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Under the twinkling lights of the famous marquee, The Apollo Theater hosts holiday-themed activities for families. Photo courtesy of the theater
Under the twinkling lights of the famous marquee, The Apollo Theater hosts holiday-themed activities for families. Photo courtesy of the theater
12/11/19 - By Drew Kristofik

Big News: You can party with us on Saturday at Kidville UWS! The Mommy Poppins team is in the house to create gift bags for The Children's Aid Society, and we'd love it if you'd join us for holiday photos, goodies, and doing good.

Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol takes over NYC this weekend, with live productions in the Village, on Broadway, at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, and in Harlem, a reading at the landmark Merchant's House Museum, and even a Ghosts of Christmas Past walking tour. (The Morgan Library's Winter Fair is also deeply Dickensian). On Sunday, Christmas literature devotees can snuggle in for a candlelight reading of Clement Moore's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, a century-old holiday tradition in Washington Heights, and Richard Scarry's The Night Before the Night Before Christmas gets a reading at New-York Historical Society.

This weekend also features a load of cool Christmas and holiday events known and loved by NYC insiders, like Winter Wonderland at the Apollo and Santa rolling up to meet kids in a police car in Brooklyn. On Sunday, there's nothing more unique than the 45th Annual Tuba Christmas at Rockefeller Center, or the village-to-village Unsilent Night parade, except maybe Santa's annual rescue from the roof of the NY Fire Museum. And it's time for the Christmas Bird Count in Central Park and Prospect Park.

Hanukkah is over a week away (December 22) but why let that slow you down? Get a head start at A Golem from Buenos Aires, a Klezmer Hanukkah Party at Beth Elohim. the Jewish Museum's Hanukkah Family Day, and the 92nd St Y's Family Chanukah Concert.

You can take a break from the holidays (if you need a breather) with a stop at The Museum of Ice Cream Pop-up, where families can zoom down an epic 3-story slide.

As always, our December GoList, our Holiday Fun Guide, and our Event Calendar are standing by at the ready, overstuffed with holiday fun.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

All aboard! Holiday Express returns this year with a special new addition— scenes from Richard Scarry's Busytown. Photo by Drew Kristofik
All aboard! Holiday Express returns this year with a special new addition— scenes from Richard Scarry's Busytown. Photo by Drew Kristofik

Things to Do All Weekend

A Golem from Buenos Aires

Union Square
Similar to the story of Pinocchio, A Golum from Buenos Aires becomes "a real boy"  in a whimsical show for the whole family. READ MORE

Celebrating Richard Scarry and Busytown!

Upper West Side
Create a train-inspired craft; listen to Busytown tales; have fun with Conductor Abe, New-York Historical's resident train master; and meet Huck Scarry, son of Richard Scarry, who'll be at the Museum to meet fans, draw beloved Busytown characters, and talk about his dad. READ MORE

A Christmas Carol

Greenwich Village
Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale about the joy of community triumphing over selfishness follows Ebenezer Scrooge on his emotional journey, as he is visited by four forewarning ghosts. Will Scrooge catch the holiday spirit and save himself in the process? READ MORE

Museum of Ice Cream Pop-Up Opening Weekend

Soho
The Museum of Ice Cream pops back into town after a three year absence, welcoming guests six days a week to enjoy a sweet escape from city mayhem. READ MORE

A Christmas Carol in Harlem

Harlem
In 2020, this production streams for free during the holiday season. Set in present-day Harlem, this holiday treasure is dramatized with CTH’s signature style of infusing classic works with an uptown flair. READ MORE

Little Women: A Holiday Adaptation

Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre’s new family-friendly adaptation of Little Women brings the audience right inside the March’s family home within the majestic wood-paneled hall of South Oxford Space in Fort Greene.  READ MORE

ReMake the Holidays 2019

Corona, Queens
Families bend, twist, light, sculpt and animate a new version of the holiday season with workshops, demos, artist installations and more. READ MORE

Flavors of the Season: Ginger

Upper West Side
December is delicious with CMOM's Flavors of the Season series of cooking workshops and food inspired programs. READ MORE

NYPD 84th Precinct: Visits from Santa

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn — FREE
Kids can take free pictures with Santa when he arrives in a NYPD car! The 84th Precinct chauffeurs the man in red, with stops in various Brooklyn neighborhoods. READ MORE

Family Art Project: Self-Portraits - Follow My Tracks

Wave Hill, The Bronx
Think about the tracks animals leave behind, then, using natural and food materials, create a self-portrait from the tracks that you leave behind, remembering all the places you’ve been and the memories you hold. READ MORE

Ghosts of Christmas Past Walking Tour

Lower East Side
Did you know that there is a long-standing tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas? It's true! On this 2-hour walking tour presented by Boroughs of the Dead, you'll find out why we should tell ghost stories at Christmas, and hear some favorite true ghost stories in Greenwich Village. Plus, you'll discover how all of this is connected to New York City! READ MORE

Brandenburgers Holiday Concert

Park Slope, Brooklyn
This year's Family Holiday concerts feature classical favorites as well as a unique piece by Brooklyn composer Gene Glickman called The Folky Thirties Suite, which includes 6 movements of compositions inspired by the American songbook. READ MORE
Ice Theatre of New York's Winter Holiday Skating Celebration is just part of the Holiday Celebration at Riverbank State Park. Photo courtesy of Ice Theater of New York
Ice Theatre of New York's Winter Holiday Skating Celebration is just part of the Holiday Celebration at Riverbank State Park. Photo courtesy of Ice Theater of New York

Things to Do on Saturday, December 14

Mommy Poppins Holiday Party!

