RI’s Earliest – and Cutest – Noon Year’s Eve Ball Drop: Providence Children’s Museum with Mayor Smiley

Who says you have to stay up until midnight to have a blast on New Year’s Eve?

Providence Children’s Museum (PCM) invites families to celebrate together at its annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM – a joyful, mid-day way to ring in 2026.

Designed especially for young children and their grown-ups, Noon Year’s Eve delivers all the excitement of a New Year’s celebration without the late-night countdown. When the clock strikes NOON, hundreds of children will count down together as PCM’s signature ball drops, filling the museum with cheers, laughter, and celebration.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley will join families at PCM to lead the countdown. The museum is grateful for Mayor Smiley’s presence at this meaningful community celebration and for the opportunity to come together in a moment centered on joy, togetherness, and connection.

Families can ring in 2026 together with:

• Toe-tapping tunes from the amazing Rock-A-Baby band

• Spectacular circus performers will roam the museum

• Creative craft stations where little hands can make festive masterpieces

• The most anticipated countdown this side of Times Square

• A spectacular ball drop that rivals NYC (okay, maybe it’s a bit smaller, but twice as cute!)

• Full access to all of PCM’s awesome exhibits and play spaces

“Who needs midnight when you’ve got noon?” says Caroline Payson, Executive Director of Providence Children’s Museum. “Our Noon Year’s Eve celebration brings all the sparkle and excitement of New Year’s Eve, perfectly packaged for our youngest party people. The joy on children’s faces as they count down to noon is absolutely priceless!”

Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended for Noon Year’s Eve due to high demand.

The Providence Children’s Museum serves children and adults of all backgrounds and from all communities. Its focus is on children, ages 1 to 11, and the adults who care for them by presenting hands-on, play-based exhibits and programs that explore arts, culture and science, technology, engineering, and math.