Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Newsies, Three Kings Day, Winter Wonderland

Disney's Newsies starts its seven-day run at the White Plains Performing Arts Center this weekend. Photo by Jack Davey

If you feel the need to chill out after the rush of the holiday hullaballoo, now is a great time for turning down the excitement a notch—but there’s still no shortage of fun things to do this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families.

As winter settles in, we’re especially fond of FREE and low-cost programs, as an antidote December’s typical expensiveness. Rounding out the holiday season is the FREE Three Kings Day Celebration featuring multicultural performance and cuisine, while the historic Candlelight Tour takes us back to a simpler time, when holiday traditions were less hectic. Another throwback is the presentation of two Charlie Chaplin silent films, presented on the big screen with the live piano accompaniment that was the norm back in its day. Or thoroughly unplug at Family Forest Time.

Read on for all this and more, then head to our Event Calendar and our newly published January GoList to plan ahead!

37 Things To Do in NYC This Winter with Your Toddler (Beyond Another Storytime)

Visit the astonishing world of butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory at the AMNH. Photo courtesy of the museum

Once the holiday season starts to fade and winter sets in, it's hard not to find yourself in a rut with your little one. We've built this list of 37 things to do with your toddler around New York City that will keep those blizzard blues away, from warm and toasty indoor activities to get-up-and-moving outdoor frolics. Eight of the suggestions are FREE activities.

Everything included below is just the right speed and time commitment for the toddler set—and won't have you dreading another trip wandering around the children's section of B&N, restocking the books as your little one pulls them down one after another!

Storytimes on Long Island for Children and Toddlers

A family outing enjoyed by all at BookHampton in East Hampton. Photo courtesy of BookHampton

It's always a good time to enjoy a good book and Long Island offers an array of storytimes -- many of which are free -- that will captivate your little listener.  From inspiring museums to cozy independent bookstores, storytimes are happening all over the island and many of these read-a-longs offer children the chance to express their own creative spirit with a fun craft or activity afterward. 

There is no shortage of indoor activities on Long Island during these chillier months. Be sure to check out Mommy Poppins’ Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for Long Island Kids. For more active indoor fun, you’ll love The Best Indoor Ice Skating Rinks for Long Island Kids

Things To Do in NJ This Weekend: Lights Festival, Winter Wonderland, Free Crafts & Storytimes

Travel through an illuminated wonderland at the Vernon Lights Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

If your new year's resolutions includes saving money, then this is your lucky weekend. Most events for New Jersey families in the debut weekend of 2020 are free! Take part in craft freebies at Lakeshore Learning and Zimmerli Art Museum. Bring the kids to storytime freebies like Grumpy Monkey Storytime and Story Snacks. And spend some no-cost time outdoors at the Winery Sunday Music Series and Holiday Light Show.

This weekend also marks the final opportunity to take part in seasonal favorites, including the 62nd Annual Model Railroad Show and Bergen County Winter Wonderland.

Find even more weekend options throughout NJ in our Winter Guide, including the Top Snow Tubing Spots for New Jersey Families. And look to our January GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Best New NJ Destinations for Kids That Opened in 2019

Jungle Jim & Jane is a high tech, indoor soft playground for children ages 0-8. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner

As we prepare to count down to the new year, we're looking back at all the wonderful new kid attractions that opened in New Jersey over the last year. We added a few new indoor play spaces, a cool playground outfitted with accessible equipment for kids of all abilities, and a museum dedicated to our iconic symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty. 

If you didn't get enough shopping during the holiday season, swing by the newly re-imagined Toys R Us store at Garden State Plaza. American Dream finally opened in October—and even though there’s only one store open so far, between the amusement park, indoor ice skating rink, and indoor ski slopes, you’ll find plenty to do. 

Read on for the coolest, brightest, and best new offerings for NJ kids.

How to Make Rock Candy with Kids

Teach your kids how to make rock candy for an easy rainy day project. Photo courtesy of Wikivisuals

Teach kids how to make rock candy for an edible rainy day activity. Making rock candy is also part science experiment, allowing kids hands-on learning with a few simple ingredients and kitchen tools.

Our easy rock candy recipe lets kids observe the crystallization process firsthand while making some pretty delicious treats. Sugar, water, and few more items found at home are all you need to turn your kitchen into a rock candy laboratory.

Read on for how to make rock candy with kids.

Tekkie Uni Brings Online Coding, Robotics, and Digital Art to Kids Everywhere

Ok, so here's some screen time parents can actually get behind! Thanks to the same web conferencing technology that probably powers your monthly board meetings, there's a remote weekly after school program that's busy turning young tech consumers into skilled creators and innovators by teaching them how to build apps, produce online videos, and even code robots. Yup, Tekkie Uni has been schooling kids in computer coding, robotics, and digital art since 2016 by connecting experienced teachers with small groups of students in virtual classrooms — and giving them skills that will undoubtedly serve them in today's tech-centric world.

Now, before you rejoice over the added bonus of saying buh-bye to the headache of after school pick up and drop off, read on to find out how Tekkie Uni works and what coding classes for kids they're currently offering for ages 8 to 18.

January GoList: Best Things To Do with LA and OC Kids This Month

Phew. Is it over? So much planning goes into December that it's a little hard to believe when it turns up in our rear view mirror; but the calendar page flips, and it's all eyes on 2020! Luckily we don't have to wait too long until the next holiday weekend (complete with its own parade), and of course January is the perfect time to enjoy a day of skiing or sledding. We've got 11 don't-miss events to recommend in January; so recycle that tree and fasten your seatbelts for another year of fabulous ways to enjoy being a family in LA!

Pages