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Make Music NYC, Winter Solstice, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

The Paley Center's must-see holiday extravaganza fills five floors with holiday fun and winter wonderland magic. Photo courtesy of PaleyLand
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12/13/24 - By Drew Kristofik

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

December just keeps getting nuttier with the beloved Hard Nut version of The Nutcracker opening at BAM. Mozart's Magic Flute is back at the Met, with its deliriously fun family party Saturday. Sunday brings a choice of Hanukkah celebrations with Hanukkah Family Day at the Jewish Museum and the 92Y's Hanukkah Extravaganzukah. Plus, Christmas classics get a makeover during Rockefeller Center's Tuba Christmas and the traveling Unsilent Night in the Village.

More Things To Do in New York City this Week with Kids

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Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol" with Jonathan Kruk in Historic Richmond Town

Richmond, Staten Island
Friday, December 20
Step into the historic Courtroom of the Third County Courthouse for a special presentation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol by master storyteller Jonathan Kruk, with musical accompaniment by harpist Erika Lieberman. You can also enjoy a cup of hot tea or cocoa— included with your ticket! READ MORE

Family Fridays: CurveBalls at MoMath on 5th

Gramercy – FREE
Friday, December 20
Create simple yet elegant ornaments out of just three strips of beautiful marbleized cardstock and learn the surprising methods of transforming 2D nets into 3D geometric constructions. Interlocking the rings and folding along the curves gives the orb enough strength to use for holiday decorations, games, and even hidden surprises. READ MORE

Saturday Pet Movies at The New York Historical

Upper West Side
Saturday, December 21
Celebrate The New York Historical's exhibition Pets and the City with classic kids movies about the animal world. READ MORE

The Pout Pout Fish at Tribeca PAC

Tribeca
Saturday, December 21
Turn the poutiest of frowns upside down in this musical, featuring whimsical puppets and live performers in a sweeping oceanic adventure. READ MORE

NYSoM HolidayMania at East Harlem Tutorial

East Harlem – FREE
Saturday, December 21
NYSoM (New York State of Mind) and the East Harlem Tutorial Program host a holiday extravaganza that covers all the holiday bases. READ MORE

Make Music Winter

Citywide – FREE
Saturday, December 21
Make Music's Winter festivities range from a chorus of ukuleles to carol singing, bell ringing, and a harmonica holiday jam. READ MORE

La MaMa Kids: Winter Wonderland

Lower East Side
Saturday, December 21
La MaMa Family weaves its magic and excitement for La MaMa’s end-of-year celebration, including a fun-filled, in-person performance by La MaMa resident artists. Embracing puppetry, storytelling, music, and theater, this is a unique holiday event for the whole family. All ages encouraged! READ MORE

Family Art Project: Hello 2025 at Wave Hill

Riverdale, Bronx
Saturday & Sunday, December 21-22
Prepare for the new year by creating a calendar highlighting your favorite part of every season. Get creative and use bright colors to capture the excitement of each month.    READ MORE

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live at Shapeshifter

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday & Sunday, December 21-22
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live celebrates the timeless television classic as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts characters gather to uncover the true meaning of Christmas. READ MORE

Hanukkah Extravaganzukah at 92Y

Upper East Side
Sunday, December 15
A rocking interactive family concert, led by Rebecca Schoffer and a live band, sets the mood for 92Y's Extravaganzukah, which continues with face painting, juggling, games, latkes, sufganiot (donuts), and more. Hanukkah robots and dancing dreidels take the stage for act 2, featuring renowned Israeli Dance Troupe “Parparim!” READ MORE

Hanukkah Family Day at the Jewish Museum

Upper East Side
Sunday, December 15
Celebrate the festival of lights with art-making and music at the Jewish Museum! Build a holiday sculpture with an exciting mix of found objects inspired by the exhibition Ilit Azoulay: Mere Things and Hanukkah menorahs in the museum’s collection, design bold-printed cards, collaborate on a giant mixed-media work of art, and dance to the catchy pop tunes of Grammy-winner Joanie Leeds.  READ MORE

White Christmas Sing Along

Upper West Side
Sunday, December 15
Count your blessings as you sing along with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen in this feel-good holiday favorite film. READ MORE

Holiday Extravaganza at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 15
BKCM’s brownstone transforms to celebrate the season with a singular, multicultural holiday celebration. READ MORE

51st Annual Merry Tuba Christmas at Rockefeller Center

Midtown West – FREE
Sunday, December 15
Hundreds of tenor and bass tuba players congregate at The Rink at Rockefeller Center to play Christmas carols and other crowd favorites. READ MORE

Unsilent Night 2024

West and East Village – FREE
Sunday, December 15
Each year, composer Phil Kline leads a massive chorus of boomboxes from the West Village to the East Village in the annual holiday presentation of Unsilent Night. READ MORE

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