It’s almost 2019, but there’s still fun to be had in the Twin Cities this year! Previously I shared some free and inexpensive things to do during winter break. Here are some events happening the weekend of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, plus some EXCLUSIVE discounts I have to share! (Be sure to read through to the end!)
Friday, December 28th
Year End Family Extravaganza. Midtown Global Market, . 5:30 – 7:30pm. Ring in the New Year with friends, family and neighbors. We’re throwing a big bash with great music and fun family activities. FREE.
Saturday, December 29th
Night Trains. Twin City Model Railroad Museum, 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114. 6:00 – 9:00pm. Night Trains season is a special Holidays tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum beginning the Saturday, November 3, 2018 and running every Saturday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 pm through the last Saturday in February (February 23, 2019). Admission to this special show is $15.00 per person and FREE for children age four and under. Discounted group rates are also available for groups of four or more (max 10).
Monday, December 31st – New Year’s Eve
Jazzberry Jammin’ New Year’s Eve. (Save $7 per ticket with my link below!) Crayola Experience, Mall of America. 10:00am – 6:00pm. Ring in the New Year with colorful fun at Crayola Experience! Enjoy special crafts, cool music, FREE popcorn at Snack Shack starting at noon, hourly Annual Pass GIVEAWAYS, Confetti Cannon Countdowns at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Crayon Character meet ‘n greets!
EVERY DAY you can get Crayola Experience Mall of America Discount Tickets through my special link!
Tickets are $13.99 (regularly $20.99; save $7 per ticket!)
- Just click on my personalized online store web link (URL) and enter the access code TCFM. (Or visit https://tickets.crayolaexperience.com and enter my personalized store name: Twin Cities Frugal Mom)
- You’ll be able to purchase and print the tickets right away, saving you time waiting at the entrance turnstiles and bypassing ticket booth lines! And they’re valid for up to a year.
Noon Year’s Confetti Dance Party. Como Zoo, St. Paul. On December 31 and January 1 from 10am – 1pm the Visitor Center at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will be filled with family-friendly entertainment for a special Noon Year’s Party. They’ve ditched the plastic beach ball drop and made an environmental choice to go GREEN….and BLUE and RED and YELLOW and PURPLE and ORANGE as they rain down from above hundreds of thousands of pieces of colorful biodegradable confetti at HIGH NOON on December 31 and again on January 1. Doors open at 10am with rockin’ tunes, dancing and games from the DJs of Kidsdance. Kids can make their own count-down craft, take a silly selfie at our selfie station, get creative at our face painting station, and parents can chat with our friends from Xcel Energy about ways to save some “green” on their energy bills. There will be games, zookeeper talks, giveaways, and contests as we count down to the Noon Year. All kids will receive a free reusable bag courtesy of Xcel Energy that they can take from station-to-station collecting goodies. Noon Year’s Celebration is free with activities from 10am-1pm on Monday, December 31 and Tuesday, January 1st in Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s Visitor Center.
Family New Year’s Eve Celebration. Champlin Ice Forum, 12165 Ensign Ave N Champlin. 2:00pm- 5:00pm. Register online, in advance, to save 50%! Celebrate New Years Eve as a family at the Champlin Ice Forum. Bring your skates and enjoy the DJ who will be rocking the rink during the open skate. We’ll also have face painters, a bonfire, smores, raffle prizes and more! Participants are STRONGLY encouraged to bring their own skates. We will have a limited number of skates and sizes available for use. Register early to save your spot, this event will fill up! Outdoor activities are weather dependent and may be cancelled if extreme conditions are present, please dress accordingly.
New Year’s Eve on Ice. Roseville. 2:30pm – 10:00pm. Ring in the New Year on Ice! Bring your family, meet your friends, or just come by yourself to the Roseville Skating Center for the Midwest’s largest skating party. Skate indoors or outdoors on the 110,000 square-foot skating surface which boasts four hockey rinks for the rink rats or skate leisurely on the Olympic-size OVAL. Enjoy door prizes, concessions and the company of other winter-loving skaters. Admission is $8.00.
Horse-Drawn Wagonette Rides. Main Street, Stillwater,MN. 4:00pm – 7:00pm. Come to the Pedestrian Plaza in Historic Downtown Stillwater for FREE horse-drawn Victorian Wagonette rides!
Family New Year’s Eve Party. Shoreview Community Center. 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Bring the whole family to Shoreview’s annual New Year’s Eve Party! Your night will be filled with inflatables, face painting, bingo, a magician, crazy hair, and much more! The Tropics Indoor Waterpark and newly expanded Tropical Adventure Indoor Playground will be available (included in admission). We’ll ring in the New Year with two epic balloon drops at 7:45pm. Concessions are available for an additional fee at the Wave Cafe. Walk-ins are welcome, but register by December 30 and save. Price is $12 per person at the door. All guests in attendance of this event must pay admission.
