Goodbye and good riddance to 2008

Rockin' New Year's Eve: Join Seymour, Children's Museum of Richmond's dinosaur mascot, for festivities including activities with Radio Disney, kid-friendly music and dancing, games, juice-box toast at noon and more, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the museum, 2500 W. Broad St. $8; free to members. 474-7000.

New Year's Eve Family Frolic: Family-friendly New Year's Eve afternoon with balloon artists, face painting, make-and-take project, music by Ululating Mummies and more, 1-4 p.m. at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. $6-$10; younger than 3 free. 262-9887.

Carytown New Year's Eve: Street party with 100-foot ball-raising from the Byrd Theatre, live music, beverage garden, jumbo video-projection screens and more, beginning at 7 p.m. on West Cary Street. $2; VIP advance tickets, $50 at www.ticketstobuy.com. Info at www.carytown.org or 422-2279.

Siné Irish Pub's New Year's Eve: Celebrate the new year at 7 p.m. (New Year's Day in Ireland) and again at midnight; music by Broken Monday, special menu and more at Siné, 1327 E. Cary St. No cover before 8 p.m., $3 after 8. www.sineirishpub.com or 649-7767.

Ravenchase Adventures' fourth annual Quest for Father Time: Track down Father Time by finding hidden clues, encountering actors and cracking codes and ciphers; the quest ends with a champagne celebration, 7 p.m. to midnight. Quest begins at a downtown Richmond location disclosed in the first clue. $75; reservation required. www.FatherTimeRace.com or (888) 702-9039, ext. 1.

Ha-ha-ha-Happy New Year: Comedy-Sportz family-friendly improv show with Twinkies-and-milk toast at 7:30 p.m. and with more mature material and champagne and party favors at 10 p.m. at ComedySportz Improv Theatre, 7115 Staples Mill Road. $18 early show, $24 late; reservation required. 266-9377.

New Year's Eve Comedy Blowout: Comic Alonzo Bodden of "Last Comic Standing" fame entertains for a dinner show at 7:30 p.m. (dinner seating at 6:30) and late show at 10 p.m. with party favors, cheese-and-fruit platter and champagne toast at Funny Bone Comedy Club and Restaurant, Short Pump Town Center. $50 per person for early and late packages; $25 early show comedy only. 521-8900.

New Year's Murder Mystery: Feast on a four-course dinner while helping solve the comic medieval murder-mystery "Who Killed the King?" at 7:30 p.m. at Mystery Dinner Playhouse, Holiday Inn-Crossroads, 2000 Staples Mill Road. $57.50; includes dinner, show, party favors and champagne toast. 649-2583.

New Year's Ball of the Centuries: Celebrate Petersburg's rich history at this Old Towne Petersburg black-tie gala featuring cocktails (complimentary wine and champagne; cash bar), dinner and dancing to music by DJ Mike Barnes, beginning at 8 p.m. at The Black Swan, 9 W. Old St., Petersburg. $75. 739-1658.

Burlesque New Year's Eve: Burlesque show by the Peach Tarts highlights the gala event, which also features dinner and dessert buffets, a bottle of bubbly and more, beginning at 8 p.m. at Sycamore Rouge, 21 W. Old St., Petersburg. $85 per person, $150 per couple; reservation required. www.sycamorerouge.org or 957-5707, ext. 109.

Visions New Year's Eve: Bash with party favors, champagne toast and DJ Joey Butler spinning dance tunes, 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. at Visions Dance Club, Holiday Inn Select-Koger South, 1021 Koger Center Blvd. $50 per couple; packages, including dinner buffet and/or overnight accommodation, $100-$229 per couple. 379-3800 or 897-1406.

New Year's Eve Gala: Dinner; wine, beer and soft drinks; dancing to music by Pop & the Doo-Wops and DJs Nino Torre and Tony Tan; party favors; and midnight balloon drop and champagne toast, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at Columbian Center, 2324 Pump Road. $30 per person; $55 per couple. Tables for 8-10; on-site baby-sitting available by reservation. 405-8432 or (718) 926-3704.

New Year's Eve with the Escorts: Party favors, dancing to classic oldies and champagne toast at midnight, beginning at 9 p.m. at Don Papa Grande, 8900 W. Broad St., 270-7725. $25; for tickets, call 747-7464 or 285-4559. New Year's Eve World Music Dance Party: Music by Rattlemouth and Balkanize and belly-dancing by Erin & Shari, 9 p.m. at Art6 Gallery, 6 E. Broad St. $20. 343-1406.

Soul Bowl Lounge New Year's Eve: Entertainment by 2nd Soul Band and rapper/DJ Danja Mowf, bowling, billiards, soul-food buffet and more, 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. at AMF Shrader Lanes, 8037 Shrader Drive. $25 in advance, $30 at door; group packages available. 747-9620.

OUT OF TOWN

First Night Williamsburg: Alcohol-free family celebration beginning at 5 p.m., with more than 60 acts on 41 indoor stages -- singers, dancers, instrumentalists, magicians, storytellers, clans and more -- plus countdown to midnight and fireworks extravaganza, all in Colonial Williamsburg. $12 through Tuesday; $15 day of event. (757) 258-5153.

First Night Winchester: Family-friendly event with dozens of entertainers -- including musicians, magicians, comedians, puppeteers and even a trick roper -- plus fireworks and midnight Apple Drop, beginning at 6 p.m. in Old Town Winchester. $12. www.firstnightwinchester.org or (540) 533-5561.

New Year's Eve with the Hot 8 Brass Band: New Orleans jazz show at 8 p.m. at American Theatre, Hampton. $40 includes champagne and party after the show. (757) 722-2787.

Wintergreen New Year's Eve Ballroom Dance Party: Casual after-dinner bash with music by the Deanie Blues Band, complimentary cocktail, party favors, dessert buffet, midnight champagne toast and more, 8 p.m. in the ballroom at Wintergreen Resort, Nelson County. $45; reservation required. (434) 325-8143. See www.wintergreenresort.com for New Year's Eve festivities at the resort's restaurants and for children and teens.