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Best Fun Free Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids January 2024

Visit the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum after hours to explore its Family Free Nights. Photo courtesy of the museum
Visit the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum after hours to explore its Family Free Nights. Photo courtesy of the museum
12/29/23 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

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, ranging from live animal programs at the Pound Ridge Library to toddler-friendly nature treks at the Sheldrake Environmental Center, and even a free magic show at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting. January is also the start of the maple-sugaring season in the area, and you can kick it off with a Muscoot Farm backyard sugaring workshop.

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Please click through to our listings for full details including time and recommended ages. Some programs may require registration in advance.

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The Westchester Children's Museum invites families for silly fun at the museum's Toddler Beach. Photo courtesy of the museum
The Westchester Children's Museum invites families for silly fun at the museum's Toddler Beach. Photo courtesy of the museum

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Monday, January 1-Sunday, January 7, 2024

Museum Minis

Rye
Wednesdays, January 3-24, 2024
Drop in to the Westchester Children's Museum for singing, finger play, movement exercises, and silly fun at the museum's Toddler Beach. This mommy-and-me class is ideal for toddlers accompanied by a caregiver. READ MORE

Storytime Yoga at the Croton Free Library

Croton-on-Hudson
Saturdays, January 6-27, 2024
Introduce your little one to the benefits of yoga. A certified kids' yoga instructor leads participants in acting out their favorite stories through yoga, music, movement, breath, and sound. This class is perfect for kids ages 6 weeks to 5 years old with a caregiver, but all are welcome. READ MORE

STEM Sparks - Snowflakes STEM

Rye
Saturdays, January 6-27, 2024
Drop by the Children's Room at the Rye Free Reading Room every Saturday for an introduction to STEM designed just for preschoolers. Sensory boxes are filled with open-ended activities and materials to boost fine- and gross-motor skills, and games to enhance problem-solving and decision-making skills through experimentation with different objects.  READ MORE

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!

Yonkers
Saturday, January 6, 2024
The Lenoir Preserve invites visitors to take a fascinating dive into the world of bugs with the American Museum of Natural History’s consulting entomologist Louis Sorkin and amateur entomologist Wyatt Hoffman. READ MORE

Celebrate Three Kings Day/Dia de Reyes

White Plains
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Families from all backgrounds are invited to celebrate and learn about the significance of Three Kings Day in this program at the White Plains Public Library. The program is led by the White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee. READ MORE

Family Scavenger Hunt

Mt. Kisco
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Kids and families are invited to a scavenger hunt in Merestead's meadow. Use clues to find the natural items hidden around the park. READ MORE

Backyard Sugaring

Katonah
Saturday & Sunday, January 6-7, 2024
Kick off maple sugaring season by making maple syrup right in your backyard! Meet at Muscoot's Sugar Shack to learn about the equipment you need, identifying sugar maples in all seasons, the right way to tap trees, and how to turn sap from maples in your yard into syrup on your pancakes. READ MORE

Hudson Highlands Nature Center Opening Weekend

Cornwall
Saturday & Sunday, January 6-7, 2024
Families can enjoy free admission all weekend long to the Wildlife Education Campus (formerly Wildlife Education Center) where you can visit live animals up close, get a complimentary souvenir (one per group/family), and enter a free raffle for a one-year HHNC membership.  READ MORE

World of Woodpeckers

White Plains
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Take a hike around Cranberry Lake and learn all about the woodpeckers that call the preserve home. Afterward, take a tour of the nature museum. READ MORE

Riverview Jazz Series

Croton
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Join the community for an afternoon of jazz at the Croton Free Library, featuring the legendary Bill Crow and friends. The program is held in the Ottinger Room. READ MORE

Paper Landscapes Workshop

Montrose
Sundays, January 7-14, 2024
Participants are invited to create mosaic collages using construction paper inspired by the impressionist landscape paintings in the exhibition that will be on display at Hendrick Hudson Free Library. READ MORE
Explore the joys of nature in the wintertime at the Sheldrake Environmental Center. Photo courtesy of the center
Explore the joys of nature in the wintertime at the Sheldrake Environmental Center. Photo courtesy of the center

