New Year's Eve For Kids: 5 Fun Metro-Area Events

Get the younger family members in on the fun of New Year's Eve, even if they can't make it up until midnight to usher in 2018. Patch found a number of fun things for families to do throughout the day Sunday for a kid-style New Year's Eve celebration:

The Science Center of Iowa, 401 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, will host Noon Year's Eve from 9 a.m. to noon. ACTS Entertainment clowns will provide balloon animals, a magician and face painting. Kids will welcome the new year with a massive balloon drop at noon. All activities are part of regular admission to the Science Center, which is $12 for adults and $8 for children 2 through 12 and seniors. The Science Center will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

After the morning fun, you can use up that excess energy at Pump It Up of Urbandale, 4069 121st St., where kids can jump and bounce then ring in the new year with noisemakers and hats. The party is 4 to 5:30 p.m. and includes a balloon drop. Cost is $10 for children registered in advance and $12 at the door. Call 515-270-5017 for reservations.

Also Sunday afternoon, the annual ImaginEve, hosted by GuideOne Insurance, will run from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hy-Vee Hall, 730 Third St. downtown. It's the area's biggest event for kids to celebrate the new year and it's free. The fun features inflatables, obstacles courses, slides, shows, carnival games, toddler and tween zones, music, dancing, food and more. Princesses ad superheroes will visit as well. A confetti countdown begins at 8 p.m. to welcome the new year and as guests leave, fireworks will fill the air at 8:15 p.m.

In connection with ImaginEve, families will be admitted free to the Iowa Hall of Pride adjacent to Hy-Vee Hall. It's the place to celebrate the former Iowa students who excelled in sport and stage and as ambassadors of their communities. There are stories of notable Iowans in the Hall of Heroes, and you can test your own skills in football, basketball and virtual soccer.

Wind down from daytime events at Adventureland Inn in Altoona, which offers an overnight package with a room and up to six wristbands to access the tropical courtyard and indoor pools, along with $25 in credit at Adventure Zone Arcade. Plus, count down to midnight with party favors; enjoy clowns, face painting and balloon animals featured by Acts Entertainment; music, karaoke, contests and an emcee by Celebrations Karaoke and DJ Service; a toddler play area; and two complimentary cocktails at Spectators Sports Bar & Grill. Contest prizes will include Adventureland ticket package and merchandise. Room packages start at $199 and you can add the night before or after for $79 each night. Fore reservations call 515-265-7321.

Image via U. Leone/Pixabay