Experience a kaleidoscope of photo-ops, plus acrobatic shows, tasty food, craft cocktails, live music, and more at the captivating light festival, Lektrik, at the Queens Botanical Garden. Photo courtesy of Fever
Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do
The Tianyu Lights Festival transforms the Citi Field parking lot into a magical holiday destination with larger-than-life lanterns and kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of the festival
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids
During Christmas in NYC, Midtown Manhattan is chock-full of glittery eye candy. Photo by Ally Noel
Christmas in New York: Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary for a Magical Holiday with Kids
Santa is a busy man, so reservations are required to visit Santland at Macy's Herald Square in New York City in 2024. Photo by Marisa Iallonardo
Macy's Santaland NYC: When and How to See Santa at Herald Square in 2024
GUIDE
Holidays in NYC: Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, & Seasonal Fun
The stunning Peace, Love, and Lights drive-thru at Bethel Woods returns for another season of bringing visitors joy.
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows near NYC
Celebrate the start of the holiday season at Calypso, Carols, and Cocoa: The Dumbo Holiday Lighting. Photo by Hassan Mokaddam
Best Christmas Tree Lightings in NYC with Fun Activities for Kids, Plus Menorah Lightings, Too
Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden
Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC to Book Now!
GUIDE
NYC Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Kid-Friendly Getaways 2024
The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Hell's Kitchen is a cool coming-of-age piece loosely based on Alicia Keys' life story. Photo by Marc J. Franklin
Best New Broadway Shows This Season Plus Can't-Miss Classics for Families
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
Twinkle Playspace in Williamsburg offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
21 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
101 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Playgrounds, Play Spaces, and Fun Zones in NYC
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids: Music, Books, and Colonial Crafts

Eataly's cooking classes teach kids the history and process of making a beloved Italian street food. Photo courtesy of Eataly
Eataly's cooking classes teach kids the history and process of making a beloved Italian street food. Photo courtesy of Eataly
1/8/20 - By Drew Kristofik

We've got a song in our hearts this weekend, and not just because the All-Ages Music Showcase is making its annual appearance Sunday (although, for real, you can see Lucy Kalantari, Gustafer Yellowgold, The Pop Ups, The Rockness Monsters, and more for 10 bucks). In searching for things to do, we're also ready to Dance in the Dark at the Brooklyn Bowl's Springsteen tribute, and commune with Beethoven at Alice Tully. Brooklyn's Barbes hosts an awesome new show by composer Michael Hearst, too. Plus, Midtown's new art installation, Impulse, uses seesaws that emit music and light to paint the town fun.

If history is more your speed, amble up to the New-York Historical Society and learn about the pioneering women who worked in commerce in 18th century NYC. Morris-Jumel also shares some colonial crafting secrets, or you can ponder history in the making at the New Victory's, Cartography.

Books, you say? Why, yes. Come right this way! Sugar Hill's got the Three Little Pigs by the tail, Naughty Ninja Takes a Bath at Books of Wonder's uptown location, and the Brooklyn Book Bodega is handing out kid lit all afternoon Sunday. And you can catch a new take on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book at Symphony Space, too!

Don't forget to scroll through our curated Winter Events Guide and our helpful January Go List. And remember, our team of highly trained kid fun experts is tirelessly scouring the city, finding great events for the MommyPoppins calendar. 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Explore modern and contemporary art together at the MoMA's Tours for Fours. Photo courtesy of the museum.
Explore modern and contemporary art together at the MoMA's Tours for Fours. Photo courtesy of the museum.

Things To Do in NYC All Weekend

Impulse

Midtown West — FREE
12 over-sized illuminating seesaws radiate light and emit musical elements, creating an exciting ‘urban playground’ in the heart of Midtown and transforming Broadway into a gleaming winter wonderland. READ MORE

Tours for Fours: Artful Storytelling

Midtown West — FREE
The Museum of Modern Art's Tours for Fours program invites families to look, listen, and share ideas while exploring modern and contemporary art. READ MORE

Cartography

Midtown West
The stories of young refugees come into focus as Cartography asks what part we play in the lives of young people who set out into the unsure waters of their futures. READ MORE

Family Art Project: Cyclical Calendars and Fractal Phenology

The Bronx
Get intentional about how you want to spend your year and create goals for yourself that mimic nature’s natural processes. Look to the moon, seedlings that bloom and seasonal cycles to chart your own growth. READ MORE
Explore the period rooms at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, and visit colonial kitchen for crafting. Photo courtesy of the museum
Explore the period rooms at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, and visit colonial kitchen for crafting. Photo courtesy of the museum

Things To Do in NYC on Saturday, January 11

What's "Anthropomorphic"? Body Buildings!

