8 Seriously Cool New Year's Eve Celebrations for Maine Kids

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Fireworks, clam drops, and skating! What's on your agenda for counting down 2015 with your family? We searched the area; from Biddeford to Portland to Yarmouth to Freeport. Here are Maine Doulas' top finds for the seriously cool events happening on New Year's Eve day.

1. Yarmouth's 4th Annual Clam Drop at Yarmouth First Universalist Church

97 Main St, Yarmouth ME | 7pm

Steamer, the Clam Festival mascot, will be lowered from the church belfry at 7pm. Music, cookies and cocoa! What could be better (or more Maine)?

2. Children's Museum New Year's at Noon

142 Free Street, Portland, ME | 11:30am

Children are encouraged to wear their PJs to ring in the new year (at noon)! This shindig is free with admission to the museum. Be sure to arrive by 11:30 to join in all the fun. At 12 noon they will drop balloons to mark the occasion.

3. Portland Library 2nd annual Family Contra Dance

5 Monument Way, Portland ME | 11am

Learn a variety of fun and easy dances suitable for children and adults.  Maggie Robinson, who has been calling dances for 8 years, will be the caller and local musicians will perform. No experience necessary!

From the library event listing:

Contra Dance is a type of social dance where parallel lines of dancers stand opposite — or “contra to” — their partners. A caller, usually working with a group of live musicians, guides new and experienced dancers alike through a variety of dances. Contra dancing is about social interaction, meeting people, and making new friends, set to music. The accompanying music for contra dances includes, but is not limited to Irish, Scottish, and French-Canadian folk songs. The fiddle is considered the core instrument, though other stringed instruments such as the guitar and mandolin are used as well.

4. South Portland Library's 3rd Annual Noon Year Party

482 Broadway St, South Portland ME | 11:30am

Can’t stay awake until midnight? Come ring in the new year with our 3rd annual Noon Year Party instead! This all-ages event will take place on Thursday, December 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Main Library. Featuring fun crafts, story time, balloons, and a fantastic countdown to noon, this is sure to be a blast for the whole family! Feel free to wear your favorite PJ’s, dress to impress, or just come as you are. We can’t wait to welcome in the new year with you!

5. LL BEAN'S NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION

LL Bean Campus, Discovery Park, Freeport ME

LL Bean always makes it exciting for the whole family. Ring in the New Year with their festive "KidNight," featuring live music from Rick Charette and a wintertime fireworks display at 6pm. 

There are a few venues for ice skating, which always has great opportunities for silliness and laughter. Not to mention how much energy it uses! Can you say "early night"?

6. The Rink at Thompson's Point

10 Thompson's Point, Portland ME

This is the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy some skating fun. With their beautiful warming room and heated lounge, there are great spaces for even the smallest ones to stay warm while family and friends skate. They also feature on-site food vendors and warm beverages to keep your energy up. A great NYE day adventure for everyone!

7. Biddeford Ice Arena

14 Pomerleau Street, Biddeford ME

Another great option for family fun. They offer snacks and cocoa to keep you skating the day away! Open for all ages and abilities.

8. Portland Pirates New Year's Eve Celebration at Family Ice Center

20 Hat Trick Drive, Falmouth ME | 1:20pm

Portland Pirates' New Year's celebration from 1:20pm-2:40pm will feature Salty Pete, a Pirate's shooting bay, free food, and giveaways!

Or how about these options? Cozy up with your favorite hot beverage & a winter fairy tale, or put on some festive music & have a rockin' living room dance party! 

Whatever you do, we hope this final celebration of 2015 brings you and your family lots of joy! Happy New Year!

3 Things: what are you thankful for?

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I had to sit for a few minutes to remember my first Thanksgiving as a new parent. Once I did, oh boy, the memories really flooded me. I have always longed for the formal gathering of extended family; the long table decorated with an overflowing cornucopia, sparkling cider in champagne flutes, steaming platters and bowls being passed between distant cousins. Our family holidays are usually more scarcely attended but not any less warm and loving.

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My son was born in the beginning of November 2011. The birth wasn't what we were anticipating (is it ever?) and we ended up with a longer than expected hospital stay. The afternoon we returned home with our five day old baby, my partner had to return to work in another state for two weeks. So having him home for Thanksgiving made the occasion seem more special. We were many things in those first few months; tired, full of joy, scared of doing it all wrong, starry-eyed, and thankful - completely thankful for this little baby. As I look back on the two of us, still learning about our new son, and ourselves as completely transformed humans, I am sending a little note of "thanks". 

Here are three things I am grateful to those new parents for, these four years later:

1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR:

It has come and gone and come again over these past few years, but the laughter over burnt lobster stuffing and adventures in infant potty learning have certainly made it more interesting. 

2. THANK YOU FOR CONSTANTLY SEEKING:

There was a lot of advice given and many stories shared. Thank you for always searching for your own path and learning what worked for you as a family. Your children are stronger and brighter for it.

3. THANK YOU FOR FINDING COMMUNITY:

It was out of your comfort zone, but you took that newborn class when your son was two months old. You met others who were in the storm with you. They helped you see the calmer waters on the other side. You pulled each other into the life boat and sailed on. You formed a community; mothers, fathers and friends.

Wishing all you Maine families a warm and joyful Thanksgiving!