Early fireworks for the kiddos on NYE?

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
I don't think my kids (and possibly me) will be able to stay awake until 12am on NYE. I was wondering if there are any early NYE celebrations with fireworks around Zurich that did firework displays earlier in the evening. When we were in Sydney, there was a 9pm display, then the big kahuna at midnight. Thanks for any tips!

2
Why do we need a pretend start to the year before the year even starts? No there is not an early set but dont worry the big set are smaller than the 9pm warm up fireworks in Sydney

3
The idea of the "pretend" start is so that my 3 and 4 year olds can watch the some fireworks. Not trying to push into 2014 and will have our "pretend" celebration regardless. It will be 2014 somewhere

4
They would need to wait until 00:20 for the fireworks as they are not let off directly on midnight but 20mins after midnight in Zurich

5

For heavan's sake! Why do parents nowadays frequently think that their kids need to get everything as soon as possible or even sooner ... and regardless it is suitable to them or not!? What kind of degenerated attitude is this? For heavan's sake, they are only 3 or 4 years old. They can wait for the next few years until they are old enough to stay up. Hey, they won't die from missing it.

For heavan's sake, keep the relations and learn to be a responsible parent who does not give in in everything children may like or not. That is a lesson to be learned - probably mainly by yourself, indeed - which will be of much more substant importance for your children's future healthy pschological life and especially for the peace of the society they will be part of it in the future!

6
Would it really be such a big deal if you and the kids made an effort to stay up till midnight? Take a catnap during the day, perhaps, so that you feel more awake and refreshed later? It's only once a year.

7

8

Overreaction? Probably.

Still, s/he has a point

9
We did our fireworks already on 26 December, at 6 pm. The advantage was that Christmas is about over so that we could also burn the Christmas tree on our balcony.

10
I can not say how it is in other cities, but I remember seeing youngins out to enjoy the fireworks at midnight here in Basel, both for the Aug 1st celebrations as well as New Year (Sylvester). I do not recall there being any official fireworks from the city any earlier for either celebration.

However, there are plenty of folks who get small fireworks and sparklers to have their own small party for the kids - and with my in-laws, it's pretty common to have "tischbombe" for the kids before they go to bed (and they go to bed at fairly normal time).

If you've not seen them before, they're little tubes with a small amount of explosive powder in the base that you light. Inside the kids ones, there are a variety of small toys and silly things. (Usually m-i-l gets ones that have games and confetti and "pea shooters" in them, but they're for hubby's benefit at midnight rather than the kids)

The tischbombe may be a neat thing to cultivate while you're here, kinda specific to Switzerland, good memories for if you move on elsewhere later.

11
No s/he doesn't, the poster was asking a simple question and got a reply full of sanctimonious bullshit which she/he did not deserve one single bit.

No wonder this forum gets a bad reputation.

12

I only asked because there were fireworks in Sydney at 9pm. I guess all of the irresponsible parents there demanded it for their over privileged brats.

And yes, it is responses like this that make one not turn to this forum for assistance. Happy New Year Everyone. Peace!

13
Maria

With a 4 year old, I'm with you on this one as would love to do an early fireworks event. I guess many parents with kids would want this.

As for all the other ridiculous comments, they are clearly from people either without kids or not understanding that in many other countries its perfectly normal to go to see fireworks at 6pm for the kids.

Happy New year!

14
No problem - Sydney midnight firework display was at 2.00pm Swiss time ...... was that early enough for the kiddywinks?

15
In our case we bought some fireworks ourselves.

It cannot be compared with the Sydney one but for the kids it works.

16
Next year, you should book a week in Chatel in the Portes du Soleil. The DJ, band, vin chaud and chocolat chaud start at 5 p.m. in the village center. The ski school instructors ski down from the top of the mountain with flaming torches at 6 p.m.

The fireworks start at 6:30 and the music and festivities continue until 7. All of the restaurants offer two seatings, (families at 7 p.m., adults, etc. at 9:30).

It's a very family friendly resort and I think the fireworks display at the early time is quite nice, (I am 51!)

For people without children, there are tons of private fireworks that go off at midnight and the many, many bars downtown don't close until 4 a.m., so there is something for everyone.

To the OP, sorry you received so many weird comments to a simple question. There are many of us on EF who try and help whenever we can.

17
As previously mentioned, buy fireworks yourself and light them when you feel appropriate. Fireworks on New Year's Eve is a relatively new tradition here although one that is catching on fast. Our traditional fireworks are usually lit in summer for the Switzerland's Day of Independence (Aug. 1) or for various town festivals.

Edit: And Husky, your condescending tone is an embarrassment.

18
Amazingly, many elderly people in care-homes would love to have the fireworks (mk.1) already at 8pm to 9pm

In your case, you might change the family schedule. Send the kids to bed first at noon and then again 3 hours earlier than usual, and then take them to a good spot just around midnight

In Mediterranean countries like Italy, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, kids ARE awake and around between 9pm and 3am as it is, in summer, too hot before 3am and all year round far too loud before 3am . The kids need sleep as much as their counterparts elsewhere, but their parents are used to cope