Shake off the post-party glitter, grab some coffee and usher in 2025! dsm4kids has rounded up 25 things to do with the family on New Year’s Day in Des Moines. New Year’s Day is the perfect time to begin anew and try something new. However, you choose to spend January 1, the good news is that it’s a new year (yay!) with endless opportunities for new beginnings. Happy new year!
You can find more seasonal fun, including ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with kids, in our Holiday Guide, or on our Calendar.
All of us at dsm4kids wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!
Here’s 25 Things To Do on New Year’s Day 2025 in Des Moines With Kids:
1. Visit the Science Center of Iowa. They will be open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on New Year’s Day.
2. Start the year right with the best breakfast or brunch this New Year’s Day.
3. Kick off 2025 outdoors with a First Day Hike. State parks will be offering guided hikes with park staff on New Year’s Day.
4. Watch a film on the big screen. Many local movie theatres will be open on New Year’s Day.
5. Give to someone in need or volunteer. Shift your family’s focus from getting to giving by volunteering. Find a list of ideas here.
6. Load up the car and discover a new Iowa destination. Our travel series features a wealth of hot spots and fun tips to help your family explore our great state.
7. Make a bucket list. Write down all of the things your family would love to do this upcoming year. We have some ideas here to help get you started.
8. Throw on your aprons and bake some homemade treats. Whether for you or for friends and family, there is something very warming about a homemade treat.
9. Bundle up for a New Year’s Day nature walk. Take in the crisp, cool air as you hunt for pinecones and animal tracks.
10. Knock down some pins. Most local bowling alleys are open on New Year’s Day.
11. Make a Time Capsule. Grab important items that represent 2024 and let the kids add personalized touches like a hand print or photos, or things that they made. Fill it, lock it and put “Do Not Open Until …”
12. Watch eagles soar. Eagles call many of Iowa’s parks their home each winter. Bundle up and spend New Year’s Day searching for these majestic animals. Bird watching hint: The best time to observe eagles is around sunrise or sunset.
13. Lace up and hit the ice! A spin around a rink is a fun way to kick off the new year! DSM has indoor and outdoor options to choose from during the winter season.
14. Treat your crew to hot cocoa. Whip up a pot of your best homemade recipe or stop by a local coffee shop and enjoy a piping hot cup of this season’s most popular drink.
15. Shake off cabin fever with some indoor fun! Local play spaces, like Get Air, will be open on January 1st for a day of active adventure.
16. Try a new restaurant or recipe. Make new memories together around the table as you warm up your taste buds with something new!
17. Pay it forward with a family-inspired random act of kindness. Whether you pick up another’s tab or surprise a neighbor with a special treat, doing for others is a great way to kick off the new year.
18. Play some games together. Take the time to slow down and enjoy some friendly competition together.
19. Take a spin around the roller rink. Both of the local skating rinks will be open on New Year’s Day.
20. Gawk at holiday lights, one last time. Jolly Holiday Lights and Miracle on 86th Street go dark shortly after New Year’s Day.
21. Create art together. Making art at home is an enriching, educational experience for kids of all ages. Try this gratitude and positivity activity, which is perfect to kick off the new year.
22. Enjoy an old-fashioned slide show. Have your kids help you select the “Best of 2024” photos, gather the whole clan, and then stream them on the TV.
23. Set some “healthy” family resolutions. Sit down together as a family and come up with a few goals to accomplish this year.
24. Kick off the new year by starting a family book club! Select a book on January 1st and set a date to discuss it together—it’s a fun way to bond and foster a love of reading!
25. Start some new family traditions. Explore enjoyable activities to share as a family throughout the year.
