Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

This weekend, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art will each host screenings of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with live musical accompaniments. — This weekend, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art will each host screenings of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” with live musical accompaniments.

As we count down the days until Christmas, be sure to make time for some pre-holiday fun at one of our festive picks. We’ve got a dash of opera, a pinch of puppetry, a heaping helping of winter wonderland, a sprinkling of parade and a smattering of Peanuts to add some spice to everyone’s week. Enjoy!

Beginning Wednesday, December 16

“The Barber of Seville”
The Metropolitan Opera
Various times
Rossini’s classic comedic opera returns to The Metropolitan Opera this Wednesday! Will Rosina find true love with the help of Figaro? Find out during this two-hour, family-friendly production conducted by Antony Walker. Sung in English, this performance is a great way to introduce children to the joys of live opera. (Plus, take advantage of special holiday pricing: For each full-priced ticket purchased through December 30, an audience member 18 or younger can attend for half-price.) Tickets start at $25. Runs through Saturday, January 2, 2016.

Saturday, December 19

La MaMa Kids: Winter Wonderland Presentation
First Floor Theatre & Club
11am
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? All ages are invited to the First Floor Theatre & Club for La MaMa Kids’ end-of-the-year celebration! La MaMa resident artists will combine music, theater, storytelling, dance, and puppetry in performances based on a “winter wonderland” theme. Tickets are $8.

“Lollipops for Breakfast”
Symphony Space
11am & 2pm
Join teaching artist Bonnie Duncan as she performs her sweet and silly puppet musical, “Lollipops for Breakfast,” at Symphony Space this Saturday. The show tells the tale of young Sylvie’s desire to make a lollipop for breakfast. As she tries to make the perfect lollipop from scratch, she and her pet bird get lost in a pop-up cookbook and battle candy machines. Audiences might recognize the performance as a sequel to Duncan’s play “Squirrel Stole My Underpants,” which she performed last fall at Symphony Space. Little ones will be delighted by the show’s live music and colorful visuals. Tickets are $15.

8th Annual East Meets West Christmas Parade
Parade begins at Canal & Mulberry Streets
1pm-4pm
Downtown Manhattan’s Chinatown and Little Italy will unite for the 8th Annual East Meets West Christmas Parade this Saturday! The parade will begin at Canal and Mulberry Streets and end at The Bowery and Worth Street. Afterwards, all ages can enjoy musical performances and live entertainment. This event is free.

Saturday, December 19-Sunday, December 20

“A Charlie Brown Christmas”
Metropolitan Museum of Art; Carnegie Hall
Various times
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the television special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” created by Charles M. Schultz. Steven Reineke and the New York Pops are returning to Carnegie Hall on Sunday to celebrate the occasion! Recommended for ages 5-10, this family concert will feature a sing-a-long and a few other special surprises that will spread holiday cheer. Tickets for the Carnegie Hall screening start at $10.

The Metropolitan Museum will also screen the Christmas special on Saturday and Sunday with live accompaniment by the Rob Schwimmer Trio,plus a holiday sing-along. Children under the age of 4 will not be admitted to the Met Museum screening. Tickets for the Met Museum screening start at $45.

Young Actors at Strasberg

Young Actors at Strasberg&nbsp;offers a comprehensive array of acting programs for students in grades 2 &ndash;&nbsp;12. Classes provide kids and teens with a foundation in Lee Strasberg's Method Acting and the tools to succeed in the professional industry &ndash;&nbsp;all while maintaining a fun and playful environment. Programs are tailored to encompass students at all levels, from those just beginning their acting journey to Broadway veterans and professional child actors. Young Actors at Strasberg alumni include Lady Gaga, Sophia Lillis, Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Rosario Dawson! Young Actors&nbsp;Programs are available online and in-person at our New York Campus, located in Union Square. Saturday, After-School and Online classes are offered during the traditional school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and Monday through Friday day camps and intensives are held in&nbsp;July and August. About The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute: Founded in 1969 by Lee and Anna Strasberg, The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute is the only school that teaches Lee Strasberg's work in its complete and authentic form. The Institute's goal is to provide students with a craft that will help them create a reality and respond truthfully in imaginary circumstances, regardless of the style or form of material being used. LSTFI is proud to have award-winning alumni from around the world working as writers, directors, and actors in all mediums.

Joe's Music & Dance Academy

Private and group music lessons &amp; dance classes for Guitar, Bass, Voice, Violin, Viola, Cello, Upright Bass, Drums, Piano, all woodwind &amp; brass instruments, Choir, Preschool Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Step, African and Modern Dance and more. Helping thousands of students begin and continue on their musical journey since 1998!

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers year-round, community-based dance and music programming in a fully inclusive and nurturing environment, located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. The School&rsquo;s diverse and professional faculty provides progressive and non-competitive instruction with all of our classes accompanied by live music. Though we are a non-recital school, there are opportunities for students to perform and for parents to see their dancers in action.