“If you think
you’re enlightened,
go spend a week
with your family.”
– Ram Das
Get a jump on 2016, walk for togetherness, make a time capsule, cleanse your karma or get silhouetted
What makes you come alive? What levels you? Breaks you? Where does laughter rescue you? How does light find you? What opens you? Shuts you down? Invites possibility? Stops you in your tracks? “Aha!”s you?
Thank you for journeying with Kids’ Almanac in 2015. Here’s to a New Year together.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31
So you want to honor the end of 2015 and celebrate the arrival of 2016, but how do you mark this occasion with the kids? Easy! Here are some ideas for you and your crew to spend the last day of the year.
Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum hosts New Year’s @ Noon
New Year’s @ Noon at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is perfect for young children and their families interested in partying it up mid-morning as opposed to (or in addition to) midnight! From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., you can let loose with dancing, pop music, fun activities and a special surprise unveiled each hour leading up to the countdown at noon. Tickets cost $12 each for regular admission, $8 for museum members; and you’ll want to secure them in advance, since this popular event usually sells out every year.
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is located at 75 North Water Street in Poughkeepsie. For tickets or more information, call (845) 471-0589 or visit www.mhcm.org.
Roller Magic in Hyde Park’s Countdown Party
The New Year’s Eve Countdown Party at Roller Magic is a great time whether you roller skate or not, with games, prizes, a balloon drop with prizes and noisemakers for the first 100 kids! The party runs from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Admission costs $7 for skating and non-skating kids, plus $2 to $4 for skate rentals.
Roller Magic is located at 4178 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park. For more information, call (845) 229-6666 or visit www.hydeparkrollermagic.com.
Wood’n Wheel in Port Ewen’s New Year’s Eve Party
The Family Afternoon New Year’s Eve Party at Wood’n Wheel lets you and your crew roll into 2016 with rocking music and fun! The party runs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., with $10 admission and $3.50 skate rental.
Wood’n Wheel is located at 365 Route 9W in Port Ewen. For more information, call (845) 331-9680 or visit www.woodnwheel.com.
New Year’s Eve Party at Highland Library
The New Year’s Eve Party at the Highland Library is a mini-celebration at 1 p.m. geared for ages 8 and up and includes snacks and a chance for youth to write a New Year’s resolution. This event is free and open to the public.
The Highland Library is located at 30 Church Street in Highland. For more information, call (845) 691-2275, extension 16, or visit www.highlandlibrary.org.
New Paltz Eve
New Paltz Eve features family-friendly activities beginning with a scavenger hunt at 2:30 p.m.; storytime and crafts at 3:30 p.m.; Macaroni the Clown at 4:30 p.m.; a community dinner at 5:30 p.m.; live music and a coffeehouse for teens at 8 p.m.; and a community bonfire at 11:30 p.m. All events take place within the Village of New Paltz and are free, with a nominal charge for concessions.
For more information or to volunteer, call (845) 419-3678 or visit www.newpaltzeve.org.
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Saugerties
The Saugerties’ New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is family-friendly and promises a bigger and better countdown video and ball drop than last year. You just need to bring lawn chairs and party favors. Music is provided by DJ Riley Cornelison and the Post Modern Music Band, and Boy Scouts will hand out coffee and hot chocolate. Festivities take place at the corner of Main Street and Partition Street from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and restaurants are running specials, so maybe you’d like to tie in some dinner while you’re out.
For more information, visit Village of Saugerties New Year’s Eve Ball Drop at Facebook.com.
New Year’s Eve Dance Party at Ashokan Center
The Ashokan New Year’s Eve Dance Party offers live music, with swing, Cajun, zydeco and waltzing in one room and contras and square dancing in another! If you love to dance, you’ll love kicking up your heels to the sounds of Jay & Molly with Swingology, John Krumm, Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew, the Yanks and ZydeGroove. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $15 for teens and under.
The Ashokan Center is located at 477 Beaverkill Road in Olivebridge. For tickets or more information, call (845) 246-2121 or visit https://ashokan.org/new-years-eve-dance-party.
Not looking for a New Year’s Eve event? Here are some other activities taking place!
Join the family! 
