Noa Ubaldo and Solstice Higdon, from left, play in confetti during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brynn Whitsett is buried in confetti during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
One-year-old Emmett Nasso plays in the confetti during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Two women take a selfie during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Meissa Nurcahyo has a laugh at a ticket booth during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Notes are placed on a wishing tree during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Catherine Quirk and her son Harrison Hanneke, 2, take a photo during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Simon Greenberg pushes his cart through a busy grocery store during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kids work on a car during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Carlton Bowers and his son Pryce, center, let the confetti rain down during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Noa Ubaldo and Solstice Higdon, from left, play in confetti during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
They partied like it was midnight — dancing, confetti raining down.
These toddler revelers rang in the new year in party dresses and fancy hats, only at the strike of noon on Wednesday.
Pretend City hosted bedtime-appropriate celebrations of New Year’s Eve by following midnight around the globe: 9:40 a.m. as the new year dawned in Thailand; 12 p.m. as celebrations commenced in Pakistan; and 2 p.m. as the people of Greece bid farewell to 2025.
The always popular New Year’s Eve Around the World at the children’s museum in Irvine highlights the cultures of the countries, while including the youngsters in the fun of celebrating the holiday.
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