All Weekend

Circus in a Trunk – Tribeca
The Piccolini Trio returns to the Canal Park Playhouse with a wacky show featuring old-world circus acts by three multi-talented clowns. They play all the parts and pull all of their props out of an antique trunk. $20

MulchFest – Citywide
If your Christmas tree is still standing, this weekend is the time to recycle it. Bring it to one of the Parks Department's designated sites and watch it get chopped up into mulch that's used to nourish plantings at city green spaces. FREE

Hanna and the Moonlight Dress – East Village
The 14th Street Y mounts an interactive musical adaptation of Itzhak Schweiger-Dmi'el's children’s book Hanna's Sabbath Dress. Kids can help the actors create paper masks, costumes and various set pieces used in the production. $15 per person, $50 per family.

New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show – the Bronx
You only have until January 16 to see this amazing display, featuring more than 140 NYC landmarks created out of natural materials with model trains running through the landscape. An added attraction is Thomas the Tank Engine and Driver Sam, who'll hang with kids after a short interactive performance. $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 2-12, free for kids under 2.

Saturday, January 7

Birding: Eagles – Inwood
We wrote an entire post about bald eagle watching in and near NYC. Now's the time to catch them as they fly south for the winter over the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Today, Urban Park Rangers help families spot the magnificent birds in Inwood Hill Park. FREE

Camels and Kings Workshop: A Celebration of Gift Giving – Morningside Heights
Although Three Kings Day is officially on Friday, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine celebrates today with a family art workshop. Kids will hear the story of the Three Wise Men, and then craft gift boxes, costumes and glittering crowns. $8 per adult-child pair. Advance reservations recommended.

Whitney Wees and Family Fun Workshops – Upper East Side
The Whitney kicks off a new season of its fantastic series of family art workshops this weekend. Whitney Wees offers tots an opportunity to explore faces throughout the galleries, and then create their own art. Family Fun Art Workshop: The Art of Experimentation for the elementary school set focuses on Aleksandra Mir's video installation The Seduction of Galileo Galilei, which examines the connection between science and art. Afterward, families will conduct their own art experiments. Advance registration is a must. $10 per family per workshop.

Live Wolf Encounter – Upper West Side
The American Museum of Natural History hosts three sessions of live wolf encounters today. Families can get up close and personal with Atka, an Arctic gray wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York, and learn all about the endangered species. $12.

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

Canal Park Playhouse Classic Film Series: The Little Rascals – Tribeca
Introduce your kids to Spanky, Darla, Alfalfa and the rest of the gang at these afternoon screenings of the original shorts, not that awful '90s movie. The lineup includes Waldo's Last Stand, School's Out and Our Gang Follies of 1938, preceded by classic Casper and Popeye cartoons, just like the old days. $9.

R & R Saturdays – Upper West Side
The free family fun at the JCC in Manhattan continues with instrument making workshops, live Afro-Carribean dance and drumming performances, storytelling, indoor games and outdoor fun in the newly renovated rooftop playground, weather permitting. There are activities for parents too, like a live a cappella concert, craft sessions and yoga. FREE

Aga-Boom – Upper West Side
This European-style clown trio will delight all ages with interactive, comedic acts at Symphony Space. $25 for adults, $15 for children.

First Saturdays Family Fun: Beautiful Words, Beautiful Writing – Harlem
Teens can head to NYPL’s Schomburg Center to create art from words in these new family art workshops. Advance registration suggested. FREE

Meet the Performers: Attacca Quartet – Upper West Side
Catch the up-and-coming chamber music group at Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium. At this interactive concert, young listeners will learn about the process of collaboration, which is a must in chamber music. FREE

See all Saturday events.

 

Sunday, January 8

Brooklyn Three Kings Day Parade – Williamsburg
Although the famous Three Kings Day parade takes place in East Harlem on Friday, Kings County has its own procession, complete with live camels, floats, music and the Three Kings. FREE

Little Christmas and La Befana – Staten Island
More Three Kings Day fun: Meet La Befana (the old lady or witch that delivers gifts to children on the eve of the Epiphany in Italian culture), and celebrate the season with crafts, storytelling and festive fare at the beautiful Snug Harbor Cultural Center. FREE but reservations are required.

Billy Kelly and the Blahblahblahs – Tribeca
The 92YTribeca welcomes this dad and kiddie crooner for a goofy rock and roll show. Sing and giggle along as the band plays music from its recent release Thank You for Joining the Happy Club. $15, free for children under 2.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks – Upper West Side
The Film Society at Lincoln Center continues its family film screenings with this '70s classic. Three English children are evacuated from war-torn London to live in a small village—with a trainee witch. $6.

History Illuminated Family Program – Lower East Side
Families can marvel at the Museum at Eldridge Street's beautiful Victorian lighting and magnificent, newly refurbished stained glass windows. Learn how they were made, and then create your own light-inspired art. $15 per family.

Met Life Second Sundays for Families – Corona
My son and I recently visited the Queens Museum of Art for the first time, and we were blown away by the Panorama of the City of New York. Today, families can explore the famous installation at no cost, and also participate in art workshops inspired by this mini model of NYC. FREE

Clifford the Big Red Dog Live – Flatbush
Young fans of Norman Bridwell's series of books will enjoy this musical starring Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, Cleo, T-Bone and the rest of the gang. $10.

Stamp-Pede – Upper West Side
Symphony Space continues its Just Kidding family performance series with this jam-packed dance program. Catch a slew of percussive dance troupes, everything from tap to Irish dance, including the Chicago Tap Theatre, David Parker and The Bang Group, and Maya de Silva & Flamenco Revolucion. $15.

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats with Kids Club Thirteen – Upper East Side
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 Jewish Museum for a private tour of the museum’s exhibit, The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats, and enjoy a special Keats-themed art project and storytime. Visit the Kids Club Thirteen website for a list of member benefits and info on how to join. FREE for Kids Club Thirteen members.

See all Sunday events.

Outside NYC

Enjoy one last holiday blast on Long Island by seeing a musical adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life or a show about Frosty the Snowman before they close.

Now that it finally feels like winter, it's time to start thinking about skiing. There are a bunch of ski resorts in New Jersey that are perfect for a day on the slopes. My six-year-old downhill skier personally recommends the ski programs for kids at Campgaw and The Hidden Valley Club.

Don't forget: We have additional activity options in our Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our calendar.

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