New Year's Eve and kids do not always mix. Midnight is a long way past bedtime, fireworks can be loud, and the biggest parties are built for adults. The good news is that Dallas-Fort Worth has plenty of ways to welcome 2027 that start at noon, end before dinner, or let you watch the sky from a car seat.
Here are the best New Year events for kids in Dallas-Fort Worth, sorted by how late your family wants to stay up. Dec. 31, 2026 falls on a Thursday and Jan. 1 is a Friday, so many families will have both days off. Holiday hours change often, so confirm times and prices with each venue before you go.
Last Updated: November 3, 2026.
Best New Year Events for Kids in Dallas-Fort Worth
New Year Events at a Glance
Event
Date and Time
City
Cost
Noon Year's Eve Celebration
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dallas
Arboretum admission; kids 3 to 12 from $17.95
Noon Year's Eve at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to noon
Fort Worth
$12 ages 3 to 11; $16 ages 12 to 64
Noon Year's Eve Party at Frisco Public Library
Dec. 31, 1 to 2 p.m.
Frisco
Not listed; confirm with the library
Holiday Cheer evening at the Arboretum
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 5 to 10 p.m.
Dallas
$12 online, ages 3 and up
Dallas Zoo Lights
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Dallas
From $19; parking $15
CultureMap City Rink
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Jan. 1, 1 to 7 p.m.
Dallas
$18 with skate rental
Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower
Dec. 31, 11:59 p.m.
Dallas
Free to watch from the skyline
First Day Hike at Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Jan. 1, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Valley View
$7 ages 13+; 12 and under free
1. Celebrate at noon with a Noon Year's Eve countdown.
A noon countdown is the easiest win for families with young kids. You get the balloons, the confetti, and the big moment, and everyone is home for a normal dinner and bedtime. Three events on Dec. 31 are built for this.
Event
Time
What Kids Do
Cost
Dallas Arboretum (Dallas)
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; ball drop at noon
Bubble dance party, winter STEM activities, and the noon ball drop.
Thursday daytime admission is $17.95 for ages 3 to 12 and $21.95 for adults. Under 3 free.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth)
10 a.m. to noon; confetti drop at noon
Crafts, photos, and a confetti drop in the atrium.
Included with admission: $12 ages 3 to 11, $16 ages 12 to 64, under 3 free.
Frisco Public Library (Frisco)
1 to 2 p.m.
A time-travel-themed party for ages 6 to 12. Wear your New Year's best.
Not listed. Despite the name, it starts at 1 p.m.
The Dallas Arboretum's Noon Year's Eve Celebration is the biggest of the three and pairs well with a stroll through the Christmas Village and the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, which are in their final season.
Want a quieter morning? A Handmade Christmas at Nash Farm in Grapevine runs at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Kids bake old-fashioned cookies, make a Victorian foil craft, and string popcorn garland. Tickets are $5 in advance, and walk-up spots are not guaranteed.
2. Stay up for lights, skating, and the skyline show.
If your kids can handle a later night, several holiday attractions are still running on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The Arboretum's $12 Holiday Cheer evening ticket is the budget pick for an evening out, and it is far easier on bedtimes than a midnight countdown.
Event
When
Good to Know
Holiday at the Arboretum (Dallas)
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., evening 5 to 10 p.m.
Evening Holiday Cheer admission is $12 online for ages 3 and up. Parking is $15 per vehicle.
Dallas Zoo Lights (Dallas)
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Tickets from $19. Most animals are asleep at night. Parking is $15, so consider the DART Red Line.
Christmas in the Garden (Fort Worth)
Dec. 31, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Mile-long light trail with the Winter Cathedral. Kids' advance tickets run $13 to $22. Confirm Jan. 1 ticket slots.
Prairie Lights (Grand Prairie)
Dec. 31, 6 to 10 p.m. (final night)
Drive through two miles of lights from the car. City listing is $50 per vehicle.
CultureMap City Rink (Dallas)
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Jan. 1, 1 to 7 p.m.
$18 per person, including skate rental and a 75-minute session.
Gaylord Texan ICE! featuring Harry Potter (Grapevine)
Open Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; pick a timed entry
Kept at 9 degrees, with parkas provided. Ages 3 and under free. Parking and tax are extra.
