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Top Free Things To Do with Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley in January 2026, According to MP Editors

Visit the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum after hours during Family Free Nights. Photo courtesy of the museum
Visit the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum after hours during Family Free Nights. Photo courtesy of the museum
12/29/24 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

Looking for FREE things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this January? Read on for dozens of great options.

As spectacular as the holidays are in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, all of the celebrations can take a toll on the family budget. So we've rounded up tons of free activities in January, from Family Free Night at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, where kids can explore STEM-themed exhibits and try out the toddler rock wall, to a K-Pop Demon Hunters Party at the Ossining Public Library.

January is also the start of the maple-sugaring season in the area, and you can kick it off with Backyard Sugarin' at Muscoot Farm.

Want even more fun things to do this weekend? Our Westchester and Hudson Valley Events Calendar is packed with great family activities for every day of the week—and you can filter by age, location, or even free events!

Not receiving our newsletter list yet? Subscribe for free and get the best local family fun sent straight to your inbox. Already subscribed? Share it with a friend and start planning your weekend together!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Wednesday, January 1-Sunday, January 5, 2025

Grand Holiday Illumination at Untermyer Gardens

Yonkers
Daily through Sunday, January 4, 2026
Inaugurated in 2015, the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy's Grand Holiday Illumination has quickly become a Yonkers tradition, and thousands of visitors come to enjoy the spectacle. Come for FREE and see the Walled Garden lit with more than 100,000 lights and listen to holiday music from many traditions.  READ MORE

First Day Hike at Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve

Cold Spring
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Choose from a 1- or 3-mile first day hike, and warm up with free hot cocoa, coffee, and snacks with fireside music. The shorter tour loops around Little Stony Point, while the longer excursion heads to the Cornish Estate. READ MORE

First Day Walk at FDR State Park

Yorktown Heights
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Ramble through FDR State Park with your guide Terence Ducey and see seldom-seen areas of the park on this fun and fact-filled first day hike.  READ MORE

First-Day Hike at Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Pleasantville
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Start your New Year with an invigorating 1.5 mile walk along the Hudson River across the beautiful landscape of Rockwood Hall. The hike is guided by Larry Trachtenberg of the Sawmill River Audubon Society, who will keep an eye out for winter birds including both bald eagles and the red tailed hawks often seen in this part of the preserve. READ MORE

Block & Roll at the Larchmont Library

Larchmont
Fridays, January 2-30, 2026
Meet and make toddler friends during this unstructured playtime full of blocks, balls, stacking toys, and even a play kitchen at the Larchmont Library READ MORE

Fun Fridays with Imagination Playground at the Yonkers Riverfront Library

Yonkers
Fridays, January 2-30, 2026
Drop in every Friday for Imagination Playground, an innovative play system that transforms any space into a play space that encourages learning, social development, movement, and fun.  READ MORE

Backyard Sugarin' at Muscoot Farm

Katonah
Saturday & Sunday, January 3-4, 2026
Kick off maple sugaring season by making maple syrup right in your backyard! Meet at Muscoot's Sugar Shack to learn about the equipment you need, identifying sugar maples in all seasons, the right way to tap trees, and how to turn sap from maples in your yard into syrup on your pancakes. READ MORE

Celebrate Three Kings Day/Dia de Reyes at the White Plains Library

White Plains
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Families from all backgrounds are invited to celebrate and learn about the significance of Three Kings Day in this program at the White Plains Public Library, including a bilingual storytime. READ MORE

Children's Art Workshop at Blue Door Art Center

Yonkers
Saturdays, January 3-31, 2026
This free art workshop for kids lets kids explore with various materials and a new theme every week. Children with special needs are always welcome.  READ MORE

Family Science Workshop: Visualizing Heat at the Hudson River Museum

Yonkers – Free with museum admission
Saturdays & Sundays, January 3-31, 2026
Stop by this family science workshop every weekend in January at the Hudson River Museum. Using liquid crystals and swirling waters, visualize the intensity and flow of heat energy in the world around us. Inspired by the exhibitions DRAW: Heat and Throwing Shade on Extreme Heat. READ MORE

Storytime for the Little Ones at Barnes & Noble Mohegan Lake

Mohegan Lake
Saturdays, January 3-31, 2026
Families with little ones are invited every Sunday for storytime featuring books from the Children's department plus a coloring activity.  READ MORE

Home Depot Kids' Workshops

Various locations
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Home Depot hosts free hands-on workshops on every first Saturday, with seasonal and other special projects created to become your family's next keepsake.  READ MORE

Play Sets at Dia Beacon

Beacon
Saturdays, January, 3, 17, and 24; also on Sunday, January 25, 2026
Explore the galleries at Dia Beacon through in-depth engagements with a single artist or artwork. Each program will include hands-on exercises that invite participants to see, think, and imagine in new ways. READ MORE

