There was a time when New Year’s Eve was an excuse to put on your hottest outfit and get together with a group of friends for a wild night out. There would be silly party hats, crazy pictures, and dancing until the wee hours of the morning. These days, chances are your “hottest” outfit is your cleanest pair of leggings and a fleece sweatshirt – and the crazy party hats and early morning dancing? That still happens. It’s just done by a three-year old who thinks 5am is a perfectly reasonable time to wake you up by dancing on your head. Ahhh, parenthood.
But having a family doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun on New Year’s Eve. Richmond offers a number of New Year’s Eve celebrations that are fun for the whole family, allowing you to celebrate the start of the new year, without having to sacrifice your or your kids’ need to be in bed at a reasonable hour.
Check out our list of fun, family-friendly New Year’s Eve events in the Richmond area (all with the option to end before midnight) and if you know of one that we might have overlooked, be sure to let us know at cs@richmondmom.com!
Noon Year’s Eve at Science Museum of Virginia
Science Museum of Virginia
Time: December 31, 2018;10am – 1pm
Cost: Adults – $15; Youth (6-12) & Seniors (60+) – $13.50; Kids (3-5) – $10; Groups of 10 or more – $10 each; Members – Free
Ring in the Noon Year with the Museum! Count down to noon to see a dramatic and quirky version of the traditional ball drop! Kick off the New Year with science on your side. Watch 2,019 bouncy balls, paper streamers, and confetti bring the museum’s Rotunda to life for a special ball drop and apple juice toast to celebrate the New Year. Note: the Museum will open at 9:30 am for this exciting event! Noon Year’s Eve is included with Museum admission. All ages are welcome at this fun and festive take on New Year’s Eve.
Contact:
Science Museum of Virginia
2500 W Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 864-1400
Special Maymont Opening for New Year’s Eve
Maymont
Time: December 31, 2018; Nature & Visitor Center, 10am-5pm; Maymont Mansion, 12-5pm
Cost: Nature Center: Youth & Adults (13-59) – $4; Children (4-12) – $3; Seniors (60+) – $3; Maymont members and children under 4 – Free; $5 donation for Mansion Tours
Maymont’s indoor exhibits, including Maymont Mansion and the Nature Center, will be open for the New Year’s Eve holiday (indoor exhibits are normally closed on Mondays).
Nature Center
Maymont’s Nature Center holds close to 30,000 gallons of aquaria that showcase many of the animals, aquatic and terrestrial, that inhabit the waters and land of the James River and the Chesapeake Bay.
Holiday Mansion Tours
Celebrate the season at Maymont and revel in Victorian holiday splendor. Major and Mrs. Dooley’s spectacularly decorated Gilded Age home brings the wonders and festivities of Christmas past to life. Beautiful trimmings on the 12-foot Christmas tree, the opulent dining room set for a feast, evergreen decorations, and lavish gifts welcome the season in grand Victorian style. Guided tours (upstairs only) available every half-hour; last tour begins at 4:30pm.
Contact:
Maymont
1700 Hampton Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(804) 358-7166
Dave & Buster’s “Noon” Years Eve Celebration
Dave & Buster’s – Glen Allen
Time: December 31, 2018; 11am – 2pm
Cost: $29/person
Head to Dave & Buster’s in Glen Allen for a family-friendly celebration of the new year! There will be an appetizer buffet with all your kids’ favorites, plus everyone will receive a $20.00 power card with unlimited video game play! At noon, there will be a ball drop and “Noon Year’s” toast. There will be fun for all ages and everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favorite video game character.
Contact:
Dave & Buster’s
4001 Brownstone Boulevard
Glen Allen, VA 23060
For questions, contact Kodie Scoggins or Rebecca Phillips in the Special Events Department: (804)-967-7399
New Year’s Eve Family Frolic
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Time: December 31, 2018; 2pm – 5pm
Cost: Adults – $13; Seniors (55+) – $11; Military (with ID) – $10; Children (3-12) – $8; Children (under 3) – Free; Members – Free
Enjoy fun family activities all afternoon with the New Year’s Eve Family Frolic. Live music with the Ululating Mummies, a parade, and more.
Activities include:
- Photo opportunities with the Garden Keeper — bring your cameras!
- Make your own New Year’s party hat
- Write your wish for 2019 and add it to our “wishing chain”
- Be a part of the annual Garden tradition: “Rolling in the New Year” by rolling down the hill to the Cochrane Rose Garden.
Those who attend the New Year’s Eve Family Frolic and who are already in the Garden can stay to attend Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights (5 -10 p.m.)
Contact:
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden 1800 Lakeside Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23228
(804) 262-9887
contactus@lewisginter.org
Noon Year’s Eve Jump
Pump It Up – Hanover
Time: December 31, 2018; 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Cost: Child – $10; Parents – Free
Jump your way into the new year with Pump it Up’s special New Year’s Eve Jump! Tickets are only $10 and parents are free. There will be plenty of bouncing, noise makers, and fun for the whole family. Reserve your spots here.
Contact:
Pump It Up – Hanover
9555 Kings Charter Drive Suite 1
Ashland, VA 23005
(804) 550-7867
City of Fredericksburg New Year’s Eve Celebration
Fredericksburg Fairgrounds
Time: December 31, 2018; 6pm – 9pm
Cost: Advanced Purchase General Admission (before 12/27/18) – $5/person or Family Four-Pack – $15; Children under 2 are free; After 12/27/18 and at the gate: $7/person or Family Four-Pack – $20; Children under 2 are free
Ring in the new year with a family-friendly celebration at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. Starting at 6pm, there will be live music, tons of kids’ games, raffles and prizes, bounce houses, clowns, food, and and early countdown to 9pm with a Ping Pong Ball Drop Grand Finale!
Contact:
Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair
2400 Airport Ave
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 372-1086
fredprpf@fredericksburgva.gov
New Year’s Eve with Comedy Sportz
Comedy Sportz Richmond Theater
Time: December 31, 2018 – January 1, 2019; 7pm to 12:30am
Cost:
Early Show:$16 – advance online purchase; $20 – at the door
Late Show: $20 – advance online purchase; $24 – at the door
**Reservations are recommended as New Year’s Eve tends to sell out!
It’s midnight SOMEWHERE! Bring the family for a hilarious, interactive, all-ages ComedySportz New Years Eve celebration! With two shows (an early show and a late show), the whole family can join in on the fun. There will be special year-end games, party favors and noise makers, a milk & Twinkie toast for the young and young at heart, and a champagne toast (for those of age) at the late show. “Grown-up drinks” will be available all night, plus everybody will receive a FREE TICKET to come back to a ComedySportz match in 2019!
THE EARLY MATCH – The fun will start at 7pm with a countdown to New Years Eve SOMEWHERE at 8pm! This is the perfect party for those who don’t think they can quite make it to midnight.
THE LATE MATCH – 10pm kicks off with the final ComedySportz match of 2018! Bring your family, bring your friends, or just bring that special someone and celebrate with laughter as you ring in the new year in full ComedySportz style!
Contact:
Comedy Sportz Richmond Theater
8906-H W. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23294
(804) 266-9377
info@cszrva.com
New Year’s Eve Extravaganza 2K19
Chester Skateland
Time: December 31, 2018 – January 1, 2019; 7:30pm – 1:00am
Cost: $12 at the door or $8 for pre-order at the DJ Booth
Rock and Roll your way into the new year at Chester Skateland! Admission for the evening is only $12 at the door or $8 if you pre-order tickets at the DJ Booth. Admission includes skate rentals, party hats, horns, a balloon drop, and a night filled with games and prizes.
Contact:
Chester Skateland 2300 Southland Dr.
Chester, VA 23831
(804) 748-0379