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Monday, January 8-Sunday, January 14, 2024

Make Your Own Lotus Lantern

Croton
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Members of The Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project teach participants how to make a lantern using colored paper and wire frames! Enjoy a short educational presentation, including a short documentary on Korea, at the end of the class. READ MORE

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Igloo

White Plains
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Families are invited to learn about the current state of AI and future possibilities of the technology in the library's panoramic video room that features Igloo Vision technology. READ MORE

Saturday Studio at Dia Beacon

Beacon
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Kids can join a practicing artist for a workshop of art-making, material experimentation, and play at Dia Beacon. Designed for all ages, Saturday Studio is a family-friendly program that is most suitable for children ages 5 and up. READ MORE

Pound Ridge Library's Creature Feature

Pound Ridge
Saturday, January 13
Learn about amazing adaptations that animals have and why they have them! Educators from the Stamford Museum & Nature Center introduce kids to live animals in this special program, from a lizard with a blue tongue to our area’s only marsupial. READ MORE

DUP-Second Saturdays at Sheldrake: Where is Everybody?

Larchmont
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Sheldrake naturalists discuss migration, hibernation, and what our feathered and furry friends do in winter. Then, visitors head out on the trail and explore together. READ MORE

Children's Art Workshop: Celebrate Martin Luther King

Yonkers
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Kids are invited to a special art workshop honoring Martin Luther King with artist Shanequa Beneitz at the Blue Door Art Center. Children with special needs are always welcome.  READ MORE

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Monday, January 15-Sunday, January 21, 2024

Nature Discovery for 2s and 3s

Larchmont
Thursday, January 18
Get outside in winter with other families at Sheldrake, as you discover nature with your little one. This class is designed to expose children to the joys of nature at a young age toward the goal of cultivating a life-long love of the natural world. Adventures for wee ones might include studying animal tracks, noticing nests, identifying over-wintering animals, nature activities, and storytime. READ MORE

Teen Cooking: Chili

Rye
Friday, January 19, 2024
The Rye Free Reading room invites teens to the Meeting Room for this cooking class where they learn to make Mexican chili.  READ MORE

Family Storytime: Wolf Moon & Conservation

White Plains
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Families are invited to the White Plains Public Library to celebrate the Wolf Moon, which falls on Thursday, January 25, and learn about wolf conservation efforts with a storytime reading of Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup: Trumpet Finds Love! A craft activity follows the reading. READ MORE

Wintering Eagles Hike

Croton-on-Hudson
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Get out and enjoy the fresh air on a guided hike through scenic Croton Point Park, and learn to spot bald eagles in their winter habitat. Learn about our national bird's history and behavior. READ MORE

Fireside Nature Storytime

White Plains
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Cranberry Lake Preserve invites visitors to bundle up and drop by the nature preserve for a special nature-based storytime outside by the campfire. READ MORE

Family Free Night at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum

Poughkeepsie
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Come in after-hours and explore all of the museum exhibits for free at family free nights at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum.  READ MORE

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Monday, January 22-Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Super Saturdays: Magic with Melvin the Magnificent

Hudson
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Kids can enjoy a magic and comedy show that includes lessons about fire safety during this event at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting. The show features special guest Hocus Pocus, the magical rabbit. READ MORE

Cooking with Kids at Rye Free Reading Room

Rye
Monday, January 29, 2024
The whole family is invited to this kid-friendly cooking program. Participants use a few simple ingredients to create a tasty snack together with the children’s librarian. READ MORE

Tune Bugs Music Program at HCL

New Rochelle
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Parents and kids are invited to join Miss Lisa and her guitar for a fun-filled music and movement class at Huguenot Children's Library. Kids will sing, dance, and have fun with shakers, scarves, animal puppets, a parachute, and more. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Westchester Children's Museum
Sheldrake Environmental Center
Sheldrake Environmental Center
Rye Free Reading Room at Rye Public Library
Huguenot Children's Library