A List of Family Friendly New Year's Activities in Louisville, Kentucky

I am personally recommending that you and your family stay home on New Year's Eve. I, for one, don't want to trust my family's lives to a lot of inebriated, irresponsible people. Yes, a lot more people are opting to go with a designated driver, but there are more people out there who think that they can just turn off the alcohol, or that they haven't had enough to drink to severely affect their driving, but all it takes is a little bit of bad judgment, and you are in an accident.

Here's my list of things that you and your family and friends can do.

You can hold your own New Year's bash at your home, if there will be drinking involved, make sure that keys are put in a safe place and that you have a number for a cab if your friends don't wish to stay in your home. Play cards, or a board game. My family is going to be playing spoons with another couple who have kids of their own. Make some popcorn, and pop in a movie for the kids to watch. Following is a list of great family and kids movies that I recommend: Click, with Adam Sandler, preferably for older children; Dark Crystal, a Jim Henson movie; Labyrinth, with David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, also a Jim Henson movie, and my favorite family movie: Willow, with Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer. I love this last movie so much that we named our daughter after the infant who starred in this film.

Another fun thing that you can do is have a New Year's Eve picnic in your front room. Make it a special occasion. The meal should be something fun and unique, like breakfast for dinner, or making a special specific meal for each person in your family. You and your family can exchange New Years Resolutions and how you plan on keeping them over a nice cup of hot chocolate and brownies. Do a fun craft with your children, such as creating a noise maker or a neat New Year's hat. Watch the ball drop at midnight, and bang some pans together in the front yard and wake up all of your sleeping neighbors with an incredible racket. It's a great way to bring in the New Year.

And my last idea is, Ta Dahhh. You and your spouse or partner can put on a special "show" for your kids. Whether it's a magic show, a talent show, a play or something just as fun, your kids and you will bring in the New Year with a lot of fond memories. After your attempt at fame ( at least your kids love you, whether you can act of not) go for a family stroll in a quiet family oriented neighbor hood and look at those Christmas lights one last time before every one of your neighbors takes them down.

Now, for those of you with families that wish to go out on New Years Eve, there is the Mayor's Family New Year's Eve party. It's being held on Monday, the 31st of December, from 8:00 PM till Midnight, at the Louisville Gardens, 525 Muhammed Ali Boulevard. This is a free event, no RSVP required, and anyone under 18 years old must have an adult with them. There will be a rock climbing wall, arts and crafts, and a giant balloon drop at midnight to bring in the new year. The greatest thing about this event? Aside from refreshments, it's all free!!!
For more information, call:502-574-5220

That's pretty much the only thing that I could find offered for families in this area on New Years Eve. I hope that you and your wonderful families enjoy my ideas and have a very fun, safe, and adventurous New Year's Eve