New Year’s Eve is historically a night to class it up, toast champagne, and hopefully snag a kiss at midnight. And, while there’s certainly no shortage of adults-only events in this town, kids always love to get in on the festive fun, too.

This year, you can do it all because there’s tons of daytime action happening that your littles will gladly toot their noise-makers for. So, save the sparkly dresses and hors d’oeuvre for later and check out one of these kid-friendly events on NYE.

Midnight Noon at Maryland Science Center
At this annual New Year’s Eve celebration at the Maryland Science Center, kids can watch the ball drop long before bedtime. The ball drops at 12 noon, but there’s tons of celebrations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., like a live concert by the kid’s band Milkshake and tons of science-based play to be had. Plus, all the NYE activities are completely free with your admission, too, so you don’t have to worry about spending a ton to ring the new year in with the kids.

Kiddie Scoop Ball Drop at The Charmery

It’s a Baltimore holiday tradition to celebrate New Year’s at The Charmery. This year, the festivities take place at the ice cream factory’s newest location at Union Collective. The ball drops at 8 p.m. and it wouldn’t be complete without ice cream, shakes, beers, and the tunes of Bon Jovi by cover band Heart n Dagger. Doors open at 6:30, so come, eat, drink, and dance. But most importantly? Get those kids to bed before 2019.

Noontime New Year’s Eve at Port Discovery
The kid-fun is always endless at Port Discovery and New Year’s Eve is no different. Come December 31, there will be tons of celebrating happening all over the museum. With cool crafts, special performances, juggling, live animals, and more, it’s the perfect way for children to ring in the new year. Play and explore all day, but don’t miss the confetti-filled ball drop at noon, complete with a special snack of juice and cookies. It’s also a chance for kids to say goodbye to the KidWorks climbing structures that will soon be replaced in 2019.

Day of Family Bowling at Bowlero

If you’re looking for a little friendly competition, purchase a family bowling package at Bowlero. With two hours of unlimited bowling, champagne for the adults and cider for the kids, knocking down pins is the perfect way to spend a day together—not to mention, it’s both active and affordable. Try to stay out of the gutter and enjoy some quality time together both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (packages are available for both).

Skate Late at Pandora Ice Rink
While it’s not on the early side, older kids and parents alike will love to have a late skate at the Inner Harbor rink, which is open until 12:30 a.m. Aside from the skating fun at the gorgeous ice rink, the totally amazing view of the downtown fireworks display is a site to be seen and a pretty good reason to rent some skates (even if you hug the wall the entire time). If you’ve yet to practice your crossovers at the Inner Harbor, the NYE late skate is the perfect opportunity.

Read Your Way Into 2019 at Baltimore County Public Libraries
On New Year’s Eve, little bookworms can visit any one of the Baltimore County Public Library locations to ring in the new year at noon. Count down with some friends and check out some great titles. Because, really, what better way is there to head into a new year than with a whole bag of new books, aka, new adventures?

The day after Thanksgiving most people have two things on their minds: recovering from a food coma and Black Friday shopping. But, this year, the Four Seasons Baltimore is hoping that you’ll work off that turkey tummy at their brand new rooftop skating rink opening on November 23.

The fifth floor Harbor Terrace at the luxury Harbor East hotel will transform into a 1,560-square-foot synthetic ice rink. The rink will be open to hotel guests as well as the public on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. until January 6.

“The hotel really wanted to have something special that the community and our guests could enjoy,” said Beverly Magee, general manager of the Four Seasons Baltimore. “We also thought about the fact that our pool area on the fourth floor is one of the things that our guests really rave about, so we wanted to utilize that in the winter months to really make it something special.”

With panoramic views of the Inner Harbor, visitors will have the chance to test their skills while enjoying spiked coffee drinks, house-made hot cocoa, spiced apple cider, and stove-roasted chestnuts. Admission for the non-hotel guests is $25 for adults and $15 for children with skate rental for $5 for 45-minute sessions. While entry is complimentary for guests of the hotel, the prices for skating is discounted at $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Ice skating options in Baltimore have come and gone over the years. The beloved Northwest Ice Rink in Mt. Washington filed bankruptcy and closed in 2011, and mainstays Dominic “Mimi” DiPietro Family Skating Center in Patterson Park and the Mount Pleasant Ice Rink in East Baltimore have stood the test of time. In 2014, the glitzy new outdoor Pandora Ice Rink opened and brought new life to the Inner Harbor.

“Over the years, it’s become a fun place for friends, families and coworkers to gather and celebrate,” said Laurie Schwartz, president of the Waterfront Partnership. “We see folks taking a spin during their lunch break, teaching their children how to skate, enjoying date nights and more—it’s a really great place to celebrate the season.”

