Looking for something to do with the kids on New Year's Eve? If you're in Birmingham you're limited. For some reason Birmingham as a collective, chooses not to do anything as a community.
No firework shows.
No big Vulcan spear drops.
So what are you to do?
If your church has a game night or a family friendly event you're set.
For those of you without a church family or those who wouldn't feel comfortable going to a new church just for a family event there's not much left.
Here are some ideas:
1. Vulcan Park's observation deck is open until 10 p.m.
Admission is $3 per person. Take your camera and a tripod if you can and head up to the observation deck for a family photo.
Stop by a drive thru for a special milkshake treat and head home to watch the ball drop on TV.
2. Zoolight Safari is still open at Birmingham Zoo., Huntsville Galaxy of Lights, Bellingrath Gardens and Homestead Hollow are all still open on New Years Eve.
Admission varies.
3. Parking deck downtown? What? Yea take the kids to any downtown parking deck -- Most are open 24 hours. Head to the top deck. Take some sparkling grape juice, a countdown clock and some dollar store champagne glasses and fill it up for a midnight toast in the heart of the city. You might even see rogue fireworks. (This will of course be for the older set of kids)
4. Movies and junk food --
Hit Red Box or Blockbuster Express kiosks and rent as many movies as you could watch. Make a junk food or ice cream sundae buffet. Tell the kids to get in their jammies and let them pig out.
5. Midnight campfire -- Make a campfire in the back yard. Bundle up. Grab the camp chairs, marshmallows, hot chocolate and tell family stories. Nothing brings out good stories like a good campfire. Don't forget a clock.
6. Head to IHOP or a Waffle House -- Order breakfast right before midnight. The kids will be excited to be out late and it will remind you of your younger days when you stopped by those places on your way home from a night out on the town.
7. Cleansing Fire -- It's an old youth group event. You write down a sin and burn it to symbolize removing it from your life and asking God for forgiveness. Well you can put a twist on it. Build a fire. Have some slips of paper and pencils. If your year has been especially bad or filled with terrible things write them down on the paper and burn them. It will symbolize a fresh start. Forgetting the bad stuff and moving on. After the ceremonial burn, focus on the positive. Have a family notebook labeled with goals for 2011. Have each family member write down a goal, wish, hope or prayer. Put it away. Revisit it as a family next New Year's Eve or sooner if you wish.