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Fun Free Activities for Kids in January 2025: 20 Free Things To Do on Long Island

Take in the model train display at the Town of Babylon History Museum. Photo by the author
Take in the model train display at the Town of Babylon History Museum. Photo by the author
12/29/24 - By Jaime Sumersille

Looking for FREE things to do on Long Island in January? Read on for lots of great options. 

From nature outings to indoor crafts to STEM opportunities, these options offer some awesome ways to spend time doing fun, family-friendly things that won’t cost you a cent.

For more things to do that won’t bust your budget, check out our roundup of free indoor play spaces on Long Island, our Winter Fun Guide, and our rundown of Long Island restaurants where kids eat free.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. And subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Ongoing Free Things To Do on Long Island: January 2025

Children's Story and Craft Time at The Next Chapter

Huntington
Ongoing Mondays
Every Monday, The Next Chapter hosts a children's story time and craft. Bring your little ones and spend an hour in the children's section. READ MORE

Storytime at Manhasset Barnes & Noble

Manhasset
Wednesdays all month
Join Barnes & Noble in Manhasset each week to discover a wonderful new book and inspire a love for reading in your child. READ MORE

Weekly Storytime at Carle Place Barnes & Noble

Carle Place
Thursdays and Saturdays all month
Drop in on Thursdays and Saturdays at the Carle Place location for this free event.  READ MORE

Storytime at Smith Haven Mall Barnes & Noble

Lake Grove
Saturdays all month
Explore new adventures through reading each week at this group event hosted by Barnes & Noble at the Smith Haven Mall. READ MORE

Storytime at Bay Shore Barnes & Noble

Bay Shore
Saturdays all month
This weekly storytime hosted by Barnes & Noble in Bay Shore may include any or all of the following: read-alouds, sing-alongs, visits from enchanting characters, simple coloring activities, etc. READ MORE

Free Things To Do on Long Island During January 2025

First Day Hike at Jones Beach State Park

Wantagh
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Winter visitors are welcome at Jones Beach. Kick off the new year with a short walk along the shoreline with great views of the seals in the bay.  READ MORE

Holiday Model Train Exhibit at Town of Babylon History Museum

Babylon
Friday, January 3-Sunday, January 5, 2025
Enjoy an interactive, 240-square-foot model train exhibit that highlights historic points of interest from around the Town of Babylon.  READ MORE

Free Kids Crafting Kits at Home Depot

Various locations
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Pick up a free crafting kit and learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety while creating a project. All of the instructions and materials are included, and at some locations a Home Depot staff member will guide you through the steps.  READ MORE

Children's Craft: Create a Winter Bird Feeder at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

Shirley
Saturday, January 4, 2025
This free crafting activity will help you attract birds to your yard during the months when natural food sources are not always readily available. READ MORE

Central Operating Lines Model Train Open House

Setauket
Saturday, January 4-Sunday, January 5, 2025
The Central Operating Lines Holiday Train show and open house boasts a huge layout, spread across 23 scale miles.  READ MORE

TMB Model Train Club Open House

Dix Hills
January 4-5 & 18-19, 2025
Enthusiasts and families are invited to embark on a captivating journey through a newly expanded 6000-square-foot train room. READ MORE

Owl Prowl at Hempstead Lake State Park

West Hempstead
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Join a nature educator at Hempstead Lake State Park for a hike and lesson on owls. Learn all about these fascinating birds then dissect owl pellets.. READ MORE

Free Workshops at Lakeshore Learning

New Hyde Park
Saturdays, January 11 & 25, 2025
Lakeshore Learning stores host a free afternoon of hands-on activities introducing kids to the wonders of science. READ MORE

Sensory Saturdays CMEE

Bridgehampton
Saturday, January 11, 2025
On the second Saturday of each month, head to the Children's Museum of the East End for a morning of free play. Designed with neuro-divergent guests in mind, Museum lighting and sound will be dimmed. READ MORE

Cantemos Juntos at CMEE

Bridgehampton
Wednesdays, January 15, 22 & 29, 2025
Learn music and stories in English and Spanish! Families will clap, sing, move, and groove in this weekly music class. Parents can get silly with their little ones in their native language, or learn a few new phrases. Families will take home a book and new music each week. READ MORE

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay and Fire Island National Seashore in Patchogue
Monday, January 20, 2025
On select days throughout the year, all national parks are open to the public with no admission fee.  READ MORE

MLK National Day of Service

Varies
Monday, January 20, 2025
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day each year, all Americans are encouraged to step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. Examples include cleaning up a public space, mentoring a young person, or helping those who are food insecure. READ MORE

Port Jefferson Village Ice Festival

Port Jefferson
Saturday, January 18-Sunday, January 19, 2025
The Port Jefferson Village Ice Festival promises free and engaging fun all weekend long. Enjoy interactive photo opportunities, marshmallow roasting, horse and carriage rides, an ice-skating demonstration, live music, and raffles.  READ MORE

Lunar Explorers at Hempstead Lake State Park

West Hempstead
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Blast off to the moon right from Hempstead Lake State Park as you explore the big rock in the sky through experiments and hands on activities; discover moon phases, craters, and moonquakes! READ MORE

Meet the Author: "It's Chinese New Year, Curious George!"

Northport
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
In this engaging and interactive program featuring a reading of the book and a craft, author Maria Wen Adcock will teach children about Chinese culture through the fun adventures of Curious George.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Town of Babylon History Museum
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
National Parks - Multiple Locations
Northport-East Northport Public Library