Safe New Year's Eve Events for Families in Pittsburgh

Looking for a great time to spend New Year's Eve in a safe and comfortable environment with your children? Well check out this list on how to enjoy the festivities and stay safe and sound!

The first, and obviously the most classic way of spending New Year's Eve in Pittsburgh is at First Night Pittsburgh. For less than ten dollars a person you and your children can have a wonderful time watching ballet dancers, have fortunes told for the New Year and a rousing fireworks display all in a safe and secure alcohol-free environment! These alcohol-free events are guaranteed to have your little ones having their best New Year's Eve ever while Mom and Dad enjoy the safety and security of a family-friendly environment!

The original First Night Pittsburgh began in 1994 as an attempt by local groups to highlight fun and safe activities for families looking for an alternative to the usual fanfare and parties. Over a decade later it has grown into a huge yearly event with literally hundreds of participants highlighting everything from juggling to ballet with a wild fireworks display finishing the night up with a bang!

Here's a partial list of all the events that you can purchase for a mere $8.00 from any Giant Eagle Store or at the Box Office at Theater Square:

HIGHMARK STAGE

Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street

The Clarks 10:30pm
Alternative rock band from Pittsburgh

The Future of Pittsburgh Grand Finale and Countdown to Midnight
Penn Avenue Place, Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street, 120 5th Avenue
Midnight

For the second time, Pittsburgh will ring in the New Year with the raising of a ball, called The Future of Pittsburgh. During the countdown to Midnight, The Future of Pittsburgh will rise atop a mast on Penn Avenue Place and be followed by a grand finale fireworks display.

Carriage Rides
6-11pm
Pick-Up: Across the street from the Courtyard Marriott
Drop-Off: 6th Street & Penn Avenue

Will pause during the parade at 8pm. Available only if weather permits.

HIGHMARK AUDITORIUM

Penn Avenue Place, Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street, 120 5th Avenue
To access auditorium, enter through Fifth Avenue Place

Magician David Lawrence's Magic Show
6:15, 7:30, 9, & 10:30pm (voucher required)
Witness the amazing feats of magician David Lawrence and learn a few tricks of the trade.

Target First Night® Parade
Penn Avenue from10th Street to 6th Street
8pm

DUQUESNE LIGHT FAMILY TENT

7th Street at Penn Avenue
6-10pm

Imagine Pittsburgh, Celebrating 250 Years Youngsters can take part in a variety of fun art activities to take home! Indiana University of Pennsylvania's student chapter of the National Art Education Association will facilitate a variety of hands-on crafts, a creative way for families to celebrate New Year's together. Crafts include Pittsburgh skyline hats decorated with New Year's fireworks, and a wearable rocket pack to fly you into the future and 2008!

DOLLAR BANK MAIN STAGE

7th Street at Penn Avenue

Children's Fireworks Show 6pm

FIFTH AVENUE PLACE

Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue

Magician David Lawrence's Magic Workshop
6, 7:30 & 9pm Witness the amazing feats of magician David Lawrence, and try your hand at a few tricks of the trade. Now in a BIGGER space with more fun activities than ever!

Ballooning
6:30-11pm
Giggles the Clown will teach you how to make simple animal balloons.

Caricaturists
6:30-10:30pm
Have your portrait drawn with a whimsical touch.

Juggling
6:30-11pm
Joe Lyons will demonstrate and teach the fine art of juggling.

Decoration Station:Memory Books
10pm-Midnight
Record your memories of 2007 in your own hand-made memory book. Create your own book from a variety of styles, all pocket- sized to carry with you tonight. Fill them in with your favorite memories of the year gone by.

Joe Wos
6:30-11pm
Storytelling artist Joe Wos tells rich stories and creates illustrations before your eyes.

PITTSBURGH PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE

Fortune-Telling Center
6-10:30pm
Nina will offer predictions of what your New Year holds.

BYHAM THEATER

101 6th Street

Stars of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
7 & 9pm (voucher required)
Lead dancers of the renowned PBT are joined by students of the PBT graduate school in a program that highlights the season's best performances.

Sponsored by Gateway Financial

PUBLIC ART PLAZA

7th Street and Penn Avenue
6pm-Midnight

Venture Outdoors Snowshoe Wonderland
Snowshoeing: Take a spin around the tundra with real snowshoes. Strap a pair on your street shoes and get ready for snowshoeing in the Laurel Highlands throughout the winter season.

Hot Apple Cider: Stop by and warm up (while cider lasts).

Fishing for Resolutions Pool: Drop your line into the kiddie pool to hook an art-fish for a prize and a special New Year's resolution!

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

320 6th AVENUE

Balmoral Highlanders Pipe Band & Dancers
9:15 & 10:15pm
Traditional Scottish songs, marches and pipe music.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

821 Liberty Avenue

Roving Art Cart
6-10pm
Make hand made hats with Citiparks.

The Puppet Palace
Workshops: 6:15, 7:30, 9:30pm
Performances: 7 & 9:15pm
Join Holden Hand Puppets to make simple hand puppets and then watch them perform storytime classics.

9TH STREET and PENN AVENUE

Imagine Pittsburgh Game Show
6:30, 7:30, 8:45 & 9:30pm
A game show for youth and adults. Come test your knowledge about Pittsburgh as we celebrate the City's 250th Anniversary.

As you can see, First Night Pittsburgh is one popular place to be for New Year's Eve! Why not scamper on down to the Cultural District and have a fun and safe time?

Looking for something a bit more cultural for your kids? How about the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens? This beautiful conservatory will banish all thoughts of the cold weather outside as you enjoy the splendid exhibits and see flowers from around the world! Right now a special exhibit is going on, right in time for New Year's Eve! The Chihuly at Phipps: Gardens and Glass will highlight the skills of Dale Chihuly, an artist called "revolutionary" in the way he has changed the way people see glass. For New Year's Eve a special Family Celebration will be held, allowing your children to start the New Year with a wonderful artistic experience!

Tickets for this event are priced at $12.50 for Adults, $11.50 for Seniors; $11.50 for Students with proper ID, $7.50 for Children from 2-18 and Free for Children under 2. You can purchase tickets online and it may be recommended that you do so for New Year's Eve.

What about a wild time before the actual event? You and your children can have a wild and wooly Noon Year's Eve at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium! Count the minutes down until 12:00 noon with special guests such as the Radio Disney DJ's and the Disney Dancers while enjoying the fun and entertainment of live animals in their natural habitat! The festivities start at 11:00 am and run until 1 pm, allowing the little ones to have as much fun as their older brothers and sisters!

The Zoo will not be open on New Year's Day, so plan to visit and enjoy the wildlife with your children the day before. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily, with an admission fee of $8 for Adults, $7 for Seniors and Children ages 2-13 and Free for Children under 24 months.

Spending New Year's Eve with your children doesn't have to be a boring evening of sitting in front of the television watching other people have fun - why not head on out to one of these three events and give your children a running start into the New Year!