Events: Top Kid-Friendly Holiday Celebrations This Week

Groove with Oran Etkin this Sunday, at The Jewish Museum. Photo via thejewishmuseum.org — Groove with Oran Etkin this Sunday at The Jewish Museum. Photo via thejewishmuseum.org

The holidays are a week away, and there are still plenty of great ways to get in on the festive spirit. Our favorites this week include two Hanukkah festivals, Christmas caroling, a winter celebration, and a great kid’s concert. Check them out!

Monday, December 19

The 8th Annual Latke Festival

The Brooklyn Museum

6pm – 9pm

Celebrate the festival of lights with everyone’s favorite Hanukkah food: latkes! Come down to the Brooklyn Museum for latke tastings and find the coolest ways to make a potato pancake in NYC. Net proceeds go to The Sylvia Center, dedicated to helping decrease obesity and increase health by changing how we cook. General admission tickets are $70.

Wednesday, December 21

Make Music Winter

Throughout New York City

Earliest event begins at 11:30am, latest event ends at 7:30pm

Get in to the winter spirit with this all-day party, where you can help make the music! Featuring 13 different events throughout the day, you can dance in a percussion parade with the Brooklyn-born Antibalas, stroll through Central Park and enjoy classical music, or participate in the music itself with bells given out by artist Tom Peyton. Free

Saturday, December 24

Christmas Caroling Under the Arch

Washington Square Park

5pm – 7pm

Celebrate Christmas Eve with some traditional carols in the famous Washington Square Park. The Rob Susman Brass Quartet will accompany all of the singers in this joyful welcoming of Christmas. Songbooks will be handed out, but don’t worry–it will feature all of your favorite classics! Free

Hanukkah Family Day

Museum of the City of New York

11am – 2pm

Welcome the Festival of Lights with a tour through the museum’s collection of Jewish and Hanukkah-related artifacts. Learn about the holiday and eat a traditional Hanukkah snack while you create a menorah before the holiday begins. Families and children are more than welcome! Free with museum admission

Sunday, December 25

Oran Etkin Family Concert

The Jewish Museum

11:30am – 12:30pm

Oran Etkin combines traditional Jewish music such as klezmer with jazz and African rhythms to create a fun and memorable style all his own. Welcome Hanukkah with a song, and don’t be afraid to get up and dance! Tickets are $13 for Jewish Museum members, $16 for general public.

Academics West

Academics West is an accredited high-support college preparatory school designed to meet the academic and social-emotional goals of its students. Our unique model allows for each student to benefit from a customized educational experience to ensure they are acquiring the skills necessary to navigate their post-secondary lives whether they attend college or pursue another path to future success. Students can select different tracks to construct the most beneficial program to suit their needs and goals. Unlike conventional education, this innovative model enables students to prepare for an ever-changing world that requires young people to have advanced executive functioning, interpersonal and leadership skills to become independent and resilient adults. &nbsp;

The Wild Center

The Wild Center, nestled within the breathtaking landscape of New York's Adirondack Park, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature. As visitors approach the Center, they are greeted by the Adirondack Mountains towering in the distance, setting the stage for an immersive adventure. Upon entering the 34,000-square-foot exhibit hall, guests are enveloped in a world of wonder and discovery. Interactive exhibits like Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions invite exploration, allowing visitors to delve into the rich biodiversity of the Adirondack region. The indoor experience also includes an opportunity to soar on Birdly--a one-of-a-kind VR experience. Also, get up close with an animal ambassador during one of many live animal encounters throughout the day. In addition to its indoor exhibits and programs, the Wild Center also boasts 115-acres of extensive outdoor amenities. One of the highlights in the award-winning Wild Walk. Visitors walk up a trail of bridges to the treetops of the Adirondack forest, 40 feet off the ground. Along the way, interactive exhibits provide insights into the flora and fauna that call the Adirondacks home, from songbirds to black bears. The rest of the campus features more ways to explore. Check out Patrick Dougherty&rsquo;s Stickwork sculpture, an all natural installation of woven sticks that will spark your imagination and nostalgia. Immerse yourself in Forest Music, take a naturalist-lead canoe trip, or get your roll on with Raquette River Roll, a brand-new, oversized, all-natural ball run experience opening in June 2024.

Manhattan Mandarin

Manhattan Mandarin runs the Mandarin after-school programs at over 40 schools nationwide, including St. Bernard's, Chapin, Allen-Stevenson, and Buckley. Whether in schools, students' homes, in the office, online, or on our beloved China trips, our teachers and tutors have helped hundreds of students of all ages master the Mandarin language on their own unique paths to fluency. Our philosophy has always been to make private lessons and classes perfectly tailored for each individual student. We look forward to working with you. - Jamie Keyte, Founder