All Weekend

The Little Orchestra Society Presents: Carnival of the Animals – Upper East Side
My six-year-old son and I are such big fans of Little Orchestra Society's interactive classical concerts, I wrote an entire post about them last year. This weekend, the orchestra will play Camille Saint-Saëns’ playful Carnival of the Animals while Judy Moody book series illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds, creates on-the-spot drawings to bring the music to life. $15-$40

20at20 and Broadway Week – Manhattan
These two great theater deals continue. If you've been meaning to take your kids to see Freckleface Strawberry, Traces, The Berenstain Bears or another family-friendly Off Broadway show, now's the time to go. Through Monday, February 6, select productions are selling $20 tickets 20 minutes before each performance. There is some fine print: Tickets are cash only and if the performance sells out in advance, you're out of luck. But we're guessing most family shows won't have that problem. In addition, it's Broadway Week through Saturday, February 4, which means you can purchase two-for-one tickets to participating shows, including blockbusters like Mary Poppins.

Wuthering Heights, Restless Souls – Midtown West
Speaking of theater, the New Victory is currently hosting the Zoem! New Dutch Theater festival. This weekend's production is a Belgian adaptation of Emily Brontë's romantic novel, which is aimed at teens. It's a great way to get them interested in this classic book. $14-$38

Mobilis in Mobili: An Exhibition of Steampunk Art & Appliance – Soho
While the Wooster Street Social Club—a tattoo shop, art gallery and event space—isn't usually home to kid attractions, its awesome Steampunk exhibit is sure to wow families. More than a dozen artists revamped common objects and appliances in this Victorian futuristic style (think Jules Verne). Steampunk guitars, barber chairs, tattoo needles and and clocks are sure to spark your kids' imaginations. (Hopefully they won't suddenly want to get a tattoo.) FREE

The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers Annual Performance and Pow-wow – East Village
This is a great way to introduce kids to Native American culture. Families can enjoy dances, stories and traditional music from the Iroquois and Native Peoples of the Northwest Coast, the Southwest, the Plains and the Arctic regions. At the end, the audience will be invited to join in the Round Dance (a friendship dance), and the cast will personally greet all children in attendance and pose for photos. $10, $1 for children under 12 at weekend matinees.

History Scavenger Hunt and Sunday Story Time – Upper West Side
If you haven't yet visited the Children's History Museum at the New-York Historical Society, this weekend is a great time to go since the museum is NYCgo's Culture Spot of the Month, which means you can save $5 off adult admission during January. Weekend activities include Sunday Story Time and a History Scavenger Hunt complete with prizes. All activities are free with admission: $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 7-13, free for kids under 7. Save $5 off adult admission by downloading a coupon at NYCgo.

Saturday, January 28

Carnegie Kids: The Wiyos – Prospect Heights
This retro trio will delight families at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library with old-school American jug band music featuring a harmonica, a kazoo, a banjo, a guitar and even a washboard. If you arrive an hour early, you can participate in a pre-show movement program with the musicians. FREE

Special Needs Camp Fair – Midtown West
Resources for Children with Special Needs hosts its annual camp fair, where families can meet representatives from more than 60 special needs programs. FREE

KidsLIVE Presents: Hiawatha – Midtown East
Catskill Puppet Theatre mounts this Native American folk tale at the main branch of the New York Public Library. The show follows the adventures of a curious boy who disobeys his grandmother and wanders into the forest alone, where he meets talking animals and fantastical spirits. FREE

Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration – Battery Park City
Ring in the Year of the Dragon at the Winter Garden by creating Chinese crafts like dough figures, calligraphy, paper cuttings and face painting, followed by a lion dance, acrobatics and traditional music performances. FREE

Sci-Tech Workshop: Bot Building – Midtown East
Tweens can head to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab to fashion working robots out of screws, motors and recycled materials. Advance reservations recommended. $10

Breakfast with the Beasts – Staten Island
School-age kids can hit the Staten Island Zoo’s kitchen to help prepare a meal for the animals (and a little something for themselves). Pre-registration required. $17.

R & R Saturdays – Upper West Side
The free family fun at the JCC in Manhattan continues with marble painting sessions, arts and crafts, storytelling, sign language workshops, indoor games and outdoor fun in the rooftop playground, weather permitting. There are activities for parents too, like improv and dance workshops. FREE

Medieval Arts Children’s Workshop – Morningside Heights
Families can carve a block of limestone, create medieval illuminated letters, design gargoyles and weave at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. $6 per child-adult pair.