Upper West Side
Mommy Poppins hosts a holiday bash at Kidville UWS with crafts, gym play, holiday photos with Newport Babies Photography and an opportunity for kids to get hands on in the holiday spirit making gift bags for the Children's Aid Society. READ MORE

A Season of Lights: A Winter Workshop

Upper West Side
In this special workshop, children and their families brighten up their winter with a reading of Nancy Luenn’s Celebrations of Light, learning about winter festivities from around the world. READ MORE

Coca-Cola Winter Wonderland at the Apollo

Harlem — FREE
Under the twinkling lights of its famous marquee, The Apollo Theater and Coca-Cola invite families to stop by for holiday-themed activities, including picture taking with Santa Claus and amazing performances from local choirs. READ MORE

The Caedmon School Holiday Fair

Upper East Side — FREE entry; fees for activities
Head to the Caedmon School for fabulous shopping, sumptuous baked goods, crafts for kids, face painting, raffles and more!  Finish all of your holiday shopping while supporting Caedmon and local businesses. READ MORE

Celebrate Saint Nicholas

Greenwich Village — FREE
Long before Saint Nicholas became associated with Christmas, his feast day was a holiday for giving presents and honoring children. READ MORE

Christmas Tree Trimming and Caroling

Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn — FREE
Help with trimming the trees in the park, enjoy caroling with neighbors, and stay warm with a cup of hot chocolate. READ MORE

Victorian Holiday Party

Washington Heights
What better way to celebrate the holidays than in a beautiful Victorian home? Enjoy offerings of hot spiced wine, apple cider and cookies while singing along to some traditional Christmas carols! Victorian regalia welcomed! READ MORE

Holiday Celebration at Riverbank State Park

Hamilton Heights — FREE
Riverbank State Park's annual holiday celebration features a tree lighting with all the trimmings, plus plenty of on-ice entertainment starring the Ice Theatre of New York, The Skyliners, and Figure Skating in Harlem. READ MORE

Holidazzle

Long Island City, Queens — FREE
The Dutch Kill Civic Association hosts the first annual holiday street fair featuring a tree lighting, a visit from Santa, music, and local vendors.   READ MORE

A Christmas Carol: A Play with Music

Washington Heights
Actor Jeffries Thaiss performs all of the roles - Scrooge, Tiny Tim, the Ghost of Marley, and all your other favorite characters - just as Dickens, himself, performed it in 1853! READ MORE

Klezmer Hanukkah Party 2019

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Join Congregation Beth Elohim and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for a Hanukkah season celebration. Enjoy live music with the Brooklyn Conservatory Community Klezmer Band, learn traditional dance steps led by a professional Klezmer dance leader, warm up with latkes and cider, and make your own menorah with Washi-tape and metallic paper. READ MORE
Join the fun of Unsilent Night, a luminous soundscape played on boomboxes carried through the city. Photo courtesy of the event
Join the fun of Unsilent Night, a luminous soundscape played on boomboxes carried through the city. Photo courtesy of the event

Things To Do on Sunday, December 16

Unsilent Night 2024

Greenwich Village — FREE
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

Reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Washington Heights — FREE
The Church of the Intercession continues its time-honored tradition of reading the classic poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, by Clement Clarke Moore. This year marks the 113th anniversary of the annual reading at the church. READ MORE

50th Annual Merry Tuba Christmas at Rockefeller Center

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

'Tis the Season Toy Making Family Workshop

Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Make a simple wooden toy out of scrap pine, maple or oak wood in a variety of shapes, including people and animals. Families will be sanding, assembling and painting the toys. Make a toy to bring home at the end. READ MORE

Hanukkah Family Day at the Jewish Museum

Upper East Side
Celebrate the festival of lights as a family at the Jewish Museum! Build a sculptural Hanukkah lamp with funky found objects, dance to the pop-rock tunes of Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights, and sketch Hanukkah lamps from around the globe on a gallery tour. READ MORE

Family Holiday Bird Count at Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn — FREE
The Prospect Park Audubon Center hosts this annual event, where all ages can participate in a tradition more than 100 years in the making. This nationwide bird census helps conservation researchers track the long-term health of bird populations.  READ MORE

Judy & the Maccabees: A Family Hanukkah Musical

Upper West Side
Celebrate the Festival of Lights - Girl Power Style! – with this delightful family musical that re-imagines the ancient Hanukkah story. READ MORE

Annual Santa Rescue

Greenwich Village— FREE to watch; fee to enter museum
Watch FDNY firefighters rescue Santa from the roof of the New York City Fire Museum at 12 noon, sharp! Once inside, Santa takes gift requests and poses for photos. READ MORE

Winter Family Fair at the Morgan Library

Midtown East
Celebrate the holiday season with The Morgan’s annual display of the original manuscript of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and enjoy crafts and activities themed to The Morgan's current exhibitions. READ MORE

Chanukah Festival & Winter Celebration

Forest Hills and Little Neck, Queens
Join in the annual Chanukah Festival and Winter Celebration featuring inflatable bounce houses, arts and crafts, games, balloon twisting, face painting, children’s entertainment, and more. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The Museum of Ice Cream
Borough-Wide
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine