more!
Harlem Globetrotters
Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee
Get Tickets >>
The Harlem Globetrotters will take the court with moments of extreme basketball innovation and unparalleled fan fun as they dribble, spin and dunk their way past their relentless rivals, the Washington Generals!
You’ll be amazed by new levels of mind-blowing trick shots, expert ball-handling skills and big laughs with new unrivaled opportunities for pre-game, post-game and in-game fan engagement.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Early Countdown Dinner
Brookfield Location
Kick off your New Year’s Eve celebrations early at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in Brookfield! Families can enjoy a festive atmosphere, fun activities, and a special kids’ “bubbly” countdown at 6:30 PM. The buffet opens at 5 PM, so come hungry! Advance reservations are required, so be sure to secure your spot. It’s a perfect way for families to ring in the new year together.
WhirlyBall New Year’s Eve Afternoon Family Fun Event
Location: WhirlyBall Brookfield, 185 S. Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI
Time: Sunday, December 31, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Cost: $30/child, $40/adult
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a day of action-packed family fun at WhirlyBall Brookfield! Enjoy WhirlyBall, bowling, laser tag, and a delicious Pivot Room buffet featuring pizza, mac & cheese bites, fresh-baked cookies, and more. Two activity sessions are available: 12:00–2:00 PM and 3:00–5:00 PM.
Perfect for all ages, though some height restrictions apply (54” for WhirlyBall, 42” for laser tag). Tickets include unlimited activities, games, food, and fountain drinks. Cash bar available for adults.
Bring your family and make this New Year’s Eve unforgettable!
Details & Tickets: WhirlyBall Brookfield
Milwaukee Wave Game
New Year’s Eve Game (December 31, 3:05 PM): Celebrate early with the Milwaukee Wave, with a special postgame on-field countdown and celebration.
Family Masquerade Bash at The New Fashioned
- Where: 1122 N. Vel R. Phillips Avenue, Milwaukee, WI
- When: December 31, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
- What to Expect:
- HyperBowling, Deck Curling, Masquerade Mask Decorating, 2024-themed trivia, and a photo op.
- Champagne or sparkling juice toast at 7:50 p.m.
- Deer District’s New Year’s Eve fireworks at 8:00 p.m.
- Admission: $10; kids 4 and under are free. Tax and service charge not included.
- Details: Learn More and Book Tickets Here.
Cheer District Fireworks
- Where: Deer District Plaza, Milwaukee, WI
- When: December 31, 2024, 8:00 p.m.
- Details: Free fireworks display for the community. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
Christmas Carnival of Lights
- Where: Caledonia
- When: December 31, 2024, 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. (Drone show at 7:30 p.m.)
- Bundle Includes:
- One car pass
- Ice skating for four (rentals not included)
- Drone show and silent disco headphones (6:00–8:00 p.m.)
New Year’s Eve Playtime at The Big Backyard
Ring in the New Year with family fun at The Big Backyard! This popular indoor playground in New Berlin (2857 S. 160th St.) is hosting an open play party from 1–4 p.m. on December 31. Kids can climb, slide, and explore while parents relax and join in the celebration. Admission is $12 per person – a great way to enjoy the afternoon before the big night!
New Year’s Eve Party at The Little Village Play Cafe
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style at The Little Village Play Cafe! Located in Wauwatosa (6505 W. North Ave.), the café will host three festive sessions on December 31: 2:30–4 p.m., 4:30–6 p.m., and 6:30–8 p.m. Kids will enjoy open play, make-your-own time capsules and noisemakers, a countdown to the New Year, and a balloon drop! Parents can sip on drink specials while the little ones celebrate. Cost is $45 per child, and reservations are required – be sure to book online in advance!
Looking for even more ways to kick off the New Year?
Don’t miss the New Year’s Day Kite Festival, a breathtaking Milwaukee tradition that’s fun for all ages. Watching colorful kites soar over Lake Michigan is the perfect way to start 2025 on a high note!
Plus, if you’re still planning activities to keep the kids entertained over winter break, check out our Ultimate Winter Break Guide for family-friendly ideas to make the most of the season.
TBD for 2025-26
New Year’s Eve Party at Little Switzerland
New Year’s Eve Kids Dance Party
Le Village Brewer Hill in Milwaukee, WI
Join Le Village Brewers Hill for their New Year’s Eve Kid Rave!
Enjoy a DJ spinning tunes, shimmering glow lights, snacks, games, karaoke, sparkling cider, and a “midnight” countdown to add some extra fun to your New Years Eve.
Back To The Future: Film With Orchestra
TBD for 2024-25
Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee
Recharge your flux capacitor … and get ready to celebrate this unforgettable movie classic as you’ve never seen and heard it before!
Back to the Future is the 1.21-gigawatt blockbuster that topped the 1985 box office chart, spawned two wildly successful sequels, and stamped an enduring imprint on pop culture.
Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and a time-traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime as they travel to the past, present, and future – setting off a time-shattering chain reaction that disrupts the space-time continuum! Now, fans old and new will experience the thrill of Back to the Future like never before – on a big hi-def screen with a full symphony orchestra performing Alan Silvestri’s dazzling musical score live in sync with the movie.
Audiences will also be in for an exclusive treat: approximately twenty minutes of brand-new music added by award-winning composer Silvestri to the film’s score especially for these unique live orchestra presentations.
Rock & Roll Playhouse: Music of Grateful Dead
TBD for 2024-25
Turner Hall
The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country, allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times).
Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity.
Little Switzerland New Year’s Party
TBD for 2024-25
Find more fun ideas on our Events Calendar >>
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.