One thing that sets the Four Seasons new ice rink apart from the others is not only the exclusivity of it all, but that Magee says that the hotel is planning to donate a portion of the sales to cancer research.

“I think we’ll give people a real sense of the Harbor East environment, beautiful views of the harbor, and a feel good component with the philanthropic element,” she says.

This rooftop ice rink will also be available for private event rentals during the days that it’s not open to the public. Although plans and pricing are still being worked out, guests can expect to have customized menus and bars to add to the “holiday magic.”

“During the holidays, people come to this area to take advantage of the shopping and restaurants, so this can be another thing they can add to their holiday agenda,” Magee said. “We hope our skating rink will become a memorable family tradition for years to come.”

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

 EAT

Nov. 12: Wonders of Damascus

Clavel, 225 W. 23rd St., 6:30-9:30 p.m. $90.67. 443-900-8983.

With the current political climate, seeing the local community unite over food is a breath of fresh air. This Sunday evening, join Mera Kitchen Collective and Clavel for a dinner starring Syrian-style delicacies to support Baltimore’s refugees. Underneath the twinkling lights of Clavel’s cozy space, dine on a five-course Syrian feast prepared by Carlos Raba of Clavel and Iman AlShehab of Mera Kitchen Collective, the worker-owned co-op aimed at empowering women refugees through culinary projects. Plus, owner Lane Harlan will be expertly hand picking natural wines. AlShehab, who was an executive chef at Four Seasons in Damascus before the Syrian War, will be sharing her country’s dishes while talking about her experiences as a refugee. The best part is that 100 percent of the proceeds will go to assist our refugee neighbors here in Baltimore.

 DRINK

Nov. 11: Highlandtown Basement Bar Tour

UN Club and Hall Sunwa, 201 S. Easton St. $20. 

What better way to spend a Saturday evening than meeting people, drinking booze, and hawking the streets of Highlandtown? In its 12th year, Baltimore magazine’s “Best Pub Crawl” is bringing back the opportunity to peruse through Highlandtown’s most unique spaces. For one night, homes and businesses are welcoming strangers at their door—and to their liquor cabinets—to support improvement projects and community growth in the ‘hood. Pick up a map, go on a self-guided tour through game rooms with retro minibars or extravagant basements with kegerators, and mingle over cans of Natty Boh and comfort food. Afterwards, head to the closing reception at DiPasquale’s with your new friends for some good ol’ Italian fare.

 SEE

Nov. 10-12: Charm City Fringe

Locations & times vary. $27-98. 410-682-8902. 

This non-traditional theatre festival has taken the Bromo Arts District by storm once again with its diverse program and captivating performers. This weekend, don’t miss out on the last few days of the eclectic festival featuring enticing performances—from off-kilter comedy and poetry readings to magical productions and an interactive rock opera. With a centralized location, attendees can walk to every venue and witness cutting-edge acts or partake in amusing activities for all ages—from Family Fringe Day’s youth-empowered arts to Fringe After Dark’s dance tournament, comedy jam, and late-night afterparty.c

 HEAR

Nov. 11: Ru-Jac Records & The Legacy of Baltimore Soul

Arch Social Club, 2426 Pennsylvania Ave. 8-11:30 p.m. $8-13. 410-276-1651. 

If you have a hunger for the crackle of vintage vinyl, stop by the Arch Social Club to celebrate Baltimore’s rich R&B history with Ru-Jac Records, one of the nation’s first African-American-owned record labels. Don your best attire and time travel to Baltimore’s vibrant musical past inside the last surviving lounge in the Penn North neighborhood. Start off the night with a panel discussion about Ru-Jac Records and its influence on Baltimore’s ’60s music scene, led by funky frontman Brooks Long. Then, get carried away by Ru-Jac stars Winfield Parker and Joe Quarterman’s soulful crooning, along with Joy Postell, Baltimore’s up-and-coming neo-soul singer, all backed by young Baltimore musicians.

 DO

Nov. 10: Pandora Ice Rink Opening

Inner Harbor Amphitheater, 201 E. Pratt St. 2 p.m. Free-$14. 

We’re still early in November, but the icy temperatures have us giddy for the holiday season. This Friday, revel in a winter-wonderland experience by the waterfront on Pandora Ice Rink. Even if you can’t land a triple axel, bundle up in your warmest gear, lace up your skates, and be the first to break the ice in the heart of Baltimore’s bustling Inner Harbor. After doing a couple figure eights, take a break and defrost with warm cookies and hot cocoa. Veterans and active military will also be recognized for their service with a free skating session the next day.