New Year’s Eve events for kids
Afro-Cuban New Year’s Eve Dance Party: Jesse “Chuy” Varela from KCSM is scheduled to host an all-ages dance party with Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Louie Romero y Su Grupo Mazacote, and Yissy Garcia. 8:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. $40-$80. Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. 510-644-2020. www.thefreight.org
Chabot Space and Science Center Balloon Drop: Ring in the new year without staying up all night. Celebrate the stroke of midnight around the world at 11 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m. Count down and celebrate with colorful balloons and special activities for children of all ages. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. Museum admission, plus $5. Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. 510-336-7300. www.chabotspace.org
Countdown to Noon Across Time Zones The night may belong to the adults, but here the party can belong to the kids. Celebrate 2020 with craft activities; photo booth; Ball drops and hugs at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. Free with museum admission. Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. www.cdm.org
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown: Ring in the new year at the museum’s annual celebration. Balloon drops at noon and 3 p.m., with celebratory root beer toasts, craft activities, special 5 and younger balloon drop, “Peanuts” character visits, plus a screening of “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown.” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. Free with museum admission. Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. www.schulzmuseum.org
Happy Noon Year’s Eve at Habitot Create crafty noisemakers and hats for a Noon Year’s countdown with bubbles. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St., Berkeley. www.habitot.org
34th Annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony Take a swing at a huge 16th century Japanese temple bell. Fold paper cranes for luck and prosperity in the new year as you wait. Pick up tickets to ring the bell at the main entrance to Samsung Hall. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. Free with museum admission. Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., S.F. www.asianart.org
New Year’s Holiday Free Day at the Gardens Celebrate 2020 with free admission to the S.F. Botanical Gardens. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed., Jan. 1. Free. S.F. Botanical Gardens., 1199 Ninth Ave., S.F. www.sfbg.org
New Year’s Eve and Day at the Cal Academy There are plenty of festivities at the California Academy of Sciences for all ages to enjoy on
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, including a family magic show with Perry Yan at noon and 2 p.m., interactive story time at 10:15 a.m., and a seasonal children’s puppet theater show at 12:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Wed., Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Free with museum admission. California Academy of Science, 55 Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park, S.F. www.cal academy.org
Annual New Year’s Eve Event at the Hall Commemorate another year of scientific discovery and fun at the Lawrence Hall of Science’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Confetti drop times are set for 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.; noisemaker craft activities. Preregistered ticket holders will be given a wristband for their designated confetti countdown. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. Free with museum admission. RSVP for confetti countdowns required. Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Dr., Berkeley. www.lawrencehallofscience.org
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration Ring in the new year with the entire family without missing bedtime, with sparkle crown and ribbon wand craft activities, a DJ dance party, and celebratory noontime ball drop. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. Free with museum admission. Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. www.bayarea discoverymuseum.org
S.F. New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display The big fireworks are launched from a barge in the water between the piers and the Bay Bridge for both S.F. and E. Bay residents to see. Arrive early to score a spot by the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero between Mission and Folsom streets, where there will be speakers set up for the music. 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Free. The Embarcadero, S.F. www.ferrybuilding marketplace.com