Archaeologists believe the Babylonians were the first civilization to celebrate “First Night” or the New Year. They planned an 11-day holiday tied to the vernal (spring) equinox starting with a first-night festivity. Sometime during the Roman era, New Year’s was set as January 1st. This custom was adopted in the Middle Ages by many Western countries. For millions who equate New Year’s Eve with a party, however, that date change has meant coping with cold weather.
That’s why beaches like Cancun, Miami Beach, and Key West are among the Top 10 most searched-for destinations during the New Year’s period. Cancun tops the list because its famous beach parties occur year round at huge clubs. More traditionally, the Mexican New Year is a wonderful opportunity to boost your fortune by eating 12 grapes at midnight: each grape carries its own wish for the year ahead.
In Miami Beach, there are dozens of first night parties on land and offshore, plus the annual fireworks show at Bayfront Park at midnight, when a 35-foot neon orange descends from the facade of the Intercontinental Hotel.
The First of the First Nights
If that sounds like too much partying, there is a way to save money on babysitters and enjoy ringing in the New Year with the whole family: community-organized First Night festivals, a public arts project that began in Boston.
What’s the big deal? Typically, these corporate sponsored, day-long festivals of music, dance, puppetry, and other arts are staged in different theaters or auditoriums, public spaces, and other venues for little or no cost. Kids activities rule the daylight, and arts events occupy the first night fun. Although many events are alcohol-free, partying and fireworks usually ring in the New Year.
First Night Missoula is typcial of many towns, celebrating the turn of the year with live music, arts exhibits, and free entry to the town carousel and Currents water park from noon to midnight. A free shuttle connects the University of Montana to the downtown festivities, which also inlude ice skating, movies and dancing. Here are some other First Nights we follow annually.
Ocean City, New Jersey — a star of the Jersey Shore — has celebrated New Year’s Eve for more than three decades. Look for a day full of activities leading up to fireworks at midnight. This year, First Night First Day offers more than 70 different shows and activities at 20 venues throughout town. The fun continues on New Year’s Day with a 5-kilometer run on the boardwalk and the wildly popular First Plunge in the Atlantic Ocean.
Beachy Florida First Nights for New Years Eve
It wouldn’t be Key West without some New Year’s Eve blowout. Of course, there are several options, some more naughty than many families would appreciate. On Duvall Street, a giant conch shell “drops” from the rooftop of Sloppy Joe’s Bar at midnight. Visit the historic seaport, where a pirate wench descends the mast of the tall ship America. Or, cheer for the renowned drag queen, Sushi, during her High Heel Shoe Drop over Duvall Street. Families should start their NYE fun at the last-night-of-the-year sunset celebration at Mallory Square, which begins at the family-friendly hour of 3:30pm in winter.
Be at Old School Square on New Year’s Eve in Delray Beach, Florida to admire the 100 foot Christmas Tree! Guests enjoy ice-skating, Putt’n Around Mini Golf & Carousel, live music and much more. The event is free, but activities are a nominal fee. Be sure to make time for fireworks bursting out at 9pm, making this the Palm Beaches’ largest family-friendly New Year’s Eve program.
The whole family can don a glittery T-shirt for the St. Petersburg, Florida First Night with Art in the Park at North Straub Park. Family-oriented festivities will take place with live music, sing-alongs, dance performances, and art in unusual places. The fun runs 4pm-8pm, so check on their VIP family of four admission packages. Check out three other Florida Beach towns that are waiting to share New Year’s Eve.
Find great Florida hotel and rental car deals for your First Night family vacation with Priceline.
Big City First Nights in Boston, San Francisco, More
This year, the flagship First Night Day Boston again rings in the first day of the new year. On December 31st, Boston attractions include puppet shows, dance events, children’s theatre, live music, poetry slams, holiday lights, skating and ice sculptors at work. From art gallery tours to parades, there’s activity from 11am on until family-oriented fireworks begin at 7pm over Boston Common. At 11:30pm there’s an even bigger Countdown to Copley fireworks illuminating the sky over Copley Square.
Fireworks by the Bay are staged just before midnight in San Francisco. Look for barges located 1,000 feet off Pier 14 near both the Ferry Building and the SF Bay Bridge. The best land viewing is the wide sidewalk that runs on both sides of The Embarcadero; the best sea views are from one of the many cruises that ply the Bay waiting for midnight.
