Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Fun & Lucky New Year’s Day Brunches Around the DMV

Area families looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve without staying up until midnight have plenty of kid-friendly options across the region. Nycci Nellis from TheListAreYouOnIt.com shared a lineup of daytime and early-evening festivities including The Yards DC’s noon balloon drop with DJ, bounce houses and train rides, West Falls Church’s bubble-filled celebration, Cracking Courts & Skates’ daytime balloon drop, and LEGO Discovery Center’s popular noon LEGO ball drop with sparkling cider. Families can also enjoy the full-evening experience at First Night Alexandria with live music, dance parties, and performances throughout Old Town. On New Year’s Day, families can kick off 2026 with festive brunches across the area. Highlights include Matt & Tony’s in Del Ray offering brunch, dinner and at-home kits, IAGU on Capitol Hill serving traditional “lucky” dishes like hoppin’ John and deviled eggs with caviar, and Medium Rare’s legendary pajama brunch complete with prizes. Timber Pizza is welcoming kids in pajamas with free pizza, while Pastis at Union Market features a New Orleans-style Cajun brunch. For classic Southern good-luck fare, By You Bakery offers black-eyed peas, collards and cornbread. For those wanting to celebrate in style, Caravan is hosting a bottomless Moët three-course brunch, and jazz fans can head to Dolphin for a New Year’s Day jazz brunch.