New Year’s Eve with kids is a solved problem in Ocean City: one button, dozens of shows, no bar scene, fireworks at midnight, and a town built for walking between venues. Buttons for the last edition were capped at 10,000 and nearly sold out, so grab them when they go on sale in the fall.
How First Night works
Every December 31 from 4 p.m. to midnight, one admission button covers roughly 70 family-friendly shows at about 20 venues around town: tribute bands, magicians, ice skating, and more, with fireworks at midnight and a drone show when weather allows. The 2026 button was $25; watch firstnightocnj.com for the new season’s lineup.
Venues cluster downtown and along the boardwalk, so from the house you walk to most of it. Dress warm, plan two or three shows with young kids rather than a marathon, and be on the boards for midnight.
The stay, and January 1
Our First Night package is three nights, Wednesday December 30 to Saturday January 2, on the weekends board with cleaning included. January 1 brings the First Day 5K at 1 p.m. and the First Plunge at 2 p.m.: start the year with a sprint or a freezing swim, then thaw out at the house.
The kitchen handles the New Year’s Day breakfast, the deck handles the toast (BYO; the town is dry, so stop in Somers Point on the way in), and checkout is not until 10 a.m. Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
What is First Night in Ocean City NJ?
Ocean City's family New Year's Eve: every December 31 from 4 p.m. to midnight, around 70 shows and activities fill about 20 venues across town, all on a single admission button. The 2026 edition's button was $25 with attendance capped at 10,000 and nearly sold out. Fireworks ring in midnight, with a drone show when winds allow. It is alcohol-free by design; Ocean City is a dry town.
What happens on New Year's Day in Ocean City?
First Day: the First Day 5K starts at 1 p.m. and the First Plunge, the polar-bear-style ocean dip, goes at 2 p.m. on January 1. Start the year on the beach, then warm up with a late checkout morning at the house.
