Holiday Shows for NYC Kids: Seasonal Theater and Concerts for $20 or Less

'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows. Luckily in New York City, you don't have to blow all of your gift money on tickets. There are lots of small, low-key stage productions that are great for kids (even young, fidgety ones) that will get the whole family into the holiday spirit. All of our picks are $20 or under per person—a few are even less than $10!

These shows aren't all about Christmas, either. Hanukkah, Kwanza and the snowy winter season are also represented. From A Charlie Brown Christmas live onstage to a puppet take on Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus to Flying Latkes to abridged tot-friendly mountings of The Nutcracker, here are a dozen holiday shows (and a couple concerts) for NYC families. Remember, you can find lots of other seasonal fun in our NYC Holiday Guide.

Yes, Virginia: The Musical – Midtown West
Macy’s Herald Square Puppet Theater, 151 W 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, 8th Floor
$5
Friday-Sunday through December 23 9:30am-8pm. Visit the website for a complete schedule.
Macy's has a brand-new show this year! Nicolas Coppola and his beloved Puppetworks troupe have turned the true-life tale of a 19th-century girl who questioned the existence of Santa Claus into a beautiful marionette production featuring the vocal talents of Whoopi Goldberg and Matthew Broderick. Monday through Thursday performances are reserved for school groups so go Friday through Sunday. Don't forget to visit Macy's Santaland while you're there.

The Three Bears Holiday Bash – Upper West Side
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park, enter at 79th Street and Central Park West
$8 for adults, $5 for children under 12
Through Friday, December 30. Visit the website for a complete schedule.
The three bears and all their fairy-tale pals are back for this annual holiday variety show. This spirited marionette performance celebrates the season, whether you observe Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah.

The Flying Latke – Tribeca
The Flea Theater, 41 White Street between Broadway and Church Streets
Saturdays, December 1, 8 and 15, and Sundays, December 2, 9 and 16 at 11am
$15
Why should Christmas have all the fun? This kooky Hanukkah tale by Arthur Yorinks (best known for his Caldecott Medal winning book Hey, Al) features the meshugge Silverstein family, who cause a UFO panic after one of their potato pancakes is thrown out the window during a holiday food fight.

A Charlie Brown Christmas – Park Slope
The Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 Fourth Avenue between Union and President Streets
Thursday, December 6-Sunday, December 16. Visit the website for the complete schedule.
$11, $33 for a family four-pack
The Pig Brooch Theatre Company brings its live stage adaptation of the iconic TV special back to Brooklyn for the fourth year in a row. Extremely faithful to the source material (right down to the 30-minute running time), the show features Charlie, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang along with that sad little Christmas tree. A lively jazz trio plays Vince Guaraldi's memorable Charlie Brown music.

Seven In One Blow or the Brave Little Kid – West Village
Axis Theater Company, 1 Sheridan Square at Washington Place
Fridays, December 7, 14 and 21 at 7pm; Saturdays, December 8, 15 and 22, and Sundays, December 9, 16 and 23 at 2pm
$12 for adults, $6 for children and students
An offbeat stage adaptation of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, the show stars Kid, a young boy who kills seven flies in one shot and gets caught in a tangle of lies surrounding his feat. In the end, he learns about love and caring, with help from the kids in the audience.

Dan Zanes and Friends Holiday Sing-along – Tribeca
City Winery, 155 Varick Street at Vandam Street
Saturday, December 8 at 11am

$20
The legendary kid rocker celebrates the release of his first-ever holiday album, Christmas in Concord, with a hopping concert where families are encouraged to sing and dance along.

Poppy Seed Players: Judy and the Maccabees – Upper West Side
Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue
Sunday, December 9 at 11am
$20
The troupe's comical take on the Hanukkah story stars a young girl named Judy who masterminds a plan that lets the Maccabees win the war and return to Jerusalem.

A Christmas Carol by the Puppet People – Park Slope
The Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 Fourth Avenue between Union and President Streets
Saturday, December 15-Sunday, December 16 at 1, 3 and 5pm
$11, $33 for a family four-pack
Charles Dickens' holiday classic is brought to life by handcrafted marionettes, shadow puppets and masked performers. The climax features a giant nine-foot parade puppet!

Chanukah Fever – Midtown East
Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 East 51st Street between Second and Third Aveneus
Sunday, December 16 at 10:30am
$30 per family
In honor of the last day of Hanukkah, the Mama Doni Band rocks the shul with funky dance songs like "Oy Vey" and "Bagel Time." Families are encouraged to bring new unwrapped toys for donation.

The Colonial Nutcracker – Flatbush
Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College, 2900 Campus Road
Sunday, December 16 at 2pm
$10
The Dance Theatre in Westchester performs this full-length version of Tchaikovsky's classic, set in colonial Yorktown during the Revolutionary War. Featuring a red-coated army of mice and the spellbound nutcracker prince, this Nutcracker interpretation is a wonderful holiday experience for families to enjoy. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Ballet for Young Audiences – Citywide
Saturday, December 22 at 1 and 3pm
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard near Linden Place. $16 for adults, $12 for children
Travel to the Enchanted Forest and the Kingdom of Sweets, and delight in the high-energy dances of the second act in this special narrated performance that's perfect for little ones. Read our post about other kid-friendly productions of The Nutcracker dancing around town.

Nutcracker Sweets & The Steadfast Tin Soldier – Park Slope
Puppetworks Theater, 338 Sixth Avenue at 4th Street
Saturday, December 22, Sunday, December 23 and Wednesday, December 26-Sunday, December 30. Visit the website for the complete schedule.
$9 for adults, $8 for children under 12
The decades-old Brooklyn puppet theater mounts a holiday double feature. Nutcracker Sweets is an adaptation of Tchaikovsky's Land of Sweets dances and The Steadfast Tin Soldier is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale.

Find lots of other seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide and great gift ideas in our NYC Shopping Local Gift Guide.