While you may be celebrating that you made it through the holidays (and another year of parenting), you might feel a little less victorious about the state of the family budget. To save a few bucks after a spendy December and still keep the brood busy, check out these no-cost events and activities for January. From a day of art and theater to a complimentary afternoon at the zoo, these events are almost too good to be free! 

For more low-cost family activity ideas, see our Boston winter fun guide.

It's a new year, so start it off right by getting out at one of these fun events around Houston. Who knows if we will actually get a winter this year, but just in case you need ideas for fun indoor activities, check out Houston's best indoor playgrounds and rock climbing gyms, or a unique experience like free classes for kids - from painting to coding - at your favorite area stores.

And while Christmas is technically over, many holiday festivals are still up and running through the first few weeks of January, so you can still check out the beautiful holiday lights at Zoo Lights, Festival of Lights in Moody Gardens, Sugar Land's Holiday Lights, and Magical Winter Lights for a little while longer. The stunning White Christmas at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, where you are surrounded by hundreds of white tropical butterflies, also closes soon - on Jan. 5! Read on for the best things to do around Houston in January with the kids.

Get your calendars ready. Here are the top 10 things to do with kids in New York City this January, half of which are FREE.

While January traditionally is a mellow time—especially when compared with the nonstop action of the holidays—there's no way you can hibernate all month, not with kids around. Luckily, you don't have to. Our January 2020 GoList is packed with annual favorites such as the Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem, Thomas the Train Engine at the NYBG, and the Black Comic Book Festival, plus some new shows, concerts, and other special experiences for kids (including the return of ice rink bumper cars to Bryant Park—exact dates are still to be announced). Don't forget that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is coming up, too, and the Brooklyn Children's Museum and others will host events just for families.

Find more seasonal fun in our NYC Winter Guide for Families.

As temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, there's no need to stay at home and get stir crazy. Queens has a lot to offer families when it comes to museums, libraries, bookstores, nature centers, and education programs—not surprising for one of New York’s most vibrant boroughs. If your budget is feeling the post-holiday pinch, this list of the best free activities you can enjoy with kids in Queens during the cold months can keep everybody in the family entertained.

Ready to venture out to other boroughs for more seasonal fun? Check out our Guide to Winter Events and Activities in NYC, including free things to do in Staten Island when it's freezing. You can also find out what’s happening daily in your neighborhood in our Event Calendar.

2020 is here and we are ready for some new adventures! In this GoList we've covered some super-fun January activities such as a full moon hike, a pajama party, and a live Judy Moody stage show. Looking for even more ideas to keep Connecticut kids busy? Check out our winter fun guide and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get a list of each week's highlighted events. Happy New Year!

The holiday season may be over but that doesn't mean the fun has to be. January in Boston brings an abundance of special performances, festivals, celebrations, and outdoor adventures for families. From a first day at the beach (with hot cider!) to a hands-on art fest to MLK Day community service opportunities, our picks for the month promise a stellar start to the new year. 

Explore our Winter Guide for plenty more indoor and outdoor activities to keep your family busy during the long, cold winter in New England. Here's to a fabulous, family-friendly 2020!

With the holidays over and the cold weather setting in, January may seem like a good time to hibernate—but not so for Westchester and Hudson Valley families! Our January GoList provides plenty of reasons for getting out and taking advantage of the compelling programs in our area. And, after the high cost of the holidays, you'll be glad to know that many of our picks are FREE!

The Best of the New York International Children's Film Festival returns for an encore screening, with a dozen short flicks hailing from around the world, and the circus comes to town when the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus brings its feats and daring to the local arena. For outdoor fun that embraces the season, bundle up for the Hudson Valley Rail Trail WinterFest, and if your kids are practically obsessed with poop, try Scat! Lest we forget the key holiday of the month, teach your kids about civic duty by finding a cause to lend a hand to on the annual MLK Day of Service. 

These are just a sample of the highlights we’ve identified for you—there are also shows, nature excursions, and more—so read on for more and consult our ever-growing Event Calendar for daily picks. Don’t worry: There’ll still be plenty of time to sit home by the fire in your jammies!