All Weekend

Cirque Ziva – Midtown West
A December GOList pick: China's acclaimed Golden Dragon Acrobats swing into town this weekend for the New Victory Theater's nondenominational holiday show. Incredible athletic feats are the focus here, like hand-to-hand and bicycle balancing, plate juggling and spinning, and aerial arts, all performed in gorgeous traditional costumes. $19-$55

Puss in Boots/El Gato con Botas – East Harlem
Another December GOList pick: Gotham Chamber Opera's fantastical stage adaptation of the famous fairy tale opens at El Museo del Barrio's El Teatro. This hour-long family opera is performed with live actors and 28 eye-popping, bunraku-style puppets created by London's Blind Summit Theatre. $30-$175 for adults, $15-$87.50 for children under age 13

Christmas Tree Illuminations – Upper East Side & Little Italy
On Saturday, watch trees light up at Little Italy's Most Precious Blood Church and Greenwich Village's Jefferson Market Park. On Sunday, Carl Schurz Park and the Park Avenue Malls illuminate their arbors. All FREE. Find out about other festive NYC tree lightings.

The Nutcracker – Manhattan & Brooklyn
Multiple kid-friendly versions of The Nutcracker ballet dance into town this weekend, including productions by Valentina Kozlova's Dance Conservatory of New York on the Upper West Side, Dances Patrelle on the Upper East Side and a Hip Hop Nutcracker in Washington Heights. Valentina Kozlova: $20-$40; Dances Patrelle: $45-$85; Hip Hop: $10-$100. Find out about other family-friendly Nutcrackers.
 

Saturday, December 6

St. Nicholas Day – East Flatbush
Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas at the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum with a visit from Santa Claus who arrives on his horse (not reindeer). Other fun on tap includes arts and crafts, colonial music, period snacks and the lighting of the tree. $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-9

Carnegie Kids: Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem – Prospect Heights
NYC-born mom and her rootsy Americana string band play a no-cost concert at the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Enjoy toe-tapping tunes played on a fiddle, guitar, ukulele, stand-up bass and a drum set made from recycled materials. FREE

Family Affair: Winter Wonderland – the Bronx
Celebrate the season with a holiday-themed drop-in art activities at the Bronx Museum. FREE

See all Saturday events.
 

Sunday, December 7

Santa Rescue – Hudson Square
Enjoy an off-the-wall visit with the big red guy as old St. Nick gets stuck on the roof of the New York City Fire Museum and the firefighters get out their hook and ladder to save him. While watching the outdoor rescue is free, you can only take pics with Santa at the indoor holiday party. Advance tickets recommended. $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-12

Winter Family Day – Murray Hill
Meet Scrooge, Cratchit and various Ghosts of Christmas from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at the Morgan Library & Museum's annual fete. Other fun on tap includes puppet shows, holiday card making, medieval photo shoots and more. Free with admission: $18 for adults, $12 for children ages 13-16, free for kids under age 13

Christmas in Richmond Town & Traditional Tree Lighting – Staten Island
Experience an old-fashioned holiday at Staten Island's living history museum. Tour the period buildings, listen to Christmas carols and stories, snap photos with Santa, browse the holiday market, and take a horse and wagon ride. The tree lighting caps off the day of fun. $2, free for children under age 7 with additional fees for activities

New York Public Library Holiday Open House – Midtown West
Give to a great institution and get a party in return! New York Public Library members are invited to the main branch for puppet shows, storytelling, crafts, face painting, live music, caroling, treats, and face time with the Grinch, Scrooge, Mother Goose and other kid-lit icons. Just make an annual donation of $40 or more to get in.

Elska: Middle of Nowhere – Fort Greene
Head to BAM to experience the far-out tunes of Elska, a one-of-a-kind kindie rocker whose performances blend theater, storytelling and pop/techno music. $9

MTA Nostalgia Trains – Long Island City to the Lower East Side
Our final December GOList pick of the weekend: Take a retro ride with a swipe of your MetroCard. The MTA is running old-fashioned subways on the Sixth Avenue line between Queens Plaza and Second Avenue complete with authentic advertisements and overhead displays.

See all Sunday events.

Don't forget: We have additional seasonal fun in our Event Calendar and our Holiday Guide.