Every New Year’s Eve, I scour the internet for things to do. It’s a holiday, so you’ve got to do something special, right? Factor in kids and things get a whole lot more complicated. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered—whether you decide to adventure around town or choose to spend the night in.
New Year’s Eve at Dave & Buster’s
Time: 4– 7 p.m. on December 31
Location: Dave & Buster’s Birmingham (2700 Riverchase Galleria, Ste 110, Birmingham)
Details: Celebrate heading into 2026 without staying up until midnight by playing games at Dave & Buster’s! From fun arcade action to yummy food (and adult drinks), they’ve got all you need to make lasting memories this NYE… all while still allowing you to get the kids in bed at a reasonable hour.
Price: $33.79/person
New Year’s Eve at Top Golf
Time: December 31 at 9 p.m. to January 1 at 1 a.m.
Location: Top Golf (1111 24th St. N., Birmingham)
Details: Swing in the New Year at Top Golf with your family—if the kids won’t fall asleep on you, that is. Enjoy late-night bites like queso and salsa, vegetable crudité, mini corn dogs, boneless chicken wings, pulled pork sliders, and more. Not to mention tasty sweets like chocolate chunk cookies, brownies, and donut holes-in-one. Sip on unlimited fountain drinks (and iced tea and coffee to keep you awake!) all night. There’s even a midnight toast for guests 21+.
Price: $442.59/up to 6 guests
New Year’s Eve: A Viennese Celebration
Time: 6 p.m. on December 31
Location: UAB’s Alys Stephens Center — Jemison Concert Hall
Details: If you have older teens (or a band kid) who have refined taste, you might all enjoy the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve: A Viennese Celebration performance. This annual concert is a tradition inspired by the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic’s holiday celebration, filled with elegance and unforgettable music. As they say, Start your year on a high note with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra!
Price: $39–82
UAB vs. Wichita
Time: 3 p.m. on December 31
Location: Bartow Arena (617 13th St. S., Birmingham)
Details: Celebrate early with this 3 p.m. basketball game at Bartlow arena! Nothing better than watching the Blazers go for a win to end the year.
Price: $16–50
Zoo Year’s Eve: Cougar Countdown to 2026
Time: 1–3 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. on December 31
Location: Birmingham Zoo (2630 Cahaba Rd., Birmingham)
Details: Celebrate the new year with either the daytime or nighttime NYE countdown drop in the zoo plaza! There will be photo opportunities, a cougar zookeeper chat, educational cougar-related activities, a scavenger hunt throughout the zoo, and more.
Price: The Zoo Year’s Eve celebrations are included in the cost of regular zoo admission or Glow Wild admission. The Red Diamond Express train and Virtual Reality experience should be available during both celebrations for an additional fee.
Fun At-Home Celebration Ideas
Here are a few ways you can get creative without having to leave the comfort of your own house this NYE.
Favorite Things Dinner*
Allow each child (and parent!) to choose their favorite meal—whether it be McDonald’s, a Little Ceaser’s pizza, a Pad Thai dish (my choice last year!), or even Kraft mac and cheese made at home. Go ahead and place your orders, and divide and conquer to go pick up everyone’s meal. Then bring it all back to the house and eat together, sharing favorite things of the year.
*A family I’m close with began doing their “Favorite Things” dinner each New Year’s Eve about a decade ago, and people have started to text them to ask what the favorite meal choices were each year!
Netflix Countdown Specials
Netflix has their own special New Year’s Eve countdown content designed for kids—so you can count down together without needing to wait until midnight! You can turn it into an party with snacks, glow sticks, or a mini dance party.
Watch a Fireworks Show on YouTube
Not only can you watch it whenever (aka before the kids’ bedtimes), you can stream fireworks from all over the world! Last year, we watched the London Eye’s performance and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
Watch the Ball Drop
A classic for my family has always been watching the ball drop in Times Square. Tune in as a family if your kids can stay up until 11 p.m. Central Time.
End on a High Note
Regardless of what you end up doing, end the night by sharing something everyone is excited about for the new year. And remember: The best celebrations don’t have to be elaborate and fancy—the best ones are the ones kids will remember fondly. (So basically you could give them
