Families can count down to 2016 at EdVenture

There’s no need for kids to miss out on all the New Year’s Eve fun and festivities. Nor is there any need to keep them awake past midnight, trading a moment’s celebration for a day of cranky behavior.

EdVenture Children’s Museum offers all the fun of the clock striking 12:00, but at the noon hour, rather than the midnight hour.

Thursday’s New Year’s Eve at Noon celebration includes arts and crafts, music and dancing, and the Midlands’ only ball drop just for kids.

All day, families can make LED glasses in the shape of the number 2016 in the Maker Works space at the museum. They also can write their New Year’s wishes and resolutions on the Wishing Wall.

From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., families can make party hats on the museum’s second floor and paper clocks inthe Imaginarium to get ready for the countdown.

From 9:30-10:30 a.m., visitors to the BioLab will learn how fireworks get their colors.

And beginning at 10:30, DJ Deft Key will spin some tunes so families can dance their way into the new year.

The highlight of the day will be the countdown until noon, beginning at 11:45 in front of Eddie, in the museum’s rotunda. With plenty of cheering and confetti, families can watch a ball drop from the third floor to the first floor as noon approaches.

All activities are free with admission, which is $11.50 for adults and children 2 and older. Children under age 2 are free. Seniors 62 and older, and military and educators with ID are $10.50.

EdVenture is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday. The museum is at 211 Gervais St. in downtown Columbia.

Details: www.edventure.org

Bridget Winston, Special to The State

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 10:50 AM.