Greet the New Year with your choice of fun family events

Been too busy to think about New Year's Eve? Check out these last-minute options for how to celebrate the New Year. Most are family-friendly, too.

Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show: Drive through the light show from 6 to 10 p.m. daily through Saturday, Jan. 1, at the Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. $5 per car Monday through Thursday, $10 per car Friday and Saturday. Visit vernonhills.org/specialevents or cuneomuseum.org.

Ring in the New Year: Looking for something to do with the kids during holiday break? Celebrate the New Year early from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 29-30, at the Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Drive, Wauconda. Kids ages 3 to 12 will learn how the New Year is celebrated around the world and make their own party favors to take home. Free with museum admission, which is $6 for adults, $2.50 for kids ages 4 to 17 and free for kids 3 and younger. No registration is required. Call (847) 968-3400 or see lcfpd.org/discovery_museum/.

New Year's Cosmic Celebration: Go cosmic this NYE eve. Go skating, play games, enjoy special effects and dance the night away from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at the Northbrook Sports Center, 1730 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook. Open to all ages. Nonskaters can celebrate in Club Cosmic. The $10 fee includes food and party favors. Skate rentals also available. (847) 291-2993.

New Year's Eve Party: Kids ages 5 to 10 can make a craft, play a game, make some resolutions and nosh on snacks from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 31, at the Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Limited tickets will be available at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

New Year's Eve Party at Rink Side: Spend New Year's Eve ice skating with the whole family at the Rink Side Family Entertainment Center, 6152 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee. The party, which starts at 6 p.m. and concludes with a countdown and balloon drop at 9 p.m., includes ice skating and rental from 6 to 8:30 p.m., pizza and soda, prizes and giveaways, hats, noisemakers and more. Tickets in advance cost $13 or $15 at the door. Call (847) 856-1064 or see rinksidesports.net/iceRink/.

Kristof's New Year's Eve Bowling: Choose from two bowling packages for New Year's Eve at Kristof's Entertainment Center, 421 W. Rollins Road, Round Lake Beach. The first option includes three hours of unlimited bowling from 6 to 9 p.m., one large pizza and one pitcher of soda or beer. The cost is $40.00 per lane. The second option offers three hours of unlimited bowling from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., one large pizza, one pitcher of soda or beer, a champagne toast and party favors. There will also be karaoke presented by Soundwave. The cost is $50.00 per lane. Reservations and prepayment are required. Call (847) 546-2512 or visit kristofs.net.

Toukie's New Year's Eve Beach Party: Ride a wave into the new year with the only beach party in northeastern Illinois at KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort, 1700 Nations Drive, Gurnee. The all-inclusive package includes a New Year's Eve dinner buffet, live music, children's entertainment including a magician and a stilt walker, a balloon drop at 10 p.m. and midnight, extended water-park hours until 11 p.m. and more. The next morning, enjoy a New Year's Day breakfast buffet. Packages start at $449.95. For reservations, call (877) 360-0403 or see keylimecove.com.

Laugh it up: At the Zanies Vernon Hills location, 10 local comedians (like Dan Ronan, Michael Issac, Staci Lynn Fletcher and Shay-Shay) are on the bill for New Year's Eve performances at 8 p.m. ($40) and 10:30 p.m. (the $50 charge includes champagne and party favors at midnight). Zanies is at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. Call (847) 549-6030.

Polar Bear Plunge: Start 2011 off with a splash or stay warm on the sidelines as the Waukegan Park District and the city of Waukegan host the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge at the Waukegan Municipal Beach at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1. The first 500 taking the plunge will receive an event shirt. Food and hot chocolate will be sold on site. The cost is $10 in advance (by Dec. 29) or $15 on Jan. 1. Proceeds benefit Special Recreation. For details, call (847) 360-4700 or see waukeganparks.org.