Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

Mommy Poppins Winter Fest, Puzzle Day, Pac-Man, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 01/28/2026 - 8:14am

Kids can get to know the brass instruments during the Philharmonic Families program Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Kaufman Music Center

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Shake off last weekend's cabin fever as we inch slowly—and icily—into February this weekend. On Saturday, you can train the kids to obliterate the ghosts during Pac-Man's 45th anniversary bash at The Paley Center or puzzle with pros from Highlights Magazine on National Puzzle Day.

Sunday's main event is, of course, our own FREE Winter Festival and Camp Fair at Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal. We'll have a fun snow globe photo-op, plus tons of kid-friendly entertainment, and the whole family is invited to get to know some of NYC's top summer camp providers through hands-on fun.

Looking ahead to next week, book your tickets now to see the next generation of Broadway stars at Broadway Bound's Empower State of Mind Benefit, set for Monday night at City Winery. All proceeds support the org's tuition-free programming for talented local kids.

31 Free and Fun Activities in NYC February 2026 for Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 01/26/2026 - 10:56am

The Skyscraper Museum invites families to get hands-on while learning about the skyline. Photo by Mommy Poppins

February is short, sweet, and full of free things to do in NYC with kids. Our top picks for the best free activities for kids this February include the Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival, the Great Backyard Bird Count, and the annual Ice Sculpture Show on Governors Island. Plus, we're kicking off the month with our own Winter Festival and Summer Camp Fair this Sunday in Brooklyn.

MLK Weekend 2026 in New York City: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 01/16/2026 - 9:34am

Pay homage to the life and legacy of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a celebration at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo by Winston Williams

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this long MLK weekend.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in New York City offers plenty of opportunities to honor the man and his mission. Kids can check out the FREE BAM-hosted tribute to the Civil Rights leader, head to the Brooklyn Children's Museum for two days of service, storytelling, and song, salute the Freedom Quilters of Gee's Bend at Wave Hill, or hear a joyful concert courtesy of the Young People's Chorus of NYC.

The long weekend also gives families an extra day to hit Space Glide at NYSCI or register for season-long classes at TADA! Musical Theater.

If you're ready to tackle summer camp, Mommy Poppins is hosting a FREE Winter Festival and Camp Fair on Sunday, February 1, at Atlantic Terminal—register today so we can save you a spot! Expect kid-friendly fun, plus a chance to meet and play with a variety of summer camp providers to find the perfect fit for your city kids!

New Year's Eve Weekend in New York City with Kids: Best Ways to Count Down to 2026

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 01/02/2026 - 9:15am

The big ball drop in Times Square is an unforgettable New Year's Eve sight, if you can handle the crowds! Photo by Michael Hull

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this New Year's holiday weekend.

It's time to ring in 2026, and you don't have to stay up until midnight on Wednesday to get in on the fun. Teens can count down to the New Year by making origami fortune cookies at the NYPL, families can take a first-day hike in Central Park or Prospect Park to start the year on the right foot, or watch the Coney Island Polar Bear Club members take their annual frigid dip in the Atlantic.

We've got picks for fun lasting all through the long weekend below, plus more fun on our list of fun things to do between Christmas and New Year's. It's also the last chance to check out many of our favorite holiday happenings.

Free Kids Week Programming in NYC Parks

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 01/01/2026 - 11:12am

Urban Park Rangers teach kids how to safely explore the natural world. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

If you need to stave off cabin fever during winter break, the New York City Parks Department has just the thing to get you out of the house. The Urban Park Rangers are hosting a slew of FREE “Kids Week” programs. Immerse your kids in the natural world.

28 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC in January 2026 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 01/01/2026 - 10:42am

Head to the Prospect Park Audobon Center when school is out for some fun, free programming. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

If your bank account needs a rest, fear not: We've found 28 FREE things to do in January to keep New York City families busy all month long.

Though most of the big holiday attractions in NYC are packing up the tinsel this month, January celebrations, including the Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem and BAM's annual tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., are just around the corner. Plus, Battery Park City's KindieRock series kicks off at the end of January, so little ones have a warm spot to shake their sillies out, and skating fans (even beginners!) can help Wollman Rink break a World Record.

Top Things To Do with Kids in NYC in January 2026, from MP Editors

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 12/28/2025 - 10:52am

Museo del Barrio's The Three Kings Day Parade takes over the streets of East Harlem Photo by Mommy Poppins

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!

New York City New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 12/26/2025 - 10:47am

The ball drops at noon at CMOM! Photo courtesy of the museum

New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and there are lots of ways to ring in 2026 in New York City with kids, even if staying up late is not on your family's agenda. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations, including Times Square's legendary ball drop. Our family-friendly picks include the fireworks over Prospect Park and a special Big Apple Circus performance. However you welcome the new year, we hope it's a blast.

You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide for NYC Families, and be sure to check out our post on fun things to do over Christmas vacation.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

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