KinoKids Art Workshops at Hendrick Hudson Free Library

Montrose
Sundays, January 4-25, 2026
Kids are invited to participate in free art workshops every Sunday at Hendrick Hudson Library. There will be a new theme each week inspired by the landscape paintings currently on display in the Hendrick Hudson Free Library’s Community Room Gallery  READ MORE

Cooking with Kids at Rye Free Reading Room

Rye
Mondays, January 5, 12, and 26, 2026
The whole family is invited to this kid-friendly cooking program. Participants use a few simple ingredients to create a tasty snack together with the children’s librarian. READ MORE

3D Pen Night at the New Rochelle Public Library

New Rochelle
Mondays, January 5, 12, and 26, 2026
For tweens and teens in grades 6-12. Use the New Rochelle library's 3D Pens to make any object you want!  Create something for yourself or give it to a friend. READ MORE

Fiesta! with Flor at Croton Free Library

Croton-on-Hudson
Wednesdays, January 7-28, 2026
Learn Spanish at the Croton Free Library, with music, puppetry, theater games, and movement. READ MORE

Toddler Yoga at the Dobbs Ferry Public Library

Dobbs Ferry
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Help your toddler find their breath and follow along as they flow through this little-kid-friendly practice with Pooja Mehta at the Dobbs Ferry Library. The interactive yoga adventure will be having them move in a way that feels good and allows them to use their imagination as they stretch their body and calm their mind! READ MORE

LEGO Free Build at the John C. Hart Library

Yorktown
Thursdays, January 8-29, 2026
Drop in for some LEGO fun and build a creation with friends. Creations are displayed in the library until the next week. READ MORE

Saturday Studio at Dia Beacon

Beacon
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Kids can join a practicing artist for a workshop of art-making, material experimentation, and play at Dia Beacon. Designed for all ages, Saturday Studio is a family-friendly program that is most suitable for children ages 5 and up. READ MORE

K-Pop Demon Hunters Party at Ossining Public Library

Ossining
Friday, January 16, 2025
Join Ossining Public Library for a party filled with music, crafts, and imagination inspired by brave demon hunters and your favorite K-pop heroes. READ MORE

Teen Laser Tag at Ossining Public Library

Ossining
Friday, January 16, 2025
Get ready for an after-hours showdown like no other at the Ossining Library. Dodge through the bookshelves, outsmart your opponents, and claim victory in a high-energy laser tag battle! READ MORE

Bokandeye African Dance Workshop at New Rochelle Public Library

New Rochelle
Saturdays, January 17-February 21, 2026
In celebration of Black History Month, join the New Rochelle Public Library for a 6 -week African Dance workshop where participants will learn basic traditional West African dance movements, some which date back to the 13th century Old Mali Empire. The workshop will culminate in a final performance for the public. READ MORE

Family Free Night at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum

Poughkeepsie
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Come in after-hours and explore all of the museum exhibits for free at family free nights at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum.  READ MORE

Storybook Dancing with Steffi Nossen at the White Plains Public Library

White Plains
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Children embark on a storybook adventure, enhanced by music and dance. Led by an instructor from the Steffi Nossen School of Dance. READ MORE

Celebrating Pablo Picasso at the White Plains Library

White Plains
Thursday, January 21, 2026
Join the White Plains Library for a story and art project inspired by Pablo Picasso and his work.  READ MORE

Super Saturdays: Weird Science with Professor Sparks

Hudson
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Come spend the morning exploring the science of fire with Professor Sparks and her robot canine companion, Spot 2000. After the program, do your own science experiment with Professor Sparks (supplies included with the program). This hands-on program is appropriate for children ages 5 and up. READ MORE

More Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley in Winter

Ultimate Winter Bucket List: 30 Things To Do with Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Beat the winter blues with these picks for must-do seasonal fun. READ MORE

Westchester & Hudson Valley Winter Vacation Guide

Discover the best things to do with kids in Westchester & the Hudson Valley this winter. READ MORE

Winter Day Trips from NYC

These winter day trip destinations in the tri-state area are great family fun. READ MORE

Skiing, Snowboarding, & Snow Sports Guide

Find great family slopes, tubing, and boarding spots all around the country with our kid-friendly ski guide. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve
Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Rockwood Hall
Rye Free Reading Room at Rye Public Library
Great Wolf Lodge - Pocono Mountains

About the Author

Katherine Dhurandhar
Katherine Dhurandhar is a Community Publisher for Mommy Poppins, representing the Westchester and Hudson Valley region of New York, and a freelance copyeditor for Westchester Publishing Company. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling with her husband and son.
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