7 New Year’s Eve Events in San Diego the Kids Will Love
by Kimberly Stahl
Discover all the fun ways to ring in the New Year with these kid-friendly New Year’s Eve events and celebrations taking place in San Diego
Break out the noisemakers! We’re sharing New Year’s Eve events near San Diego that your kids will love to go and celebrate (even if it means not staying up till midnight). Whether you want to go all out with LEGOLAND’s own version of Times Square or keep it low-key at the Northern Lights event at the California Center for the Arts, here are the best kid’s New Year’s Eve parties to help celebrate and usher in a very merry 2023.
1. Del Mar Snow n Glow
The Del Mar Fairgrounds has transformed into a winter wonderland making this a most-fun new years eve San Diego event! Enjoy the last day of 2022 by huddling with your loved ones in a private igloo, snow tubing down Snow Hill (with real snow!), or sipping hot chocolate while strolling through a million festive lights. A fantastic way to ring your new year in style and be home before bedtime! Event details.
2. Temecula's NYE Grape Drop
The infamous Grape Drop in Temecula is a treat for the whole brood. Catering to families, they celebrate twice with an East Coast (9 p.m.) and West Coast (midnight) countdown. The New Year’s Eve Grape Drop will include live music, food vendors, and kid’s activities. Free Fun Zone will be open from 6-10 pm. Event details.
3. Northern Lights at the California Center for the Arts
Cap off the holiday season by visiting Northern Lights at California Center for the Arts. Their 12-acre campus transforms into a spectacle of light, hope, and joy after sunset each evening. Guests are invited to wander along the walkways, taking in the holiday sights and sounds. The young and young-at-heart will enjoy tunnels of twinkling lights, giant LED Christmas trees and blow-up figurines of favorite holiday characters. Then go home, make hot cocoa and watch the ball drop eastern standard time so the kiddos can head to bed before midnight! Event details.
4. Kids' NYE at LEGOLAND
If you can’t make it to the real Times Square, how about a trip to the LEGOLAND version? Complete with an early kid's New Year's Eve countdown, live music for a kids New Year's eve party, and a New Year's firework grand finale, this is sure to make your celebration awesome! Event details.
5. Hornblower Cruise
If you want to bid adieu to 2022 in real style, check out a New Year’s Eve Cruise. Hornblower Cruise Lines offers a lavish early buffet dinner cruise on the San Diego Bay. We can’t think of a better way to spend the last day of the year than outside on the water. Kids ages three and under are free. Event details.
6. A Very Furry Christmas Celebration: Sesame Place San Diego
If you haven't had a chance to visit Sesame Place San Diego this season, it's open on Dec. 31st with all of its festive celebrations in full swing. The park is transformed into a festive winter wonderland filled with holiday magic and surprises. Guests will enjoy Sesame Street Christmas shows, the Sesame Street Christmas Parade, the Furry Friends Christmas Dance Party, and exciting rides. There will be games, special merchandise, and one-of-a-kind photos with your Sesame Street friends dressed up in their holiday best. Event details.
7. Jungle Bells: San Diego Zoo
Spend the last day of the year strolling around the Zoo & Safari Park at night under the sights & sounds of holiday cheer. Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo will light up your night with the animals as you stroll around the zoo listening to live music and carolers. You'll enjoy all of the Christmas programming, including story time and the holiday trampoline jumpers. Kiddos will traipse through the Northern Frontier Holiday Forest and be mystified at the Aurora light spectacular show. Event details.