Watching the Midnight Fireworks
The headline show is Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower. At 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, Dallas will light up with about 10 minutes of fireworks, drones, and tower lights in an around-the-world theme. Watching from the skyline is free, and the venue presents it as a gift to the city. If midnight is too late, NBC 5 (KXAS) is presenting the show on TV, so little ones can watch from the couch.
3. Keep the fun going indoors.
December weather in North Texas is a coin flip, and some kids just do better with a roof overhead. These options all work for Dec. 31 or Jan. 1.
PAW Patrol Rescue Pups: An Immersive Experience (Plano). Kids work together on indoor rescue missions, games, and photo spots. It runs 10 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Dec. 31 and noon to 4:40 p.m. on Jan. 1. Prices start around $20 on the organizer's site, while Visit Plano lists $36.99, so pick your date to see the real price.
Perot Museum (Dallas). The Soccer: More Than a Game exhibit has interactive challenges on soccer, physics, and technology, and younger kids can explore the Moody Family Children's Museum. Exhibit tickets are $12 adult and $10 youth, on top of general admission of $27 adult and $17 youth. Confirm holiday hours first.
Gaylord Texan ICE! (Grapevine). An indoor winter wonderland of carved ice scenes and two-story ice slides, open through Jan. 3.
Great Wolf Lodge Snowland (Grapevine). Seasonal crafts, dance parties, and snowfall celebrations come with a stay, and the lodge has an indoor water park. Ask about day-pass access and pricing.
4. Start 2027 with a New Year's Day outing.
Plenty of families skip the late night and save the energy for Jan. 1. Texas Parks and Wildlife's First Day Hikes are a free-range way to burn off holiday sugar. At Ray Roberts Lake State Park, Johnson Branch Unit near Valley View, a self-guided First Day Hike runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the nature center open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kids pick a trail that fits their pace and can grab a First Day Hike sticker afterward. Entry is $7 for ages 13 and up, and children 12 and under are free. The park often reaches capacity, so arrive early. Cedar Hill and Lake Mineral Wells state parks are good picks for independent family walks, but check each park's calendar and trail conditions, since a specific 2027 First Day program was not confirmed for them.
A few other Jan. 1 ideas:
Fort Worth Zoo. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on New Year's Day. Dining, retail, and attraction locations are closed. Admission is $22 for adults and $18 for kids 3 to 12, with $5 parking.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington). A College Football Playoff quarterfinal at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff will be announced Dec. 6, and children age 1 and up need tickets. Prices are high, with resale listings starting around $275, so this is one for big football families.
5. Use a GetOut pass to fill winter break.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are only two days of the break. For the rest of winter vacation, the GetOut Texas DFW membership gives you access to 77+ local venues for $64.95 per person for the year, and the app lets you show your pass at the counter. Many members find it pays for itself after two or three visits. These included venues are good picks for chilly days around the holiday:
Venue
City
Why It Works Over New Year's
Fort Worth Zoo
Fort Worth
Cool weather means active animals and no summer crowds. Open Jan. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reunion Tower
Dallas
Skyline views are clearest on crisp winter days.
KidMania
Grapevine
An indoor kid-sized city where children try out jobs and play pretend.
Sky Zone Hurst
Hurst
Trampolines to burn off energy on a cold or rainy day.
Super Llama Inflatable Park
See venue page
Bounce houses and inflatables, all indoors.
Malibu Jack's
North Richland Hills
Arcade, rides, and games under one roof.
Main Event
Multiple DFW locations
Bowling and arcade games, available once a month per location. Reserve holiday bowling ahead.
Texas Discovery Gardens
Dallas
Gardens and a butterfly house that stay green all winter.
SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort Worth are available as add-ons rather than part of the base pass. Each venue has its own redemption limit, such as once per year, and holiday hours can differ, so check the venue page before you plan your day.
A few popular New Year's plans do not yet have solid 2026 details. Check the official sources before you build your day around any of these:
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Holiday Bricktacular (Grapevine). Grapevine tourism lists it through Dec. 31, but the venue's own page says it ends Dec. 24.
SEA LIFE Grapevine. Scuba Santa dates end Dec. 19, and holiday hours for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 are not yet posted.
Peace Plaza Ice Rink (Grapevine). Skating is $20 per one-hour session with skates. One listing shows Dec. 31 hours of noon to 7:30 p.m., while another says it is closed that day, so call first.
