Safe New Year's Eve Events for Families in Atlanta

It's time to ring in the New Year, and for families, the biggest event in Atlanta is the Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta. Beginning at noon on Monday, December 31st, children can have their faces painted, ride ponies, throw baseballs, gorge on all kinds of festive food offerings, and the entire family can enjoy entertainment at the new Budding Peach stage, featuring talented young performers. In the evening, there will be live entertainment at the main stage and inside Underground in Kenny's Alley, followed by the Peach Drop, fireworks and confetti! All festivities are free, and your family will be with an estimated 175,000 other happy, excited people if you stick around until evening.

But the Peach Drop is not the only family-friendly activity going on around town. Zoo Atlanta is hosting not one but three family-friendly Noon Year's Day parties, taking place from 10 AM-noon; noon-2PM; and 2PM-4 PM. These parties are free with zoo admission ($17.99 for adults, $12.99 ages 3-11; under 2 free,) but reservations are required. There will be a DJ, visits from Curious George, toasts with apple juice, and a ball drop. Everything takes place in the World Studio at Zoo Atlanta.

For a real family extravaganza (at a rather extravagant price,) take the family to Medieval Times' New Years' Eve Extravaganza at Discover Mills. Since the New Year's show begins at 9:30. this will be best for older children and teens (there is also an earlier, 6:30 show.) Imagine yourself in the Middle Ages, tearing a chicken dinner apart bare-handed as you root for your favorite knight in the jousting arena. At midnight, balloons will drop and dancing will commence. At $47.95 per adult commoner and $35.95 per child commoner, with an extra $10 for royal tickets, not counting gratuities, the experience for a family is pricey but something to be remembered for a lifetime.

For kids and families who love college football or just enjoy a colorful parade, the Chick-Fil-A Bowl events deliver. The parade, with giant helium balloons, classic cars, lots of bands, and everything else a parade needs, steps off from the corner of Ralph McGill Boulevard and Peachtree Street downtown at 12:30 and ends at the World Congress Center at 2 P.M., where for $10 admission per person, fans can
pull for Clemson or Auburn at the giant pep rally, play passing and punting games, climb rock walls, and meet the teams. So even if you don't have tickets for the sold-out game Monday night, you can still have a wonderful time, from the free parade to the inexpensive FanFest.

So bundle up the family and hit the ATL for a fantastic beginning for a fabulous New Year!