MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation in Santa Barbara rang in the new year 12 hours early at its fifth annual Noon Year’s Eve event for children and others on Saturday.

The sold-out event from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. was held to kick off “New Year’s festivities early” and included a rooftop dance party, an ice cream cart and a DJ.

“I think one of my favorite parts was just that there are so many things for kids and families to do,” said Rachel Hyppolite, a floor staff supervisor for the MOXI. “When you think of New Year’s celebrations and parties, there are a lot of adult events, but not always a place for kids to go to, and so it was really great that people of all ages were able to participate.”

Hyppolite said the event happens every year and is a great opportunity to partner with other local organizations and bring the community together.

Shortly before noon, attendees gathered in the atrium to count down to noon. Confetti was released, and a banner dropped revealing a two-story-high “Happy New Year’s” sign.

In addition to the festivities held at the museum for the new year, all of the museum’s interactive exhibits were available to the guests attending the event.

“I thought it was really cool,” 11-year-old Harris Lemma said about the Noon Year’s Eve countdown, adding that his favorite exhibit was a toy race car ramp.

He attended the event with his mother, Season Harris, and his father, Aaron Lemma, who had traveled to Santa Barbara from the Los Angeles area for the new year.

“We live in Topanga, and we came to Santa Barbara just for a little adventure,” the mother said. 

Harris said she thought the event was “really sweet since kids miss out on the New Year’s excitement.”

She said the family didn’t have plans for the rest of their stay but that they “probably won’t realistically be awake at midnight.”