Looking for more amazing San Francisco attractions and shows for New Years?
Great Cities for Unofficial First Night Celebrations
While not an official First Night event, the free Electrical Spectacle light show in Franklin Square, Philadelphia hosts special family activities on New Year’s Eve. Watch 75,000 lights shimmer in the chill winds off the Delaware River and holiday songs play (every half hour 4:30-8:30pm.) Stick around and you can catch New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront, viewable from the Square.
Denver is typical of many cities that have picked up the First Night vibe and made it their own. They’re putting on a family-friendly fireworks show on New Year’s Eve at 9pm, followed by the traditional midnight extravaganza, both over the 16th Street Mall. Downtown Denver‘s mile-long pedestrian promenade boasts nearly 30 outdoor cafes, many of which will be serving that night. Other family activities include the “Noon Year’s Eve” hosted by the Children’s Museum of Denver at the Butterfly Pavilion. Balls will drop at 10am, noon and 2pm so kids can practice their countdown and throw confetti around.
From Sublime to Ridiculous Ways to Ring in the New Year
In addition to Pensacola, other destinations have their own interpretation of Times Square’s Ball Drop. Let’s say they range from the sublime to the ridiculous. For New Yorkers, the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is actually a 12-foot geodesic sphere weighing 11,875 pounds. Admire the 2,668 Waterford crystals powered by 32,256 LEDs which produce a stunning kaleidoscope effect. Want to fit in great New York City tours, museums and more attractions during your New Year’s visit?
Residents in Mobile, Alabama await the annual countdown with a tradition that began more than a decade ago. The “MoonPie Over Mobile” is a 600-pound, illuminated MoonPie. Yes! It descends from a 34-story building to signal the start of the new year. Watch for laser lights illuminating downtown, and the official cutting of a moonpie, the favored treat of the Mardi Gras season that this town has adopted as its symbol. Chattanooga Bakery owns the commercial MoonPie company. They bake the world’s largest edible one each year for the crowd of 50,000 waiting for a bite. Children’s activities take place before 8pm.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania may spell “manger” to some and “steel” to others, but at their two-day New Year’s festival, all you hear is Peeps. The famed chick-shaped marshmallow treat is made in Bethlehem. Celebrate this happy fact from 3pm-6pm on either December 30 or 31 at Peepsfest. Look for live music, arts n’ crafts, and the levitation of the 4’9″-tall, 400-pound Peeps Chick Drop that will come down December 31.
More New Year’s Fun
For those who want to party like it’s 1999, sites like New Years.com can steer you to the nearest commercial party. Let us know what you end up doing in the Comments section below.
Happy New Year!
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2 Replies to “Celebrate First Night On New Years”
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Dr. Artinian, thank you so much for posting that memory. How exciting it must have been, to share the skies with Apollo 11. I agree that today it seems like a remarkable achievement but of course we have not worked together, so hard for so long, on other projects that really need to be addressed. Education is one place to start!
The Lunar Landings
As I was landing in the northern desert of Saudi Arabia in a DC3 plane on July 20, 1969, the Americans were landing on the moon. That evening, the staff of Badana Base Hospital, that belonged to the Trans Arabian Pipeline Company (Tapline), were listening to the news, (Television was not available in the desert). They welcomed me as the new Internist at the hospital.
Soon I learned that the Saudis found it hard to believe that human beings could defile the moon by landing on it, which could have initiated the moon landing conspiracy theories, that persist today.
Now, 50 years later, the lunar landings were, and remain, the greatest achievement of humanity since the birth of intelligence on earth!
Boghos L. Artinian MD
Great information while traveling with children. Children safety first.
I want to do a car trip with my infant child and wife. But, I was afraid how can I travel with my infant child. After reading your blog I got some courage. Thanks for sharing such information. Thanks a lot.
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CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS, NEW YORK
The Corning Museum of Glass – the world’s largest collection of glass – is showing “Journey to the Moon: How Glass Got Us There” and actual glassy pieces of moon meteorites to touch and see. For scavenger buffs, visitors to the museum can test their super-sleuthing skills and see if they can find the glass-tronaut hidden amongst the galleries.
