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31 Winter Events for Preschoolers and Toddlers in New York City

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). Photo courtesy of the venue
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). Photo courtesy of the venue
1/10/20 - By Rosalind Muggeridge

We're 10 days into January and your kids are already tired of playing with their holiday gifts, and you're feeling a little anxious about yielding to excessive screen time. If this sounds familiar, we've got you covered with nearly three dozen events for preschoolers and toddlers. Read on for our roundup of shows, festivals, and fun things to do this winter for the toddler to preschooler set.

Bookmark this list for loads of ways to keep your little one engaged during the cold days ahead. There's a gingerbread giveaway, Sesame Street Live, terrific indie theater, and new exhibits coming to some of our favorite local children's museums.

Looking for more? Our list of 50 Things to Do Indoors might do the trick, and you can always find more daily activities in our Event Calendar.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

The Big Apple Circus is just the right size for preschoolers and toddlers. Photo by Jody Mercier
The Big Apple Circus is just the right size for preschoolers and toddlers. Photo by Jody Mercier

January 2020 Events for Toddlers and Preschoolers

GingerBread Lane House Giveaway

January 12 – Queens
Gingerbread houses will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis until every piece of GingerBread Lane is gone.  READ MORE

MLK Jr. I Have a Dream Celebration

January 18-20 – Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. through interactive performances, protest marches, community art programs, and volunteer projects READ MORE

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

Open through January 26 – the Bronx
The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show returns for its 33rd year! Model trains zip through a miniature wonderland of nearly 200 New York landmark replicas, each re-created from natural materials such as leaves, seeds, twigs, bark, acorns, and cinnamon sticks. READ MORE

The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at the New York Botanical Garden

Select dates through January 26 – the Bronx
Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero on a walk of wonders, as your favorite characters, scenes, and songs from the immortal film The Nightmare Before Christmas come to life in New York's most treasured garden. READ MORE

Oshogatsu: New Year’s Celebration

January 26 – Midtown East
Celebrate the New Year Japanese-style with traditional activities like rice pounding, calligraphy, lion dancing, and more! READ MORE

CANCELED March Storytimes at Greenlight Bookstores

Sundays in January – FREE – Fort Greene and Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Greenlight Bookstore's Lefferts Garden location and its original Fort Greene (686 Fulton Street) location both hold regular Sunday storytimes for kids, with books read by their authors. Sometimes there's music, too!  READ MORE

Big Apple Circus: Hometown Playground at Lincoln Center

Select dates through February 2 – Upper West Side
For its 47th anniversary season, Big Apple Circus: Hometown Playground celebrates the joy, wonder, and amazement of New York City. This show's theme celebrates the diverse neighborhoods and unique landmarks that make NYC like none other in the world. READ MORE
Enjoy a carnival of fun activities at the 21st annual BAMkids Film Festival. Photo courtesy of BAM
Enjoy a carnival of fun activities at the 21st annual BAMkids Film Festival. Photo courtesy of BAM

February 2020 Events for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Lunar New Year Family Festival 2020

February 1 – Chinatown
Celebrate the year of the Rat with zodiac arts and crafts, lively dance performances, festive snacks, and timeless tales inspired by Chinese and Chinese American New Year’s traditions. The event includes performances, workshops, and more. READ MORE

Just Kidding: David Darwin, the One Man Sideshow

February 1 – Upper West Side
David Darwin's act is a raucous morning of whip cracking, plate spinning, lassoing, unicycling, impossible contortions, and more! READ MORE

BAMkids Film Festival 2020

February 1-2 – Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Showcasing a feature film and the best kids’ shorts from around the globe, the 22nd annual BAMkids Film Festival returns with world, US, and New York premieres. This year’s lineup showcases 87 films from 30 countries in 10 languages. READ MORE

2024 Lunar New Year Family Festival - SOLD OUT

February 2 – Financial District
The China Institute's Lunar New Year party kicks off with the crowd-favorite lion dance, followed by the renowned Taishun string puppet performance. Master artisans from China lead New-Year-themed experiential stations and interactive workshops, including Taizhou embroidery, rice dough sculpturing, Song-dynasty tea whisking and tasting, Nan-Song dynasty pottery sculpting, 3D sugar painting, New Year woodblock printing, and more!  READ MORE

Family Concert: Brady Rymer & the Little Band That Could

February 9 – Upper East Side
Groove with three-time Grammy-nominated Brady Rymer & the Little Band That Could, whose folksy, accordion-laced pop and rock music brings everyone to their feet. READ MORE

Sesame Street Live: Let's Party

Select dates from February 14-23 – Midtown
Sesame Street Live graces the stage at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Audience members can learn new songs and sing along to familiar favorites with Oscar and Cookie Monster, build a snowman with Elmo, flap your wings with Big Bird, marvel at Abby’s magic, be amazed when Super Grover flies, and bop to the beat with Rosita. READ MORE

