Safe New Year's Eve Events for Families in the DC Metro Area

First Night Alexandria: Celebrate the New Year's with this annual, drug and alcohol free party. Various shops, stores, office lobbies, museums and public buildings are turned into performance venues to showcase incredible local and regional talent. Past performers at First Night Alexandria include clowns, face painters and magicians for children to a world-class Scottish fiddler, a Grammy-nominated rock and roll guitarist and a classical cellist for adults. Badges are $10 before Christmas and $15 before New Year's Eve, but kids 12 years old and under are free.

New Year's Eve in Annapolis: 30 minutes from DC, Annapolis is a hosting its New Year's Eveparty for the whole family. For this year's event, it will be the kick off of Annapolis Live, a year long celebration of the city's 300^th anniversary. It's an alcohol free family event similar to the First Night series across the country. The big difference is that there is not ticket required to celebrate this event. At 3 p.m., guests can enjoy free children's activities, 2 stages of live music and entertainment, and a firework show that caps off the night. In addition, there's Rock At The Rec show at 7:30 p.m. While this event cost $10 at the door, you'll get 4 great live acts to bring in the New year.

Twice Upon A Time at Imagination Stage: Give your kids something to enjoy on New Day when Imagination Theater shows the play Twice Upon A Time on New Year's Eve at 10:30 a.m. It takes 2 great stories, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and The Emperor's New Clothes, and turns it into a great hour long play. Give your kids something to do other than sitting in front of the TV or computer for the day.

First Night Leesburg: First Night Leesburg will host over 100 wonderful performances at 20 indoor locations in downtown Leesburg. Enjoy jazz, classical music, puppet shows, bluegrass, folk music, rock & roll, magicians and much more! First Night concludes at midnight with a traditional Grand Illumination gathering on the courthouse green. Similar to First Night Alexandria, this is a family friendly, alcohol free event. Performances will take place in different venues throughout the city like building lobbies, church sanctuaries, courthouses and other locations. Admission to First Night Leesburg is $8.00 per adult, $6.00 for Seniors ages 65 and over, and $3.00 for children ages 3-12. No charge for children under 3 years of age.

Kennedy Center Family Stage presents Leo Lionni's Swimmy,Frederick, and Inch by Inch:Why wait until evening to enjoy New Year's Eve activities? You and your family will be entertained at the Family Stage at the Kennedy Center with Leo Lionni's Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia stages three of his Caldecott Honor books: Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch. It's an hour play where Lionni's beloved characters come to life. Tickets are $18.

Sidney's Salon Orchestra of Washington at Millennium Stage: The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center closes out 2007 with a New Year's Eve performance by Sidney's Orchestra Inc. It's a free performance that features the music from Old Vienna, turn-of-the-century Paris, and Manhattan's Tin Pan Alley. For good seating, it's best to arrive early.

Kids' Night Out: Why should the adults be the only one celebrating New Year's Eve? The city of Germantown is hosting its Kids Night Out event at the Germantown Community Center. From 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve to 10 a.m. on New Year's Day, Kids can do many cool activities like sports, arts and crafts, pizza and other cool activities. Kids are recommended to bring sleeping bags because checkout time is 10 a.m. on January 1, 2008.

XMKiDs Presents "Robbie-noceros" New Years Eve Party for Kids: Before Jammin' Java host its New Year's Eve Party for adults, they have a special New Year's Eve Party for Kids. Performers for this event include the folk-pop sounds of singer/songwriter Robbie Schaefer and The power trio known as Rocknoceros. This event has an 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. show. Tickets are $12 for everyone 1 year old or older.