From New Year's Day to MLK weekend, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don't miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in New York City this month.

The new year gets off to a thrilling (and chilling) start when Coney Island Polar Bear Club members plunge into the freezing Atlantic on Wednesday, January 1, and families are welcome to join in (or just watch, which I recommend). Catch up with the Three Kings as they hand out gifts on the Lower East Side, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at BAM's always-moving tribute. Close down the first month of 2026 by helping Wollman Rink break a World Record!

From Disney on Ice to maple sugaring, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in New Jersey this month.

A new year brings a new roster of warm and cozy post-holiday fun. Escape the cold and treat the family to warm indoor festivals, including the decadent Dessertopia and a festival of furry friends, Super Pet Expo. Or, layer up and brave the outdoors for Maple Tree Tapping or the Mount Holly Fire and Ice Festival.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  

Looking for FREE things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this January? Read on for dozens of great options.

As spectacular as the holidays are in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, all of the celebrations can take a toll on the family budget. So we've rounded up tons of free activities in January, from Family Free Night at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, where kids can explore STEM-themed exhibits and try out the toddler rock wall, to a K-Pop Demon Hunters Party at the Ossining Public Library.

January is also the start of the maple-sugaring season in the area, and you can kick it off with FREE Backyard Sugarin' at Muscoot Farm.

Coming off the holiday season, Atlanta parents truly appreciate free things to do in January. After all, creating holiday magic isn't cheap and our bank accounts could use a month to catch up. Luckily, we've found free events and activities in Atlanta throughout the month of January—from MLK Day parades in Buckhead, Old Fourth Ward, and Lawrenceville to the return of Braves Fest and free storytimes in between. 

Besides our list of fun, free events in January, we also have an entire guide dedicated to saving money and having fun: Free Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids. This Atlanta catalog has the best scoop on Free Museum Days, Free Things to Do on Cold and Rainy Days, and much more! Happy savings for the New Year!

From New Year's Day to MLK weekend and beyond, January is packed with free activities for Orlando kids. Don’t miss our favorite FREE things to do in Orlando with kids this month!

Our wallets are in need of a breather for January after the great spending sprees of December. Here are fun, FREE events in Orlando this January to enjoy memorable experiences without straining your budget. These awesome, free activities in January 2026 include Three Kings Day in Osceola, Cops 'N Cars for Kids in Oviedo, Get Hook'd on Lake Monroe in Sanford, and more. MLK parades and events take place in Downtown Orlando, Kissimmee, Eatonville, Winter Park, Ocoee, and Winter Garden. And that's just the beginning!

These are just some of our favorite things to do in January for Orlando kids; we're adding more events to our Orlando events calendar every day.

Free things to do in Los Angeles always provide a nice break to your wallet after the spending spree in December, and lucky for us Angelenos, there are plenty of them in January. From walks in nature to the Oshogatsu Family Festival to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parades and days of service, January's best events are 100% FREE! So, give your credit cards a rest while enjoying our top picks for free activities in Los Angeles with kids. 

For more free things to do in Los Angeles with kids, visit these always-free, kid-friendly LA museums, discover free museum days for kids in Los Angeles, and browse our Guide to Free Things to Do in Los Angeles with Kids.