Pre-registration rates:
Youth (ages 1-17): $10
Adult (ages 18+): $8
*Pre-registration ends December 30*
Register online: http://bit.ly/2d2UOuC
Candlelight & Ice New Year’s Eve Program. Wood Lake Nature Center, 6710 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield. 5:00pm – 9:00pm. Luminary-lit trails, outdoor and indoor fires, marshmallow roasting, hot chocolate, crafts for kids. $5/person, free for Friends of Wood Lake Members.
New Year’s Eve Moon Light Circus. Nickelodeon Universe, Mall of America. 6:00pm – 12:00am. Join our Ringleader for a New Year’s countdown complete with lights, music, party favors + a ball drop! Live entertainment by Xelias Aerial Studio at 6:30, 8:30 + 9:30p.m., including contortion, juggling, unicycle and aerial fabric, will be performing in the Rotunda, meet and greets with your favorite Nickelodeon Characters, giveaways and more! Countdown to 2019 at 10 p.m. + Midnight in the South Entrance of Nickelodeon Universe.
Sparklerama: New Year’s Eve Party. Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul. 6:00pm – 9:00pm. At our Sparklerama event, your family will enjoy: • Live music • Art projects • Light refreshments • Beach ball drop at 8 p.m. • Full access to the museum. Tickets are $15, BUT YOU CAN SAVE $2 PER TICKET WITH MY CODE TCFM. If you’re a member, however, you can save $7 with your membership and code MEMBEREVENT.
Monday, January 1st – New Year’s Day
FREE First Day Hikes at one of 14 Minnesota State Parks. Join a Minnesota state park naturalist for a one-and-a-half to three-hour guided hike through a park. You’ll burn off some of those holiday calories, cure cabin fever, and enjoy the winter landscape and wildlife. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to get people outdoors, with over 400 hikes scheduled this year in all 50 states. Kids and adults all across America will be participating in First Day Hikes, getting their hearts pumping and enjoying the beauty of a state park.
Noon Year’s Confetti Dance Party. Como Zoo, St. Paul. On December 31 and January 1 from 10am – 1pm the Visitor Center at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will be filled with family-friendly entertainment for a special Noon Year’s Party. They’ve ditched the plastic beach ball drop and made an environmental choice to go GREEN….and BLUE and RED and YELLOW and PURPLE and ORANGE as they rain down from above hundreds of thousands of pieces of colorful biodegradable confetti at HIGH NOON on December 31 and again on January 1. Doors open at 10am with rockin’ tunes, dancing and games from the DJs of Kidsdance. Kids can make their own count-down craft, take a silly selfie at our selfie station, get creative at our face painting station, and parents can chat with our friends from Xcel Energy about ways to save some “green” on their energy bills. There will be games, zookeeper talks, giveaways, and contests as we count down to the Noon Year. All kids will receive a free reusable bag courtesy of Xcel Energy that they can take from station-to-station collecting goodies. Noon Year’s Celebration is free with activities from 10am-1pm on Monday, December 31 and Tuesday, January 1st in Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s Visitor Center.
More Fun!
Be sure to also check your local libraries, nature centers, community centers and parks for other happenings in your area!
And check out these fun places that I partner with to give you great discounts!
Crayola Experience Mall of America
EVERY DAY you can get Crayola Experience Mall of America Discount Tickets through my special link!
Great for these COLD days!
Tickets are $13.99 (regularly $20.99; save $7 per ticket!)
- Just click on my personalized online store web link (URL) and enter the access code TCFM. (Or visit https://tickets.crayolaexperience.com and enter my personalized store name: Twin Cities Frugal Mom)
- You’ll be able to purchase and print the tickets right away, saving you time waiting at the entrance turnstiles and bypassing ticket booth lines! And they’re valid for up to a year.
Sky Zone
Sky Zone – they have locations in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Blaine and are open extended hours during winter break!
Save 35 – 45% from Groupon right now!
The Works Museum
Visit The Works Museum and save with my exclusive discount! They’re open every day including Monday, December 31 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, January 1 – 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Discount Tickets
Regular admission is $8.50 per person, but you can get admission for $6.50 per person with my special code! (Children 2 and under are free.)
For $2 Off Admission:
Use code TCFMB$2OFF in the “member code” field on the shopping cart page.
(Not valid for special events)
Purchase via THIS LINK.
Family Membership Discount
You can also save on family memberships:
$5 Off Family Memberships (includes Dual, Family, and Family Plus memberships only):
Use code FRUGAL5OFF at checkout.
Purchase this at: https://theworks.org/hands-on-kids-museum/membership/
Discounts are valid through December 31, 2018.
Limited income discount:
Also, if you qualify through their Gateway program, you can get discounted admission of $4.25.
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)