Fun ways kids can ring in 2013
The Long Island Children's Museum's annual Countdown to 12 party is dubbed "Lucky 13" and looks at good luck charms and superstitions in honor of the 2013 year to come. Credit: Handout
The coming year may end with a controversial number -- 13 -- but the Long Island Children's Museum is putting a positive spin on superstition, dubbing its annual New Year's celebration "Lucky 13." Here's how the museum and other kid-oriented venues will ring in the New Year on Monday:
NOON TO 4 P.M.
Long Island Children's Museum
11 Davis Ave., Garden City
516-224-5800; licm.org
COST Free with museum admission of $11 for ages 1 to 64, free for younger than 1, $10 for 65 and older
This year's annual "Countdown to 12" party looks at good luck charms. Kids will decorate a New Year's party hat with lucky symbols such as shamrocks, create a lucky horseshoe necklace and make a shooting-star noisemaker. Kids have the opportunity to interact with animals such as frogs, considered good luck in Japan. Dancing and face-painting are capped by the yearly ball drop from the museum's second floor at 4, a nod to the Times Square New Year's Eve tradition.
1 TO 3 P.M. OR 6 TO 8 P.M.
12:30 TO 2 P.M. OR 5:30 TO 7 P.M.
Beaches and Cream Ice Cream Parlor
Bayville Adventure Park, 10 Bayville Ave., Bayville
516-624-7433; bayvillewinterwonderland.com
COST Shipwreck: $26.95, $16.95 children younger than 12; Beaches and Cream: $21.95; $14.95 children younger than 12
A snowman, a reindeer and a Santa bear will join partygoers to celebrate the New Year at Bayville's Adventure Park. Shipwreck parties include chicken fingers, hamburgers and pasta, cake and ice cream sundaes, party favors and balloons. They also feature a New Year's countdown at 3 or 8 p.m. with glass of champagne for adults and sparkling cider for kids. Beaches and Cream parties include pizza, burgers, chicken fingers and make-your-own ice cream sundae. Adults enjoy champagne toast, and kids share sparkling cider. Both parties include rides on the Holiday Express Train and a visit to Santa's Toy Factory Fun House. If you're at a party that's going on at 4 p.m., you'll be able to enjoy the evening holiday lights show as well.
3 TO 6 P.M.
895 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville
631-271-0051; 300LongIsland.com
COST $21 kids 12 and younger; $25 adults
This soiree is for the entire family and includes three hours of bowling and shoe rental, a pizza buffet, a balloon drop at 5 p.m. and a sparkling cider toast.
4 TO 8 P.M.
138 West Ave., Patchogue
631-475-5164; bowllongisland.com
COST $40 per adult, $25 children 12 and younger; advance registration required
Enjoy four hours of extreme black-light bowling, music, complimentary shoe rentals, buffet dinner, New Year's favors and toast. Bumpers available for the little ones.
5 TO 8 P.M.
1074 Pulaski St., Riverhead
631-727-4386; thesafariadventure.com
COST $10 for toddlers younger than 3; $16 per child; adults free
Includes admission, noisemaker, hats, glowsticks, dancing, dessert and a balloon drop at 7:15 p.m.
6:30 TO 9:30 P.M.
1276 Hicksville Rd., Seaford
516-795-5474; unitedskates.com/seaford
COST $20
Includes admission, skate rental, unlimited pizza and soda, 10 game tokens per person, a light-rope necklace, chips and pretzels and a mock countdown to the New Year.
