Nine Family-Friendly Ways To Celebrate New Year's Eve 2018 In NJ

It's almost time to welcome a new year and you might still be looking for something to do. Patch has a list of nine family-friendly activities you can do throughout New Jersey that cater to adventurous souls who want to stay to party to the bitter end and those whose idea of a celebration is sneaking off to dreamland early.

The Funplex in East Hanover, Mt. Laurel

The Funplex, with locations in East Hanover and Mt. Laurel has New Year’s Eve activities suitable for ages 7 and up. Both locations have rides, arcade games, and more. Dinner is offered from 6 p.m. through 8 p.m. with the purchase of a FunBand or Extreme Band that day. There’s also a Kids Balloon Drop at 8 p.m.

Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globe Trotters are bringing their one-of-a-kind to the Prudential Center in Newark on Dec. 30. The Globetrotters feature a star-studded roster with athletes that includes Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Hammer Harrison, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm as well as women stars TNT Lister, Torch George and Hoops Green. The show will also feature the Flying Globies acrobatic trampoline dunk team.

Morris County First Night

Ring in 2019 with Morris County's largest New Year's Eve celebration: First Night Morris County.

This is the 27th year the celebration is being held. The family-friendly, alcohol free party includes 70 events spread out over 22 venues, including dance, music, theater, art, children's programs, and more. Most of the venues are within walking distance and admission includes unlimited access to all the events.

Shuttle buses will be available between select venues starting at 5:45 p.m. All performances are inside.

Fireworks will go off twice: once at 9 p.m., and again at midnight. You can check out a full schedule here.

You can buy tickets here.

First Night Ocean County

If you're looking for an event that's family friendly and gets you home in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of your couch, First Night Ocean County is where it's at.

First Night Ocean County, held on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, begins at noon on Dec. 31 and goes through 5 p.m. and finishes with fireworks, weather permitting.

Bracelets for the event are $5 each and are available at the County Connection at the Ocean County Mall in Toms River and at participating businesses on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.

There will be live performers, including jugglers, balloonists, facepainters and caricature portrait artists.

New Year's Eve Splash Adventure Aquarium

The Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront is hosting extended hours through 6 p.m. to ring in the New Year with family, friends and fish at their annual New Year's Eve Splash. That means more time to enjoy your favorite animals and even boogie down at the special DJ Shell-ebration Dance Party. The evening ends with a solid vantage point to see the twilight fireworks display over the Delaware River. New this year, Adventure Aquarium will be presenting New Year's Around the World where a different country will be celebrated each hour with an animal feed and talk.

Garden State Discovery Museum's New Year's at Noon

No worries about staying up late if you participate in this family-friendly event at the Garden State Discovery Museum. The entire Museum will be singing and dancing while they countdown to 2019 with their biggest celebration. Countdown celebrations begin at 11:45 a.m. to countdown to noon and 2:45 p.m. to countdown to 3 p.m.

Crystal Springs Resort

Crystal Springs Resort in Vernon is hosting a family party at the Diamond Ballroom. The party will feature DJ entertainment, a cash bar, dancing, games, a roaming magician, and a balloon artist. The price is $85 for adults and $35 for children ages 4-11, and kids under 4 eat for free. To make reservations and for more details go to Crystal Golf Resort or call (844) 205-1857.

STRYKE New Year’s Eve

Madison's bowling alley STRYXE is celebrating the end of the year with three hours of unlimited bowling, signature and specialty food items, and unlimited soft drinks. There’s even champagne for guests over 21. Patrons can reserve lanes from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at 6 guests per lane.

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson

Closing out the Holiday in the Park event for 2018, Six Flags Great Adventure’s New Year’s Eve offer thrill seekers the chance to ride Nitro, Batman: The Ride, or Superman: Ultimate Flight, and then warm up with s’mores and hot chocolate. The park opens at 1 p.m. and closes after the 9 p.m. fireworks at A Main Street Christmas.

(Photo courtesy of Patch archives)

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