The short answer: at the NYE Midnight Takeover you drop your middle schooler off at 8:00 PM and pick them up at 1:00 AM. For those five hours they are at a fully supervised celebration at SoFive Columbia in Columbia, MD, with Event Managers on the floor the entire time, which means you get a real New Year's Eve of your own.
Every parent of a middle schooler knows the New Year's Eve math. They are too old to want the early family celebration and too young to send off on their own. So the night usually ends with everyone home together, which is lovely, and also not the night you pictured.
The Midnight Takeover changes that math. Your kid gets the best New Year's Eve of their year. You get yours back too.
Drop off at 8, pick up at 1
The timing is built on purpose. Drop-off is 8:00 PM, which is late enough to have dinner first and early enough to still make your own plans. Pickup is 1:00 AM, right after the group counts down to midnight together. Check-in, authorized pickup, and emergency contacts are all set when you register, so the handoff at both ends is quick and clear.
What supervised actually means here
This is a lock-in, so the group stays inside the building the whole night. Next Level Gaming Event Managers are on the floor from the first drop-off to the last pickup, running every station and keeping the whole room moving. The event is grades 6 to 8 only, so every student there is in the same age band.
Next Level Gaming has run supervised youth events across Maryland since 2021, from school nights to large community events. The people watching the room on December 31 do this for a living, not as a favor.
You have earned the night
If parenting has felt like a lot lately, you are in very good company. The U.S. Surgeon General reported that 48% of parents say that on most days their stress is completely overwhelming, far higher than other adults (U.S. Surgeon General, 2024). New Year's Eve is also famously one of the hardest nights of the year to line up a sitter. The Midnight Takeover solves both at once. One plan, already supervised, that your kid is genuinely excited about.
So go to the dinner. Host the friends. See the fireworks downtown, or put your feet up and watch the ball drop in peace. The night runs itself for once.
It is not just screens, and they are not just sitting still
One thing parents are always glad to hear. The night is social, active, and face to face. There are gaming tournaments, but there is also tactical laser tag, RC racing, Battleball, giant games, and a silent party. And the gaming itself is a group sport here. Pew Research Center found that 72% of teens who play video games do it to spend time with others (Pew Research Center, 2024). For the full picture of the night, see what happens at a gaming lock-in.
Get your spot (and theirs) locked in
Registration opens soon and the Priority List goes first. Join it and you hear the moment spots open, get in 24 hours early, and get the best price of the run. For the full rundown of the event, start with New Year's Eve for middle schoolers in Howard County.
Join the Priority List at nextlevelgamingmd.com/nye-event. One minute now, and the hardest night of the year to plan is handled for both of you.
Common questions
What time is drop-off and pickup?
Drop-off is 8:00 PM and pickup is 1:00 AM on December 31, 2026, at SoFive Columbia, 7125 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD. Authorized pickup and emergency contacts are set at registration.
How is the night supervised?
It is a lock-in, so the group stays in the building the whole time. Next Level Gaming Event Managers are on the floor from the first drop-off to the last pickup, and the event is grades 6 to 8 only. NLG has run supervised youth events across Maryland since 2021.
What if my child does not know anyone there?
That is common and it works out fast. Everyone is the same age, and the stations are built around teams, brackets, and open seats, so students meet people within the first half hour.
Will there be food?
Yes. Dinner is pizza, with snacks and drinks going all night.
Can I reach my child during the event?
Yes. You set your emergency contact at check-in, and Event Managers can reach any family during the night. Students are welcome to keep their phones too.
What ages is it for?
Grades 6 to 8 only, so the whole night is sized and supervised for middle schoolers.