Picks of the Week: December 17-23

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the city, there are fun things to do for you and the kiddies. So venture into the crowds if you dare, for shows and Santa sightings everywhere.

Tuesday, December 18-Sunday, December 23

Mummenschanz
NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
Various times
Mummenschanz, the Swiss mask theater troupe made famous on the first season of “The Muppet Show,” is celebrating its 40th anniversary with their new show, “40 years.” Families with kids ages 6 and up will be enchanted by the performance group’s miming abilities and colorful props. Tickets start at $48.

Saturday, December 22

“The Snow Maiden”
Walt Whitman Theatre
6 pm
Want to see a holiday show other than The Nutcracker this year? Head over to the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts’ Walt Whitman Theatre for their performance of The Snow Maiden, the tale of a girl who’s transformed into a figure of snow and ice by Grandfather Frost. Children ticketholders will receive a candy gift box. Presented in Russian with English subtitles. Tickets start at $35.

This Week

Photos with Santa
Various locations
Various times
Santa Claus is coming to town! The man in red will make appearances at ABC Carpet and Home, Rockefeller Center Cafe, The Plaza Hotel, and (of course) Macy’s Herald Square. Kids can tell Kris Kringle what they want for Christmas and have their picture taken. For a complete list of Santa sightings, check out our Meeting Santa in the City roundup.

Athletic Association of Yorkville Youths

Serving the families and children of NYC for over 50 years with high-quality recreational activities that foster life-lessons which empower young people to succeed beyond sports. Our programs encourage positive attitudes and growth through teamwork and sportsmanship, attendance, fair play, respect, hard work, integrity and fun. Your child can participate in clinics and leagues in such sports as baseball, basketball, flag-football, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, wrestling, track, and tennis. We also offer weekly dodgeball tournaments, drama and musical theater workshops, and after school programs.

Ivy Camps USA

Ivy Camps USA is a premium online provider of engaging after-school classes, holiday camps, summer camps, and personalized tutoring. Their instructors come from the&nbsp;top 10 US universities and love to inspire and mentor emerging minds. Extracurricular classes, holiday camps, and summer camps are offered in STEM, Business Leadership, and Arts, Media &amp; Communication for ages 6-14. Tutoring programs focus on supporting students academically, developing a mentoring relationship, and rekindling a love of learning. Ivy Camps USA is known for exceptional programming that kids love and parents trust.

Saf-T-Swim

For over 35 years, Saf-T-Swim Swim School has been teaching lifesaving swimming skills throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and now Little Neck. The school is proud to be Long Island's #1 swim school and a leader in water safety education. With swim programs for infants as young as 4 months, beginners, and advanced swimmers, Saf-T-Swim offers swimming programs for every age and skill level. Discover why generations of Long Islanders have trusted Saf-T-Swim time and time again with equipping their little ones the essential skill of swimming. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;