Just Kidding: Goldilocks and the Three Bears

February 15 – Upper West Side
Hand-carved wooden marionettes bring this classic tale to life, as a family of Alaskan bears encounters a golden-haired trespasser, who learns precious lessons from them about respect, kindness, apologizing, and forgiveness. READ MORE

February Break Discovery Days

February 17-20 – FREE – Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Enjoy a special indoor edition of Discovery Programs in BBG’s Steinhardt Conservatory. Travel from the desert to the rainforest in the blink of an eye, and use your senses to investigate plants and objects from these habitats alongside volunteer docents. READ MORE
Catch The Very Hungry Caterpillar in a stage show. Photo courtesy of Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Catch The Very Hungry Caterpillar in a stage show. Photo courtesy of Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

March 2020 Events for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Family Concert: The Pop Ups

March 1 – Upper East Side
Grammy-nominated group The Pop Ups lights up the stage in a special unplugged acoustic concert with their musician friends. Experience live drawing with sound, hilarious puppets, and an epic costume party just in time for Purim! READ MORE

LC Kids: Michael and the Rockness Monsters

March 7 – Upper West Side
Michael & The Rockness Monsters present an interactive, supergalactic, funk-inspired, rock ‘n’ roll experience for families at this energetic and quirky concert. READ MORE

Bee Parks and the Hornets

March 7 – FREE – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
The Hornets perform high-energy shows that combine music, puppetry, and audience participation to inspire young people to get up and move — both with their feet and in their communities.  READ MORE

Little Orchestra Society

March 8 – Upper East Side
Entering its 72nd Season, Little Orchestra Society (LOS) is devoted to bringing innovative classical music concerts to young concertgoers and families, featuring fabulous music -- from classical to jazz -- and enchanting storytelling, as well as music learning and humor appealing to older kids and adults. READ MORE

CANCELED: Just Kidding: Squirrel Stole My Underpants

March 14 – Upper West Side
In this puppet-driven adventure show, Sylvie is sent to the backyard to hang up the laundry. The moment her back is turned, a mischievous squirrel steals her favorite piece of clothing and runs off. READ MORE

CANCELED The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

March 15 – Flushing, Queens
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s lively compilation captures the magic of three Eric Carle favorites. The hour-long triple-bill follows the adventures of The Mixed-Up Chameleon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the story of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? READ MORE

CANCELED The Cat in the Hat

March 28 – FREE – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
The National Theatre performs Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat. From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat that they have ever met.  READ MORE

CANCELED: Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music

March 28-29 – Midtown
This musical spectacular features characters from multiple Nick Jr. hit animated series, including Bubble Guppies, PAW Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue’s Clues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Top Wing. READ MORE
Paddington takes to the stage in the fun-filled Paddington Gets in a Jam. Photo by Richard Termine
Paddington takes to the stage in the fun-filled Paddington Gets in a Jam. Photo by Richard Termine

Ongoing Winter Events

Magic At Coney!!!

Ongoing: Repeating on Sundays – Coney Island, Brooklyn
Magical Promotions, together with Coney Island USA, presents an afternoon of fun and wonder for the entire family. “Magic at Coney!!!” is a magical variety show highlighting a vast array of magicians; featuring illusionists, escape artists, mentalists and close-up magicians from around the world. READ MORE

Yeti, Set, Snow!

Select dates through February 23 – Central Park
An original story and production from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, Yeti, Set, Snow! is the story of a young girl named Widget, and her friend, Twig, who encounter a yeti named Pascetti on the first snow day of the winter season.  READ MORE

Paddington Gets in a Jam

Select dates through March 8 – Union Square
This beautiful show returns to NYC with brand-new stories and characters. READ MORE

CANCELED: Alice in Wonderland at Puppetworks

Weekends through April 5 – Park Slope
The Mayor's Office of NYC has ordered all small theatres, like Puppetworks, to close at this time. Please check back for re-opening announcements - first with Little Red Riding Hood, to be followed shortly thereafter by Jack & the Beanstalk. READ MORE

CANCELED: Angelina Ballerina: The Musical

Select dates through May 10 – Soho
Vital Theatre Company's Angelina Ballerina™ The Musical takes up residence in the West Village. READ MORE

CANCELED: Pinkalicious the Musical

Select dates through May 16 – Times Square
Pinkalicious can't stop eating pink cupcakes, despite warnings from her parents. READ MORE

The Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History

Open through May 25 – Upper West Side
Visitors can once again mingle with up to 500 fluttering, iridescent butterflies among blooming tropical flowers and lush green vegetation in 80-degree temperatures at the museum. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

New York Hall Of Science
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Greenlight Bookstore (Prospect/Lefferts)
Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
Brooklyn Public Library, Dweck Center
Brooklyn Public Library, Dweck Center
The Theater at Madison Square Garden