(PREPARED FOR ABC7 BY KIDWINKS.COM) Nina Taluc, co-founder of kidwinks.com, has several suggestions for you from kidwinks' Guide to New Year's Eve in Chicago with Kids.
For many more ideas on kid-friendly events, restaurants where kids eat free, and seasonal family activities, visit kidwinks.com, a website created by two moms, who round up Chicago area family-friendly events, activities and more into one easily searchable database.
Family-Friendly New Year's Eve at TopGolf
TopGolf has partnered with the nearby Doubletree Hotel to offer a very fun overnight New Year's celebration for families.
- The package includes:
- Overnight stay at the Doubletree Hotel with indoor pool and breakfast buffet
- 2 Free games of TopGolf for each guest
- Unlimited dinner buffet at TopGolf
- 2 drink tickets for adults
- Shuttle transportation between Doubletree and TopGolf
- New Year's Eve party favors
Where: 699 Thorndale Ave., Wood Dale, IL
When: December 31, 2010
Reservations: Required. Must register by December 15th.
Cost: $150 for a family of four; $25 additional child; $50 additional adult
Ages: All ages.
New Year's Extravaganza at Wilderness Resort
If you're looking for a way to ring in the New Year that also includes a mini vacation, consider a water park. The Wilderness Resort will be throwing its annual huge New Year's Eve bash exclusively for resort guests in two of its ballrooms. There will be all sorts of family activities, including a band and DJ dance party, party favors, photo opportunities and more.
In addition to the holiday fun, Wilderness Resort has 3 indoor water parks covering 250,000 square feet for its guests to explore. Dry options for adventures include a 35,000 square-foot, four-story play park with ball blasters, slides and crawl spaces; laser tag; indoor 3-D black light mini golf courses; ongoing scheduled WildKids Club activities; and paint your own pottery.
Where: Wilderness Resort, 511 E Adams St., Wisconsin Dells, WI
When: December 31, 2010, 9:30 pm - 1 am
Reservations: Required for hotel stay; admission to party may be paid at the door.
Cost: Hotel stay required.
Ages: All ages.
- Extravaganza Admission:
- $10 (21 and Older)
- $5 (3-20yrs)
- Children 2yrs and younger are free.
- Admission at the Door:
- $15 (21 and Older)
- $8 (3-20yrs)
- Children 2yrs and younger are free.
Family New Year's Eve Party at Enchanted Castle
For an action-filled evening that will appeal to all ages, attend the New Year's Eve party at Enchanted Castle.
- The reasonable package price includes:
- Buffet with appetizers, pizza, pasta, Italian beef, salad, assorted soft drinks and dessert
- $5 in game tokens (20 tokens)
- Unlimited attractions (Go-Karts, Mini Golf, Laser Tag, Krazy Kars, Sir Bounce's Inflatables, and Kids Quest Softplay)
- Party Favors and sparkling juice toast
- Karaoke hit songs of the decade
- Games and prizes
- Countdown celebration and balloon drop
Similar events are being held at the company's Haunted Trails venues in Burbank and Joliet.
Where: Enchanted Castle, 1103 S. Main St., Lombard, IL
When: December 31st; 3-7pm or 8pm- midnight
Reservations: Required. Early seating, especially, sells out.
Cost: $21.95 per person plus tax. Kids under 2 eat free, but game tokens are NOT included.
Ages: All ages.
A fun, low-key way to ring in the New Year is through a bowling party at Brunswick Zone. Most, if not all, of the Brunswick Zone locations in the Chicago area are offering some sort of family-friendly celebration on New Year's Eve. Many of the locations are offering an afternoon kids' party that includes 2 hours of cosmic bowling and shoe rental for up to 6 people on one lane, pizza, soft drinks, party favors and a countdown toast with sparkling juice. Some locations will also offer an early evening family party with similar amenities. The centers are also open on New Year's Day, and many will be offering family specials to welcome 2011.
Where: Brunswick Zone centers throughout the Chicago area
When: December 31st and January 1st
Reservations: Required.
Cost: Varies by location; general pricing gauge is around $65 per lane for afternoon kids' party; $90 per lane for evening family party.
Ages: All ages.
DuPage Children's Museum Bubble Bash
This popular family-oriented New Year's Eve party provides a fun, safe, activity-filled
event geared toward families with younger children. The museum's 3 floors are open for play and exploration and there will be musical performances by Mr. Singer and the Sharp Cookies, art activities, refreshments, photo ops and lots and lots of bubbles.
The traditional countdown to midnight is simulated by counting down to noon with Naperville Mayor George Pradel leading. The countdown will have an out-of-this world space theme to blast you into 2011.
Where: DuPage Children's Museum, 301 N. Washington, Naperville, IL
When: December 31, 9am - noon
Reservations: Required. Event is expected to sell out.
Cost: Member $15 / Nonmember $20
Ages: Children to age 17 may attend, but the event is geared more to elementary aged children and younger.
WIN - End of the Year Giveaway
Want to win one of the following prizes from the businesses we mentioned on ABC7? Just click here for more information.
- Top Golf- Family membership pass and 3, 30 minute lessons
- Wilderness Water park- 1 overnight for family of 4
- Enchanted Castle - $100 in gift certificates
- Brunswick Zone- $100 gift card
- DuPage Children's Museum- 1 of 8 Family passes
Kidwinks.com is a boutique website that caters to today's generation of parents who are time-crunched, socially conscious and internet reliant. Kidwinks provides one-stop access to information about kid-friendly events, activities, restaurants, shops and services in the Chicago area. There is no charge to use kidwinks and membership is also free. Members enjoy additional benefits including email reminders and the ability to sort search results by distance from their home. Developed by two Park Ridge, IL moms, kidwinks has grown to thousands of members. For more information, please visit kidwinks.com.
