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Kids across Southern California ring in 2025 at 'Noon Year’s Eve' celebrations

Children exclaim as adults watch on as confetti falls from above.
Noon Year's Eve celebrations at Pretend City in Irvine.
(
Courtesy Pretend City, Irvine
)

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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

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A female with medium skin tone and brown, curly hair and another female hair with light skin tone and brown, wavy hair sit in a ball pit with turquoise, grey and white balls.
Nova Foryoung-Destin and Olivia Huynh.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)

Nova wants a Gabby Dollhouse toy and Olivia wants a Elsa dollhouse.

Kyle Malsbury and Wyatt Jones

Two males with light skin tone and red hair sit on a turquoise, soft play structure.
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

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A female with light skin tone and dark hair wearing a purple dress and holding a red bag looks ahead. She is standing in front of a clothing rack with different costumes.
Ellie Torres.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)

Ellie wants a Rapunzel dress.

Noah Bozin

A family of four, including a female wearing red pants and a cream sweater, a young male in a blue and red t-shirt, a male wearing glasses and a black hoodie and a young male wearing a yellow, khaki and cream tshirt sticking his tongue out, smile at the camera.
Noah Bozin (in blue) with his family.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)

Noah wants a Peppa Pig toy.

Ace Pickett

A young male wearing a maroon sweatshirt and dark pants holds a blue ball in his left hand and the handle of a toy shopping cart in the other hand. He is standing in a ball pit.
Ace Pickett.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)
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Ace wants a yellow racing car and a play Target shopping cart.

Charlotte Nazareth

A female with olive skin tone and dark hair wearing a maroon hoodie carries a child wearing a black dress.
Charlotte Nazareth and her mother.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)

Charlotte wants a Sky toy at her Elsa themed birthday party.

Allyson Sirin

A young female wearing a blue and white dress stands in front of a blue and white balloon and panel backdrop beside a woman wearing all black holding a young child.
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.

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Lucas Stella

A young male wearing a grey t-shirt and dark glasses smiles. Beside him is a female with medium skin tone and dark hair, wearing a grey hoodie.
Lucas Stella and his mother.
(
Yusra Farzan
/
LAist
)

Lucas wants to have a good new year and make new friends.

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