Kids can celebrate New Year's Eve without actually staying up 'til midnight, thanks to the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut's annual "Countdown to Noon." This year's runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, with the ball drop at noon. The festivities include games, songs and more. (The museum, by the way, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, in addition to its regular weekly schedule beyond that.)

The Public Library of New London, too, its doing a Countdown to New Year's Party from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday. So plenty of chances for the younguns to get into the Auld Lang Syne spirit.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

Countdown to Noon - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondy, Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, 409 Main St., Niantic; $9, $2 members; $35 family maximum; registration required; (860) 691-1111.

Countdown to New Year's Party - 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St., New London; ages 10 and under; (860) 447-1711.