Frisco New Year's Early Eve and Sundance Square NYE (Fort Worth). Earlier years featured early countdowns and fireworks, but the 2026 programs have not been verified. Do not assume last year's schedule applies.
Public fireworks in Addison, Plano, Southlake, and The Star in Frisco. I did not find a confirmed 2026 New Year's show. Addison's Kaboom Town and Southlake's Stars and Stripes are July events.
7. Plan around bedtimes, noise, and parking.
Situation
What to Do
Early bedtime
Choose a noon countdown or the Arboretum's $12 evening ticket instead of midnight.
Loud noises
Bring child-sized hearing protection for fireworks or any crowded outdoor show.
Parking and transit
Zoo Lights parking is $15, and the zoo suggests advance parking or the DART Red Line. The Arboretum charges $15 per vehicle.
Reservations
Reserve timed entries for ICE!, state park entry, and any holiday bowling ahead of time.
Library and holiday hours
Frisco Public Library closes early on Dec. 31 and is closed Jan. 1. Check hours before you go.
Cold weather
Pack layers for light shows and trails. ICE! is indoors but kept at 9 degrees.
8. Quick answers to common questions.
What is a Noon Year's Eve party?
It is a kid-friendly countdown held at noon instead of midnight, usually with a balloon drop, confetti, or ball drop. The Dallas Arboretum and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History both host one on Dec. 31.
Where can my kids see New Year's Eve fireworks in Dallas?
The Lone Star NYE show at Reunion Tower lights up the downtown skyline at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31. It is free to watch, and you can also catch it on NBC 5.
What can we do on New Year's Day with kids?
Take a First Day Hike at a Texas state park, visit the Fort Worth Zoo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., see Dallas Zoo Lights, or skate at the CultureMap City Rink starting at 1 p.m.
Are the holiday light shows open on Dec. 31?
Yes. Dallas Zoo Lights, Holiday at the Arboretum, and Christmas in the Garden are all open on Dec. 31, and Prairie Lights has its final night. Dallas Zoo Lights and the Arboretum also run on Jan. 1.
Whether your family rings in 2027 with confetti at noon or fireworks at midnight, DFW has a plan that fits. Pick one anchor event, leave room for naps and snacks, and let a pass cover the days around it.
New Year's Eve and kids do not always mix. Midnight is a long way past bedtime, fireworks can be loud, and the biggest parties are built for adults. The good news is that Dallas-Fort Worth has plenty of ways to welcome 2027 that start at noon, end before dinner, or let you watch the sky from a car seat.
Here are the best New Year events for kids in Dallas-Fort Worth, sorted by how late your family wants to stay up. Dec. 31, 2026 falls on a Thursday and Jan. 1 is a Friday, so many families will have both days off. Holiday hours change often, so confirm times and prices with each venue before you go.
Last Updated: November 3, 2026.
Best New Year Events for Kids in Dallas-Fort Worth
New Year Events at a Glance
Event
Date and Time
City
Cost
Noon Year's Eve Celebration
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dallas
Arboretum admission; kids 3 to 12 from $17.95
Noon Year's Eve at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to noon
Fort Worth
$12 ages 3 to 11; $16 ages 12 to 64
Noon Year's Eve Party at Frisco Public Library
Dec. 31, 1 to 2 p.m.
Frisco
Not listed; confirm with the library
Holiday Cheer evening at the Arboretum
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 5 to 10 p.m.
Dallas
$12 online, ages 3 and up
Dallas Zoo Lights
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Dallas
From $19; parking $15
CultureMap City Rink
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Jan. 1, 1 to 7 p.m.
Dallas
$18 with skate rental
Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower
Dec. 31, 11:59 p.m.
Dallas
Free to watch from the skyline
First Day Hike at Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Jan. 1, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Valley View
$7 ages 13+; 12 and under free
1. Celebrate at noon with a Noon Year's Eve countdown.
A noon countdown is the easiest win for families with young kids. You get the balloons, the confetti, and the big moment, and everyone is home for a normal dinner and bedtime. Three events on Dec. 31 are built for this.
Event
Time
What Kids Do
Cost
Dallas Arboretum (Dallas)
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; ball drop at noon
Bubble dance party, winter STEM activities, and the noon ball drop.
Thursday daytime admission is $17.95 for ages 3 to 12 and $21.95 for adults. Under 3 free.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth)
10 a.m. to noon; confetti drop at noon
Crafts, photos, and a confetti drop in the atrium.
