HOUSTON – If midnight feels way too late for your crew (looking at you, parents of toddlers… and honestly, some adults too), Houston has you covered. This New Year’s Eve, a growing trend is taking over the city: Noon Year’s celebrations! It is all the excitement of a countdown, just without the bleary eyes and meltdowns.
From live music and bubbles in an open-air plaza to a literal slime drop at noon, here are two fun, festive, and family-friendly ways to welcome 2026 before lunchtime.
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Noon Year’s Eve at CITYCENTRE
When: December 31 | Late morning–noon
Where: CITYCENTRE Plaza, 800 Town & Country Blvd.
CITYCENTRE is once again turning New Year’s Eve into a daytime celebration designed with families in mind. Their Noon Year’s Eve party brings all the celebratory vibes - just on a schedule that works for kids (and parents who love an early bedtime).
Expect live music from the Charlie Rose Band, a DJ to keep the energy up, and plenty of interactive fun, including face painters, balloon artists, and The Texas Bubblers. When the clock strikes noon, guests can toast the New Year with bubbles and cheers .. no babysitter required.
Families are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets and settle into the plaza for a relaxed, community-style celebration. While outside food and drinks aren’t allowed, there’s no shortage of options nearby, with 20+ restaurants offering easy to-go bites you can enjoy right in the plaza.
👉 Bonus: CITYCENTRE keeps the festive spirit going all season long, so it’s worth checking their calendar for winter happenings before or after the event.
A Slime Drop at Noon at Sloomoo Institute Houston
When: December 31 | Countdown at 11:59 a.m.
Where: Sloomoo Institute, Houston
If your kids think confetti is cool but slime is better, Sloomoo Institute’s Noon Year’s celebration might be their dream New Year’s Eve.
At exactly 11:59 a.m., guests gather around Lake Sloomoo for a playful countdown that leads to a glittery slime drop - a whimsical, all-ages spin on the classic midnight ball drop. Even better? Visitors can walk on more than 350 gallons of slime as part of the experience, making it a fully immersive (and very memorable) way to ring in the New Year.
Tickets to the full Sloomoo experience start at $46.99, and the event is designed for kids, adults, and families to enjoy together - no late nights, no pressure, just joy and gooey fun.
The Takeaway
Whether your family prefers live music and bubbles in the sunshine or a sparkly slime countdown, these Noon Year’s Eve celebrations prove you don’t have to stay up late to celebrate big in Houston.
Because sometimes, the best way to ring in the New Year is before lunch.
Looking for more family-friendly ways to celebrate? Houston has plenty - and Noon Year’s might just become your new favorite tradition.