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Family Fun Collapsible Stroller and Nice Sweats Staying in with the family and watching DVDs again? This year, start a new tradition and get in before bedtime. First Night Santa Cruz Procession A display of community spirit. Parade starts at 5:30pm. Downtown Santa Cruz. 831.425.7277 First Night Monterey Featuring Vocal Ease, the Boogie Men, Bluetones, Tocara, magician Fred Anderson, along with crafts, twilight parade and midnight countdown. Kids under 5 free. 2pm. $9-$15. Downtown Monterey, Monterey. 831.373.4778 Say Your Peace/Submerge An all ages event dedicated to peace and play, featuring a morning dance, mask-making, painting, collage, music, creative movement and mime. 9am-4pm. Followed at 9pm by Submerge, featuring breaks spun by Tipper, Little John, Rob Monroy, Stridah and others. $12/$15. 418 Project, 418 Front St, Santa Cruz. 831.234.2272 First Night Martinez Alcohol-free celebration uniting the community with the arts. Entertainment by Slick and the Sliders, Delta Wires, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, many more. 5:30pm-12:30am. $10. Main Street, Downtown Martinez. 925.372.8295 All Night Skate Rink open 7pm-7am. $20 includes skate rental, breakfast. All ages. San Jose Skate (formerly Aloha Roller Palace), 397 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose. 408.226.1155 Cal Skate Midnight balloon drop, souvenirs. 7:30pm-1am. $12. Cal Skate Milpitas, 980 Los Coches St, Milpitas. 408.946.1363 Fantasy of Lights Cruise through Vasona Park admiring the colorful displays. 6pm-10pm. $9 per car. Vasona Lake County Park, 298 Garden Hills Dr, Los Gatos. 408.355.2200 Christmas in the Park Downtown's display runs until Jan 1. Food vendors, children's rides. Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose. 408.279.1775 New Year's Eve Day Party Games and activities from celebrations around the world. Noon. Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley. 510.642.5132 New Year's Balloon Drop Music, balloons, marking the actual new year as it happens across the globe. 3:45pm. Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd, Fremont. 510.336.7300 New Year's Eve Vampire Tour Your host, Mina Harker, will take you to seven famous stops, telling you the history of each of the stops and how vampires played a role in that history. 8pm. $20/$15. California and Taylor streets, San Francisco, 650.279.1840 Ashtanga Yoga New Year's Retreat Call for info or check www.mountmadonna.org. Sat-Wed. Opens Dec 28. $175 plus fees. Mount Madonna School, 445 Summit Rd, Watsonville, 831.847.0406. New Pickle Circus Holiday extravaganza show titled Circumstance. 2pm. $18-$26. Cowell Theater, Fort Mason. 415.345.7575 The Lion King Hakuma matata! Disney film gets the IMAX treatment. 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm. $9-$16. Imax Theater, Tech Museum of Innovation, 201 S. Market St, San Jose. 408.795.6100 Stomp! New Year's Eve performance at 8pm. $35-$40. Marines Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St, San Francisco. 415.771.6900 New Year's Eve Day Party Learn about how the world celebrates the new year with games and activities. Toasting the new year at 2pm. Noon. Free with admission. Lawrence Hall of Science, One Centennial Dr, Berkeley. 510.642.5132 Asian Art Museum New Year's Bell Ringing The museum is closed, so the traditional Japanese ceremony moves to the San Francisco Main Library. Visitors are encouraged to ring a 2,100-pound 16th-century bell. 10am. Free. 100 Larkin St, San Francisco. 415.557.4400 Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton Party for Kids Movies, children's buffet, activities and games for kids. Apple cider toast at midnight. 6pm-1am. $100 per child. Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, 1 Miramontes Point Rd, Half Moon Bay. 650.712.7000 [ New Year's Eve Choices: Index | Rock | Comedy | Dining | Swing | Soirees | 25 and Overs | Jams | Funky | Latin | DJs | Family | Gay | Sports ] Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]