One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Kids across Southern California ring in 2025 at 'Noon Year’s Eve' celebrations
Noon Year's Eve celebrations at Pretend City in Irvine.
(
Courtesy Pretend City, Irvine
)
Since becoming a parent five years ago, I have never made it to midnight on New Year’s Eve. Thankfully, I haven’t missed out on celebrations because of Noon Year’s Eve events at children’s play places like Looma Space in Lomita and Pretend City in Irvine. Children ring in the new year with apple juice in their hand as balloons drop at noon.
While people were steaming their bejeweled dresses and preparing for the night on Tuesday, I wore my comfiest button down and headed to Looma Space to hear from our littlest residents on their hopes and wishes for the new year.
There were no grand aspirations for career advancement, higher salaries, improved fitness or other grown up refrains. For these kids, it was all about toys and fun for 2025…
Nova Foryoung-Destin and Olivia Huynh
Nova Foryoung-Destin and Olivia Huynh.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Nova wants a Gabby Dollhouse toy and Olivia wants a Elsa dollhouse.
-
The museum, which opens to the public Sept. 22, unites the Star Wars universe with all kinds of illustration and classic art. -
The tribe’s popular gaming enterprise started out as a bingo hall in the ‘80s. It faced opposition from the start. -
The Los Angeles Field Recording Club holds regular outings and listening sessions.
Sponsored message
Kyle Malsbury and Wyatt Jones
Kyle Malsbury and Wyatt Jones.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Kyle wants to visit his family in New Jersey while Wyatt wants to visit Disneyworld with his friends and family.
Ellie Torres
Ellie Torres.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Ellie wants a Rapunzel dress.
Noah Bozin
Sponsored message
Noah Bozin (in blue) with his family.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Noah wants a Peppa Pig toy.
Ace Pickett
Ace Pickett.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Ace wants a yellow racing car and a play Target shopping cart.
Charlotte Nazareth
Charlotte Nazareth and her mother.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Sponsored message
Charlotte wants a Sky toy at her Elsa themed birthday party.
Allyson Sirin
Allyson Sirin with her mother Thania and brother Royce.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Allyson wants a beagle that she will name Snoopy. She also wants a unicorn with a pink tail and yellow horn that she will name Sparkles.
Lucas Stella
Lucas Stella and his mother.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
Lucas wants to have a good new year and make new friends.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
