Description

Niantic Children's Museum is ready to ring in the Noon Year with its family-friendly New Year's Eve event, Countdown to Noon, on Wednesday, December 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Road, Niantic, CT. 

The Museum's Countdown deviates from the traditional New Year's ball drop and replaces it with a massive 300 balloon drop at the strike of noon! In addition to the much loved balloon drop, this year's event will include animal shows by Wildlife Encounters of New Hampshire at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Children will squeal with excitement as they meet a variety of animals such as a giant rabbit, porcupine, or arctic fox and more. 

The celebration will also include hands-on crafts and activities with local community organizations, including the East Lyme Public Library, Connecticut Audubon Society, Submarine Force Museum, Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Doodles Kids Art Lab, and the Regional Multicultural Magnet School. Special guests Captain America and Black Panther will be taking time out from guarding the world to make an appearance. 

The Rolling Tomato will be on hand with pizza to purchase, and you can savor the event for years to come with a photo from the photo booth. 

For an additional fee, Countdown visitors can also explore the night sky and beyond with STARLAB, the Museum’s portable, inflatable planetarium. This 20-minute program leads you through a learning journey of the stars, planets and constellations. There will be five showings during the event. 

The event is sponsored by Chelsea Groton Bank; Handyman Services of CT; Flanders Fish Market; 374 Kitchen + Cocktails; Boats Inc.; Charter Oak Credit Union; Dime Bank; Centreville Bank; CTComp; and East Lyme Parks & Recreation. 

To register for Countdown to Noon, visit niantickids.org. Tickets are $10 for Niantic Children's Museum members and $14 for nonmembers. Admission with STARLAB tickets are $13 for members and $16 for nonmembers. Pre-registration is required to attend. Tickets will not be sold the day of the event.