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.

Play On! Studios

Play On! Studios offers theater day camps and after-school classes on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won't soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games! Creative Drama Camps are perfect for kids entering grades K-4. Campers will work each week to put on a brand-new show! Each session, they will receive a script, rehearse a production, make a set and costumes, and perform their play. Kids will also play drama games, play outside (weather permitting), and have tons of fun! Musical Theater Camps are aimed at kids entering grades 4-9. In Musical Theater Performance Camp, campers put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips, and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show! During the school year, classes are great for beginners or more experienced actors - sing, dance, and put on a play! Whether your child is just starting out, or ready for Broadway, we&rsquo;ve got the class for them. Classes are available for grades PreK-8, after school or on Saturdays! Come play with us. &nbsp;

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.

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.