Thrifty Thurston Celebrates New Years Eve (Family Style)

0 Shares

 

By Kate Scriven

olympia pediatricsFor full disclosure, I must say that the marking of one year passing to the next has never been my favorite.  The expectation of staying up late and having “the best time ever” always seemed exhausting.

Olympia Hands On Childrens Museum (1)So, when I had children and could forgo the late night party and sparkly outfit (ok, I miss the outfit a little bit) I was happy.  But, now my girls are a bit older – ages 5 and 8 – and they are excited to participate in New Years Eve festivities.  What to do?  I certainly am not interested in keeping my littles up until midnight.  The fall out the next day with cranky children is simply not worth it to me.  I’m looking to snack and watch football in family harmony.  So, we celebrate with our East Coast relatives and cheer the ball drop at 9pm – midnight in New York.

Luckily many local parents feel the same, and as a result there are a wide variety of terrific ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Olympia area with your family that don’t result in exhausted kids, and parents, the next day.

Noon Year’s Eve – The Hands On Children’s Museum

An Olympia tradition for many families, the Hands On Children’s Museum hosts a daytime celebration complete with a disco “ball drop” at noon.  Activities include a huge planetarium visiting from the Pacific Science Center as well as more traditional New Year’s items such as noisemakers, streamer and glow beads.  Desserts are provided and the café is open during the event.  Pre-registration is strongly recommended and visitors will receive an entry time once registered to help control the crowd of revelers.

December 31

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

hocm opening414 Jefferson St. NE in Olympia

Pre-register online or by calling 360-956-0818

$12/child members
$15/child non-members
Accompanying Adults $4 each

Folk Art New Year – The State Capital Museum

While this event is technically not on New Year’s Eve, the celebration of folk art with Ruby Reusable and regional folk artists is worthy of a celebration.  Participants will create wonderful New Year’s party favors, practice leather tooling and try out decorative painting.  Plus, tour the museum and grounds while visiting, or take a walk through the historic neighborhoods to stretch little legs.

December 28

Noon – 3 p.m.

211 21st Ave SW in Olympia

Regular Admission rates plus $2 for supplies

Magician Jeff Evan’s New Year’s Eve Magic Show – Olympia Timberland Library

Bringing magic and science together to create amazing “tricks” that can be explained by scientific principles, Magician Jeff Evans will delight visitors at two shows on New Year’s Eve.  Evans was born and raised in Lacey and has turned his love of magic into a career delighting crowds young and old.  Read Evan’s full story here.  He will perform two shows for New Year’s Eve, one at the Tumwater Library and one at the Tenino branch.

Jeff Evans with kid in front of classroomDecember 31

11 a.m. – Tumwater Timberland Library

2 p.m. – Tenino Timberland Library

Free to the public

New York New Year’s Eve – Indian Summer Golf and Country Club

For those of us looking to celebrate the ball drop in the East Coast time zone, this is the party for you.  All the glitz, glamour and fun of a late night celebration, but it’s all wrapped up by 9 p.m.  Bring the family, enjoy a delicious dinner, and celebrate the New York ball drop on the big screen complete with noise makers and streamers.

December 31

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

5900 Troon Lane SE in Lacey

$38/adult

$34/senior (55+)

$25/child (12 & under)

The Stardust Christmas Blizzard – Harlequin Productions

While this might not be the best choice with toddlers in tow, this Olympia holiday tradition, in its eighteenth year, is a wonderful way to end the year.  Take the family out for a special New Year’s Eve dinner in downtown Olympia and walk to the show at the historic State Theater.  The play is the most recent in a long line of “Stardust” musicals written by Harlowe Reed and set in the 1940s.  This year, the play jumps a bit in time and is set in 1957, complete with toe-tapping tunes from the era that will entertain everyone.  With curtain one hour earlier than usual, it’s a perfect night to introduce the kids to live theater on the final night of the show.

harlequin stardustDecember 31

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

The State Theater – 20 4th Avenue E  in Olympia

$31/adult

$28/military

$20/students

Purchase tickets online here or by calling the box office at 360-786-0151

Thrifty Thurston highlights inexpensive family fun in Thurston County.  The weekly series focuses on family-friendly activities throughout our community.  If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com.  For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia and the surrounding area, click here.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
0 Shares