Living & Working In the Sky – Battery City
Kids can learn about some of the world’s tallest buildings at the Skyscraper Museum, and then create their own models. Pre-registration Required $5

Lunar New Year Festival – Hudson Square
The Children's Museum of the Arts throws its annual Chinese New Year celebration in its wonderful new space. Kids can learn about traditional and modern Chinese art, catch Chinese Theatre Works' shadow puppet show Tiger Tales, watch the young Chinese Lion Dancers from P.S.124 and more. Free with admission: $10.

Whitney Wees Workshops – Upper East Side
Tots get the opportunity to explore faces throughout the Whitney’s galleries, and then make their own art with museum educators. Unfortunately, the Family Fun Workshops for older kids are currently full. Advance registration is a must. $10 per family.

Family Art Workshop: Stencil Printing – Chelsea
The Rubin Museum of Art invites kids to create their own stencils inspired by the artwork on display. Be sure to bring a piece of fabric or an old T-shirt to work with. $10

See all Saturday events.
 

Sunday, January 29

Chinese New Year Parade and Cultural Festival – Chinatown
The procession kicks off at Mott and Hester Streets with floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, antique cars, musical performers, magicians and acrobats winding their way through the neighborhood's main routes. Raven and her daughter go every year, and always have a blast, literally, since there are so many fire crackers going off. Arrive by noon if you want to get a decent view. After the parade, head to Sara Roosevelt Park for a cultural festival, with booths and performances by musicians, dancers and martial artists, or just wander through Chinatown to see dragon dances and residents celebrating. FREE

Lunar New Year Parade – Sunset Park
This is today's other big Chinese New Year parade. The Brooklyn procession is a bit under the radar, but we've heard it rivals Manhattan's in terms of energy and fun. Sponsored by the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association, it's preceded by appearances from community luminaries and cultural performances for all ages. FREE

Chinese New Year Celebration – Staten Island
Not to be left out, SI also hosts a celebration at Snug Harbor with an array of Asian arts and culture. The lineup includes Tibetan, Mongolian and Miao dance, plus a traditional lion dance and tea in the serene Chinese Scholar's Garden. $10 for adults, $8 for children under 12.

WinterGreen Festival – Lower East Side
The Museum at Eldridge Street celebrates Tu B'Shevat (the Jewish New Year for Trees) with planting projects, art activities, genealogy workshops, challah making, a Rhythm for Recyclables concert and a traditional holiday meal. Free with admission: $10 for adults, $6 for children 5-18, free for kids under 5.

Tu B'Shevat Celebration – Harlem
Central Park also celebrates the holiday at the Dana Discovery Center with an interactive musical performance of The Hat Seller and the Monkeys, and the shadow puppet show Under the Shade of the Mulberry Tree. FREE

Erin Lee and the Up Past Up Past Bedtime Band – Tribeca
This award-winning band will get your kids grooving at 92YTribeca with tunes about winter fun like snow, sledding and sneezing. $15, free for kids under 2.

Mother Goose Tales with the Three Bears – Greenwich Village
Beloved nursery rhymes are the focus of the latest puppet show by the Penny Jones Puppet Co. These simple, charming and inexpensive productions are a great way to introduce young tots to live theater. $5.

Kids ‘N Comedy: Indoor Kids Show – Chelsea
You can take the whole family to this G-rated stand-up comedy show starring really young comics... a.k.a. teenagers! $15 plus a one-item minimum.

Jazz Kids! – Greenwich Village
Jazz singer Amy Cervini’s interactive, hour-long jazz show is perfect for young hepcats. Kids can hear her belt out short and sweet standards, and get up and dance, sing along and even play with the instruments. $5

Hot Peas 'N Butter – Midwood
This group's tunes meld jazz, folk, rock and Latin and Afro-Caribbean. Catch the band at the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts today. $7

Bald Eagle Bird Walk – Inwood
We wrote an entire post about where to see our national bird in the wild. Today, try to spot them in Inwood Hill Park with help from the Urban Park Rangers. FREE

Kids Club Thirteen Presents: Artistic Antics at New Victory Theater – Midtown West
Are you a member of Kids Club Thirteen? It certainly has its privileges, including free admission to 13 family events throughout the year. Today, Kids Club Thirteen members can head to the New Victory Theater to engage in circus and puppet activities led by teaching artists. Visit the Kids Club 13 website for a list of member benefits and info on how to join. Free for Kids Club Thirteen members.

See all Sunday events.

Outside of NYC

Over in New Jersey, it's all about summer camp (yes, in January!) If you're looking to send your child to a Garden State day camp, you won’t want to miss open houses at popular programs like Deerkill.


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