Where families can celebrate NY Eve in suburbs
Just because your kids are likely to be snoozing by midnight doesn't mean you can't share some New Year's Eve excitement with them. Parties and special events throughout the area offer entertainment, snacks, early countdowns and other treats for families celebrating the end of 2010.
Lake County Discovery Museum: 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda, (847) 968-3400, lcfpd.org
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 29-30
Price: Museum admission is $6 for adults, $2.50 for children 4 to 17, $3 for students 18 to 25 and seniors, children 3 and under free. Program free with museum admission.
Children ages 3 to 12 can learn how New Year's is celebrated around the world and make their own party favors to take home. No registration required.
New Year's cosmic celebration: Northbrook Sports Center, 1730 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, (847) 291-2993
Time: 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30
Price: $10 and includes food and party favors. Skate rentals available.
Get the whole family in the mood for celebrating the new year with skating, games, special effects and dancing. Nonskaters will be able to celebrate in Club Cosmic.
Brunswick Zone: 170 W. North Ave., Carol Stream, (630) 682-0150; bowlbrunswick.com
Time: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., 5 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31
Price: $59.99 to $79.99 per lane
Up to six people can share a bowling lane at one of three parties, which culminate in party favors and a countdown. The package includes shoe rentals, a large one-topping pizza and a pitcher of soda.
Bubble Bash at DuPage Children's Museum: 301 N. Washington St., Naperville, (630) 637-8000, ext. 0; dupagechildrensmuseum.org
Time: 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 31
Price: $15-$20
The ninth annual party is expected to bring in about 900 people so make sure to buy your tickets soon.
“You get the run of the museum,” said Alison Segebarth, director of marketing and management. “All the exhibits are open, and we have extra things on every floor.”
This year's theme is “Blast Off!” and kids can make glow-in-the-dark art, rocket-shaped noisemakers, jet packs and alien or astronaut face masks and decorate full moon-shaped cookies with craters.
Storyteller Ben Webber will dress as an astronaut to tell space-related tales, and families can get their pictures taken in front of a space backdrop. The party also includes live music from Mr. Singer and the Sharp Cookies, goody bags and a countdown with tons of bubbles.
Family New Year's Eve Bash at Navy Pier: 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, (312) 595-7437; winterwonderfest.com
Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31
Price: Free
Human beatbox Yuri Lane hosts a show at Festival Hall's Winter WonderStage, featuring live music by Concrete Kittens with the Winter WonderFriends and hip-hop and breakdance performances by Chicago FootworKINGz, Stick & Move Dance Crew, Hip Hop Connxion and other groups. After the show, catch an early fireworks display at 8:15 p.m.
Ringin' in the New Year in downtown Naperville: (630) 544-3372; downtownnaperville.com
Time: Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31
Price: Free
Naperville's downtown will be filled with entertainers including dancers, a juggler, a caricature artist, an ice carver, a magician, a harpist and a fortuneteller. You can pick up a free bell and gather at the Riverwalk's covered bridge at 5 p.m. for a bell parade to the Carillon. Families can get a free photo taken and then walk to the Riverwalk Eatery to warm up with free hot chocolate while listening to a live broadcast from 95.9 FM The River.
Rotary Hill will be open for sledding, weather permitting. At 6 p.m., Mayor George Pradel and Naperville Community Television's Dolly McCarthy will host a countdown.
Wonder Works: 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park, (708) 383-4815; wonder-works.org
Time: Noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31
Price: Free with regular admission, $5, free for kids under age 1
Kids make party hats and noisemakers and can write their resolutions on a strip of paper that will be made into a paper chain around the museum. Other activities include parachute games, a dance contest, musical chairs, been bag toss and a face painter. Every hour between 1 and 4 p.m., kids can do a countdown, have refreshments and learn about the New Year's traditions from countries like India and Russia.
“We get a pretty good crowd and people have a good time,” said Mary Bodlak, executive director. “I think that it's nice that the kids can get a feel for what their parents are doing in the evening.”
Zoo Year's Eve at Brookfield Zoo: 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, (708) 688-8000; czs.org
Price: Free with regular admission, $13.50; $9.50 for kids ages 3-11 and seniors; free for kids under age 3
Time: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31
Families can head to the Holly Jolly Theater for music, games and prizes from Radio Disney culminating in a countdown at 8 p.m. There's also a separate celebration with an early countdown for kids ages 6 and under in the Hamill Family Play Zoo. Kids can make their own noisemakers and join in parades at 6 and 7 p.m. The festivities are part of Brookfield's Holiday Magic, so you can come early or stick around until 9 p.m. to check out 120 animated light displays, Christmas trees, ice carving demonstrations and other activities.