Included with admission: $12 ages 3 to 11, $16 ages 12 to 64, under 3 free.
Frisco Public Library (Frisco)
1 to 2 p.m.
A time-travel-themed party for ages 6 to 12. Wear your New Year's best.
Not listed. Despite the name, it starts at 1 p.m.
The Dallas Arboretum's Noon Year's Eve Celebration is the biggest of the three and pairs well with a stroll through the Christmas Village and the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, which are in their final season.
Want a quieter morning? A Handmade Christmas at Nash Farm in Grapevine runs at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Kids bake old-fashioned cookies, make a Victorian foil craft, and string popcorn garland. Tickets are $5 in advance, and walk-up spots are not guaranteed.
2. Stay up for lights, skating, and the skyline show.
If your kids can handle a later night, several holiday attractions are still running on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The Arboretum's $12 Holiday Cheer evening ticket is the budget pick for an evening out, and it is far easier on bedtimes than a midnight countdown.
Event
When
Good to Know
Holiday at the Arboretum (Dallas)
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., evening 5 to 10 p.m.
Evening Holiday Cheer admission is $12 online for ages 3 and up. Parking is $15 per vehicle.
Dallas Zoo Lights (Dallas)
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Tickets from $19. Most animals are asleep at night. Parking is $15, so consider the DART Red Line.
Christmas in the Garden (Fort Worth)
Dec. 31, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Mile-long light trail with the Winter Cathedral. Kids' advance tickets run $13 to $22. Confirm Jan. 1 ticket slots.
Prairie Lights (Grand Prairie)
Dec. 31, 6 to 10 p.m. (final night)
Drive through two miles of lights from the car. City listing is $50 per vehicle.
CultureMap City Rink (Dallas)
Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Jan. 1, 1 to 7 p.m.
$18 per person, including skate rental and a 75-minute session.
Gaylord Texan ICE! featuring Harry Potter (Grapevine)
Open Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; pick a timed entry
Kept at 9 degrees, with parkas provided. Ages 3 and under free. Parking and tax are extra.
Watching the Midnight Fireworks
The headline show is Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower. At 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, Dallas will light up with about 10 minutes of fireworks, drones, and tower lights in an around-the-world theme. Watching from the skyline is free, and the venue presents it as a gift to the city. If midnight is too late, NBC 5 (KXAS) is presenting the show on TV, so little ones can watch from the couch.
3. Keep the fun going indoors.
December weather in North Texas is a coin flip, and some kids just do better with a roof overhead. These options all work for Dec. 31 or Jan. 1.
PAW Patrol Rescue Pups: An Immersive Experience (Plano). Kids work together on indoor rescue missions, games, and photo spots. It runs 10 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Dec. 31 and noon to 4:40 p.m. on Jan. 1. Prices start around $20 on the organizer's site, while Visit Plano lists $36.99, so pick your date to see the real price.
Perot Museum (Dallas). The Soccer: More Than a Game exhibit has interactive challenges on soccer, physics, and technology, and younger kids can explore the Moody Family Children's Museum. Exhibit tickets are $12 adult and $10 youth, on top of general admission of $27 adult and $17 youth. Confirm holiday hours first.
Gaylord Texan ICE! (Grapevine). An indoor winter wonderland of carved ice scenes and two-story ice slides, open through Jan. 3.
Great Wolf Lodge Snowland (Grapevine). Seasonal crafts, dance parties, and snowfall celebrations come with a stay, and the lodge has an indoor water park. Ask about day-pass access and pricing.
4. Start 2027 with a New Year's Day outing.
Plenty of families skip the late night and save the energy for Jan. 1. Texas Parks and Wildlife's First Day Hikes are a free-range way to burn off holiday sugar. At Ray Roberts Lake State Park, Johnson Branch Unit near Valley View, a self-guided First Day Hike runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the nature center open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kids pick a trail that fits their pace and can grab a First Day Hike sticker afterward. Entry is $7 for ages 13 and up, and children 12 and under are free. The park often reaches capacity, so arrive early. Cedar Hill and Lake Mineral Wells state parks are good picks for independent family walks, but check each park's calendar and trail conditions, since a specific 2027 First Day program was not confirmed for them.
A few other Jan. 1 ideas:
Fort Worth Zoo. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on New Year's Day. Dining, retail, and attraction locations are closed. Admission is $22 for adults and $18 for kids 3 to 12, with $5 parking.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington). A College Football Playoff quarterfinal at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff will be announced Dec. 6, and children age 1 and up need tickets. Prices are high, with resale listings starting around $275, so this is one for big football families.
5. Use a GetOut pass to fill winter break.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are only two days of the break. For the rest of winter vacation, the GetOut Texas DFW membership gives you access to 77+ local venues for $64.95 per person for the year, and the app lets you show your pass at the counter. Many members find it pays for itself after two or three visits. These included venues are good picks for chilly days around the holiday:
Venue
City
Why It Works Over New Year's
Fort Worth Zoo
Fort Worth
Cool weather means active animals and no summer crowds. Open Jan. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reunion Tower
Dallas
Skyline views are clearest on crisp winter days.
KidMania
Grapevine
An indoor kid-sized city where children try out jobs and play pretend.
Sky Zone Hurst
Hurst
Trampolines to burn off energy on a cold or rainy day.
Super Llama Inflatable Park
See venue page
Bounce houses and inflatables, all indoors.
Malibu Jack's
North Richland Hills
Arcade, rides, and games under one roof.
Main Event
Multiple DFW locations
Bowling and arcade games, available once a month per location. Reserve holiday bowling ahead.
Texas Discovery Gardens
Dallas
Gardens and a butterfly house that stay green all winter.
SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort Worth are available as add-ons rather than part of the base pass. Each venue has its own redemption limit, such as once per year, and holiday hours can differ, so check the venue page before you plan your day.
A few popular New Year's plans do not yet have solid 2026 details. Check the official sources before you build your day around any of these:
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Holiday Bricktacular (Grapevine). Grapevine tourism lists it through Dec. 31, but the venue's own page says it ends Dec. 24.
SEA LIFE Grapevine. Scuba Santa dates end Dec. 19, and holiday hours for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 are not yet posted.
Peace Plaza Ice Rink (Grapevine). Skating is $20 per one-hour session with skates. One listing shows Dec. 31 hours of noon to 7:30 p.m., while another says it is closed that day, so call first.
Frisco New Year's Early Eve and Sundance Square NYE (Fort Worth). Earlier years featured early countdowns and fireworks, but the 2026 programs have not been verified. Do not assume last year's schedule applies.
Public fireworks in Addison, Plano, Southlake, and The Star in Frisco. I did not find a confirmed 2026 New Year's show. Addison's Kaboom Town and Southlake's Stars and Stripes are July events.
7. Plan around bedtimes, noise, and parking.
Situation
What to Do
Early bedtime
Choose a noon countdown or the Arboretum's $12 evening ticket instead of midnight.
Loud noises
Bring child-sized hearing protection for fireworks or any crowded outdoor show.
Parking and transit
Zoo Lights parking is $15, and the zoo suggests advance parking or the DART Red Line. The Arboretum charges $15 per vehicle.
Reservations
Reserve timed entries for ICE!, state park entry, and any holiday bowling ahead of time.
Library and holiday hours
Frisco Public Library closes early on Dec. 31 and is closed Jan. 1. Check hours before you go.
Cold weather
Pack layers for light shows and trails. ICE! is indoors but kept at 9 degrees.
8. Quick answers to common questions.
What is a Noon Year's Eve party?
It is a kid-friendly countdown held at noon instead of midnight, usually with a balloon drop, confetti, or ball drop. The Dallas Arboretum and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History both host one on Dec. 31.
Where can my kids see New Year's Eve fireworks in Dallas?
The Lone Star NYE show at Reunion Tower lights up the downtown skyline at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31. It is free to watch, and you can also catch it on NBC 5.
What can we do on New Year's Day with kids?
Take a First Day Hike at a Texas state park, visit the Fort Worth Zoo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., see Dallas Zoo Lights, or skate at the CultureMap City Rink starting at 1 p.m.
Are the holiday light shows open on Dec. 31?
Yes. Dallas Zoo Lights, Holiday at the Arboretum, and Christmas in the Garden are all open on Dec. 31, and Prairie Lights has its final night. Dallas Zoo Lights and the Arboretum also run on Jan. 1.
Whether your family rings in 2027 with confetti at noon or fireworks at midnight, DFW has a plan that fits. Pick one anchor event, leave room for naps and snacks, and let a pass cover the days around it.
