Photo by Marty Sohl/ Metropolitan Opera
For those who don’t want to miss the city’s best holiday offerings—feel free to consult our seasonal checklist with everything from the slickest ice skating rinks to the most kid-friendly “Nutcracker” shows! If you still have some room left in your schedule, be sure to check out the below events happening all over the city this weekend. And we also compiled a roundup of the best theater shows over the next couple of weeks. You can find it here. Happy Holidays!
STARTING FRIDAY
GKids, one of the biggest distributors of animated films for children, is screening 18 of its favorite international animated movies at the IFC Center. Grab the popcorn! (Friday through January 2)
Check out a unique holiday circus at the Master Theater with performers from every act around—whether Cirque du Soleil or the Big Apple Circus. See jugglers, clowns, magicians, acrobats, and animal acts. Ready the elephants! (Friday through December 29)
The preschool set and beyond are invited to celebrate this special time of the year with “Yo Gabba Gabba!,” the hit Nick Jr. TV series, which is hosting its first ever live holiday show at Beacon Theater. Sing and dance! (Friday-Sunday)
Broadway leading lady Ashley Brown–of “Mary Poppins” fame–is singing the holiday classics with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Enjoy such hits as “Winter Wonderland,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Bring on the cheer! (Friday)
STARTING SATURDAY
Julie Taymor’s “The Magic Flute” at the Met Opera is an electrifying production filled with bright colors and high energy. Expect dancing bears, larger-than-life flamingos, and the music of Mozart. Prepare to be enchanted! (Saturday through January 4)
In the East-Meets-West Christmas Parade, the Little Italy Merchants Association and the Chinatown Partnership unite to celebrate the overlap between their culturally diverse neighborhoods. Even Santa Claus will make an appearance. Ho, ho, ho! (Saturday)
New Jersey’s Liberty Science Center is kicking off its 12 Days of Science this Saturday. Activities include nitrogen ice cream demos, indoor snow making, live penguin meet and greets, and a screening of “The Polar Express” in the IMAX Dome. Countdown the holidays! (Saturday-January 1)
Kids can design their own puppets—inspired by the work of legendary Muppeteer Jim Henson—and then perform with them in a short puppet show. Commence the creativity! (Saturday)
The New-York Historical Society plans to keep kids busy during school vacation with its Seasons of Light scavenger hunt. Search high and low for symbolic and decorative forms of light. Let the hunt begin! (Saturday through January 1)
Make a winter wonderland in a jar with the Cooper-Hewitt Design Center’s family-friendly snow globe design workshop sponsored by Target Design Kids. It’s time for snow! (Saturday)
Join “Big Snow” author Jonathan Bean at the Bankstreet Bookstore, where he will do a reading of his popular children’s book complete with a puppet show. Winter is here! (Saturday)
SUNDAY
It wouldn’t be the holidays without a reading of the classic Clement C. Moore poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The Rt. Rev. Andrew M.L. Dietsche, Bishop of New York, will narrate the tale at the Church of the Intercession. Happy Christmas to all! (Sunday)
Sit back and hear the tale—spoken in Russian with English supertitles—of how a young girl morphs into a lovely Snow Maiden in The Snow Queen at the Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College. Take your seat! (Sunday)
