The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) will be aglow as 2018 comes to a close as it celebrates with its annual “noon” year’s eve party, “Countdown to 12!” The annual family-friendly event allows visitors to take part in all the traditional elements of the holiday, including confetti and counting down to the new year, on a schedule designed for children…and exhausted parents. Activities start at noon on Monday, Dec. 31, and feature themed crafts, face painting, a DJ-led dance party and two ball drops.
“Neon ‘19” is the theme of the 2018 year-ending celebration at the museum. The museum’s 25th birthday has been front and center for our programming this year,” explained LICM Director of Education & Visitor Experience Aimee Terzulli. “We wanted a theme that not only captured the party atmosphere associated with New Year’s celebrations, but also that ‘highlighted’ an event that has become a Long Island holiday tradition for families. Neon represents the brightness and excitement of the event, while serving as a bit of nostalgia for many of the parents in attendance.”
LICM created “Countdown to 12!” in 2005 to provide families with the opportunity to celebrate this special occasion together. Family-focused New Year’s celebrations were lacking in the area, but families looking to celebrate certainly were not. Countdown to 12! has become an immensely popular visitation day on the museum’s calendar.
During this year’s celebration, the museum will cross (appropriately enough) the 25,000 mark in visitor attendance for the day. The lucky visitor will receive a family membership to mark the museum milestone.
Families have the opportunity to take part in all the traditional elements associated with year-end revelry—with the simple substitution of “mid-day” instead of “midnight.” The celebration starts and concludes with Times Square-style ball drops (noon and 4 p.m.). In between those iconic moments, families will be able to design neon “highlight hats” and “shimmer and shake” noisemakers, craft commemorative “superstar necklaces,” make “shine slime” and decorate a tasty treat to bring sweetness into the new year.
Visitors can also stop by the Face Painting Station to add some extra glitz to their celebratory look. DJ Mike from All Star Party will be on hand to help visitors dance into the new year. All Countdown to 12! activities are included with museum admission on Monday, Dec. 31.
All activities are held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City.
For more information, call 516-224-5800 or visit www.licm.org.