Awesome Article!
Thanks for sharing..
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON TO TEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH IN SPACE OVEN
In a partnership with Zero G Kitchen which is supplying a prototype space oven, and NanoRacks, a commercial space station company, Hilton’s DoubleTree brand is aiding efforts to bring freshly cooked food to the International Space Station. Some time in late 2019, their cookie dough hopes to be the source of the first fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie in space. Here’s more info about this and a cool student competition sponsored by Scholastic.
ok, thanks for the reply!
Thanks for sharing this! you’ll be able to do good as well as have fun and make a difference in the world. Whereas volunteer is always appreciated by all people.
Indeed, a good list. Everyday. At home or on the road.
hi Heather,
Thanks for your comment. We checked on those images and you’re right, that one with the pirate ship in the pool is not from the Bahia Resort. We removed it and checked the others, and the Bahia still has their famous Moorish style pool and pretty beachfront. Hope you have a great trip there.
Thank you Lisa d. So glad that Laura’s review of both Fairmont resorts helped you to make a choice, especially since you can’t really go wrong in Bermuda.
thank you I have been deciding between the two properties and your post was very helpful in my decision.
One of the pictures with a slide doesn’t look like the pool I remember seeing at the bahia. Did they add a new pool?
Dubai is an amazing destination for tourists from across the world. The city tour, desert safari and dhow cruise are among the most famous things to do in Dubai.
Thank you for sharing a really useful and informative article. The way you have detailed and described is really helpful. Hope to see more amazing articles like this. Keep it up to the good work!
Spring Break in Dubai is more exciting with Adventure Plus Desert Safari Dubai tours in Dubai
Great suggestions! The only action item Id say “Oh Hayyllll Nawww” to would be horse-drawn carriage rides. Check out the internet and youll see whats going on with those poor horses. But your other ideas for educational and just-plain fun – really excited to try them out with the family! Thank again.
Hello Omar and Katie,
The Scholasrship Submission form is working again, please revisit the page: https://myfamilytravels.com/Teen_travel_writing to apply for the 2019 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship.
Thanks and good luck!
I would love to participate but I keep getting page not found
Hello Omar, thank you for your note. We have noted this error and our web development team is working to fix it right away. We will let you know when it’s working again. Good luck!
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I am very interested in participating in this scholarship opportunity. However, every time I click on the essay submission form, it takes me to a ‘Page not found’ link and says that there is an error with the link. Is there another link that I could possibly submit my essay and photos?
I had a travel blog in the past. But I was going through a rough phase so I shut it down. This article has inspired me to start once again.
SCHLITTERBAHN OPENS INFINITY RACERS, A MAJOR SPACE-THEMED WATERSLIDE
June 7, Colonel Terry Virts, a U.S. Air Force test/fighter pilot and NASA veteran of two spaceflights, will dedicate the newest, only one of its kind, 8-story-tall waterslide at Schlitterbahn Galveston. Infinity Racers is a pair of space-themed, racing head-first mat slides that race through enclosed colorful tubes as long as three space stations.
Nice Post. Thanks for Sharing with us……
Right?? It’s like a dream. I really didn’t believe them at all when I heard that, but looked it up, and sure enough, it’s really that sunny! I can’t wait to head back to the area.
I’m not sure as the rates tend to vary depending on the season. It’s probably best to contact them directly – (727) 363-5100. If you’re curious about their overall rates, I would ask if the rate changes depending on the season, and when their high and low season is. Hope that helps!
I remember visiting KSC during my school days with my friends where we got to learn a lot of interesting things related to space and comsos.
My husband and I are actually scheduled to stay at the Sirata Resort, in just a few days. I was wondering, if you happened to know the cost for the Private Cabana Rentals, you mentioned in your article?? Thank You!!
great useful info you have shared , being a traveler i need it most and it’s really helpful for the first time travelers. thanks for sharing.
I think curious teens would love this road trip. If you schedule enough time for Santa Cruz — which has a great amusement park and places to take surf lessons, that could be a 2-3 day stay for you. Going south, the Hearst Castle with all its tales of intrigue and the story of William Randolph Hearst’s life… it’s pretty fun as house tours go.
The scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway is beautiful, too, if you think your son would enjoy that. At many points, he can look out and see surfers! Towns like San Luis Obispo (now hip enough that locals call it SLO) have become destinations for wine and craft beers, so there are lots of cafes with young people that are fun, even if you’re not drinking.
The whole California coast is special, so ask your son to do some research and pick out spots that interest him, then incorporate them into your itinerary. That way, he’ll have a vested interest in making sure the trip is fun.
Do you think a 13 yr old would like this trip?
MALDIVES AND THE MOON FOR OUR PACIFIC FRIENDS
This just in from the Maldives:
Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives has the largest telescope and observatory in the Indian Ocean so it’s slated as one of the best places in the southern hemisphere to observe and study the stars, planets and the moon. And it’s the moon that is taking centre stage for festivities on July 20th as Anantara Kihavah commemorates the 50th anniversary of man’s landing on the moon. To celebrate, Anantara guests are invited to join Shameem, the islands’ resident Star Guru for a ‘Star Gazing’ breakfast. Lay back to gaze at the stars that glitter overhead, and be regaled by Shameem’s knowledge as he takes you on an intergalactic journey before taking a look through the powerful telescope at the craters on the moon that still amaze people 50 years after the first landing.
For guests who like a later start to the day the SKY Bartenders at Kihavah have created a complimentary cocktail for all guests to mark the occasion – The ‘Buzz’ Aldrin ……
Dubai is an awesome place to spend a great time with the loved one or alone be experiencing the local attractions. Thanks for the details, i have missed the dinner night which i will surely book this time and experience it. Keep posting!
I would definitely go for JURASSIC DINOSAUR DIG. Thanks for suggestions
So many good suggestions! It will be hard to choose but surely through these we will have the most beautiful memories in this summer vacation!
361 days of sunshine a year? Wow! It looks like it’s a perfect destination for families! I’ll be more interested in this place!
Glad that you have a great time and a better idea of Vietnam. If you came back, consider visiting Ninh Binh
We are a family who likes to travel and volunteer where possible. We give gifts of time and service. We find that finding small grass roots organisations when on the ground or at your destination creates the best win-win for all concerned. For example we taught English in a small village in Indonesia – https://sabretoothedchickenstour.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/it-takes-a-village/
In the end it is not the actual work you do as a volunteer that is of the greatest impact but the stereotypes you breakdown and the connections made 🙂
Camping holidays in France are extremely popular and you’ll find some fantastic family friendly campsites with a whole host of activities including some brilliant swimming pools.
NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE SUMMER MOON FESTIVAL
We’ve just heard that the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission with a summer filled with flight and space-themed exhibits, workshops, demonstrations, installations and a new film. The celebration kicks off on May 17 with Apollo 11: First Steps Edition, a film with never-before-seen footage and audio recordings of the historic mission. Other highlights include NYSCI’s summer exhibition, Above and Beyond – The Ultimate Flight Exhibition, and Apollo, A Party!, an evening event celebrating the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Check out their schedule for tons of workshops and special family events and go in to see a real Saturn V rocket like the one that took Apollo to the moon.
Man on the Moon in Zurich
The art exhibition “Fly Me to the Moon: The Moon Landing 50 Years On” will be featured at Kunsthaus Zurich in Switzerland, from May 4-June 30. The art show examines how the moon landing, and seeing images of the Earth from far away, changed man’s perception of his place in his environment and the universe. Look for moon works by artists John Russell, Rene Burri, Rene Magritte, Andy Warhol and many more.
Moon Walk Celebration in Ohio!
In southeast Ohio’s Hocking Hills region, the John Glenn Astronomy Park (JGAP) is celebrating its first birthday, while marking the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing. The observatory has 12 telescopes that offer dark sky views due to a lack of light pollution, allowing visitors to discover a distinct view of the moons, planets, stars and galaxies at each visit. The #Apollo50 events begin at 4 p.m. EDT July 20, 2019 and end at 1 a.m. July 21, 2019.
Nice post. I am traveler and I like adventure trips. Its really amazing. I wish to go there one by one. Thanks for sharing about these parks.
Thank you for useful information. It is very detailed.
Traveling with kids is fun but also very tired as we have to take care of them and don’t have much time for ourselves. Sometime I prefer traveling alone.