The Battery
Buildings have skeletons just like people do! Kids trace their bodies on poster paper and use their own “skeleton frames” as a starting place for designing a building as unique as they are. Register in advance, by Friday, January 10.   READ MORE

APEC Welcome to the Neighborhood

Oakland Gardens, Queens — FREE
Check out Alley Pond's temporary location at this open house with animal interactions, arts and crafts, musical fun, and healthy refreshments. READ MORE

Kids Kitchen: Roman Street Food

Financial District
Bambini (ages 6-12) are invited to learn about the history and process of making one of the most loved Italian street foods, suppli (fried rice balls filled with fresh mozzarella cheese). READ MORE

Colonial Life at the Mansion

Washington Heights
Discover colonial life at the Mansion by exploring the period rooms, and then visit colonial kitchen to create colonial crafts, including corn husk figures and herb sachets. READ MORE

Meet Linda Marshall, author of Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit!

Upper West Side — FREE
Celebrate the launch of Linda Marshall's latest picture book, Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit. The author shares this heartwarming biography, answers questions from the audience, and signs copies of her books. READ MORE

Just Kidding: The Jungle Book

Upper West Side
A new theatrical adaptation of the works of Rudyard Kipling re-imagines his classic stories through modern eyes, transporting the audience to the urban jungle to relive Mowgli’s childhood in the wilds of India with Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther, and more. READ MORE

Family Day: Building Bridges (SOLD OUT)

Greenwich Village
Families learn about different types of bridges and how they work, then create their own bridges to span one of NYC’s rivers, canals, or busy streets. READ MORE

Storytime: The Three Little Pigs by Repertorio Español

Sugar Hill
Repertorio Español presents Eduardo Navas and his Scaramouches Puppet Theatre, telling the classic tale of The Three Little Pigs. READ MORE

Curious, Unusual, and Extraordinary!

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Quirky author and composer Michael Hearst, along with his band, presents songs about Unusual Creatures, Extraordinary People, and Curious Constructions geared toward curious families, extraordinary children, and their unusual friends. READ MORE

Astronomy: The Night Sky

Bayside, Queens — FREE
The colder winter clears the night sky of clouds and creates ideal conditions for stargazing. Urban Park Rangers will be your guides to the solar system, discussing the science, history, and folklore of the universe. READ MORE
Sing classics with your little one at Brooklyn's Rock and Roll Playhouse. Photo courtesy of the venue
Sing classics with your little one at Brooklyn's Rock and Roll Playhouse. Photo courtesy of the venue

Things To Do in NYC on Sunday, January 12

Meet the Music! Leave it to Ludwig

Midtown West
Beethoven himself (Bruce Adolphe) appears in Alice Tully Hall to help a young pianist play his music as he meant it to be played. READ MORE

Family Sundays at the Rubin Museum: Thoughtful Threads

Chelsea
Family Sundays are back in person at the Rubin Museum. Bring your family for an afternoon of creativity and self-exploration in the museum's new space, the Mandala Lab. READ MORE

Creative Play: Sapporo Snow Festival

Midtown East
Each year in Japan, Sapporo welcomes the return of the cold weather with a grand festival featuring intricate and colossal snow sculptures! READ MORE

Spellbound Theatre presents: A Book of Hours

Park Slope, Brooklyn
A larger than life book leads children through familiar daily events using favorite nursery rhymes and songs to tell the story, as well as surprising treasures, puppets, and discoveries. READ MORE

All-Ages Music Showcase

East Village
Some of the liveliest, most unique and exceptional performers for today's families take the stage during this year’s APAP conference. Come for as little or as long as the kids can last! READ MORE

Brooklyn Book Bodega

Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn — FREE
Brooklyn Book Bodega’s mission is to increase the number of 100+ book homes in Brooklyn, with the belief that every child deserves to own the books that they want to read and enjoy. Bring any children’s books to this FREE swap to pass along to someone else. You can take books from the bodega without giving. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: