New Year's Eve events around the Tampa Bay area

There are many options in the Tampa Bay area for ringing in the New Year.

Here's a list of some of the local events:

Glazer Children's Museum - the museum is holding a Noon Years Eve event with a countdown at noon, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 for kids and their families. This is also the last weekend to catch the Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibit.

Lowry Park Zoo - Noon Year's Eve Celebration with Radio Disney - games, live entertainment, noisemakers, and a juice toast as the clock strikes noon.  Entrance into the event is included with regular prized zoo admission.

Busch Gardens is staying open late until 1 a.m. and offering fireworks at midnight, with special entertainment.

Channelside offers free live entertainment kicking off at 1 p.m. and ending the night with fireworks and a ball drop. The first 3,000 people to attend will be allowed in the wharf area where wristbands will be required starting at 9:30 p.m., handed out at the Garrison Gate.

Across the bay, St. Petersburg is hosting its big, annual alcohol-free First Night event starting around 5 p.m., with kids' activities at the Pier and events all over downtown St. Petersburg. There will be two sets of fireworks at both 9 p.m. and midnight. Musical acts include Suite Caroline and the Vodkanauts on the main stage. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children.

Largo is also hosting its own ball drop, with a 40-foot structure timed for Saturday night's countdown, on the corner of 1st Avenue SW downtown at O'Shy's Irish Tap House.