28 Fun Events to Keep Your Kids Busy This Winter Break in NYC
How to make the most of winter break in NYC with your kids!
Winter break is here, and if you’re looking for ways to keep the kids entertained while school’s out, we’ve got you covered! NYC is full of fun activities that’ll keep them busy, excited, and having a blast all season long. From exhibits to outdoor adventures, there’s something for every kid to enjoy. Check out these 28 awesome events happening this winter break in NYC!
Psst…Check Out Three Kings Day Events Around New York City 2026
Manhattan
Big Apple Circus
Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, Amsterdam Ave & W 62nd St., Upper West Side
Through Jan. 4, see website for schedule
All ages
Tickets start at $37
The magic of the Big Apple Circus is back! Witness the comedic genius of Johnny Rico, the jaw-dropping trapeze artistry of the Flying Maluendas from Chile, and the high-energy acrobatics and human pyramids of Ukraine’s Bingo Troupe. Feel the thrill as the Kung Fu Boys blend martial arts, dance, and precision choreography into a dazzling spectacle. This global cast of world-class performers will leave you breathless and cheering for more.
Silly Billy’s Comedy Magic Brunch Show
Laurie Beechman Theater at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd St., Midtown
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 10:30 – 11:30 am
Ages 5 – 8
$25; $25 food/drink minimum; free for children younger than 3
Join Silly Billy’s Comedy Magic Brunch Show – A laugh-out-loud, high-energy experience where kids giggle from the first trick to the last punchline. Enjoy a delicious prix-fixe brunch while NYC’s favorite family entertainer, Silly Billy, works his hilarious magic on the stage! Watch your kids light up with wonder, and who knows – they may even be asked to come up on stage to help make the magic happen!
The Grandest Princess Ball Ever
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant, 200 W 44th St., Midtown
Dec. 30 – Jan. 4, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Ages 8 and younger
$65
A royal celebration awaits you and your family with delightful desserts, singing, dancing, games, and a whole lot of magic. Watch your child’s face light up as they meet some of their favorite royal characters, and so many more surprises!
Kids Week: Meet the Nature Center Critters
Inwood Hill Park, W. 218th St. & Indian Road, Inwood
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Bring your kids to the park during Winter Break for this program led by Urban Park Rangers where kids will get to experience nature in a hands-on and fun way. From stick bugs to snakes, meet the animals that call the center their home.
The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave., Upper East Side
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Ages 10 and older
$45
Young wizards will enjoy a trip to the Metropolitan Museum, in search of art that echoes characters and enchanted objects in the Harry Potter books. You’ll track down serpents, Dumbledore look-alikes, and figures as scary as any Death Eater. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, but all-adult teams can also compete.
December School Vacation Week: Train Tales and Crafts
The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side
Dec. 30 – Jan. 2, daily, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 3 – 6
Free with Admission: $6-$24; free for children younger than 5
The New York Historical is celebrating this annual exhibition with all things trains! Each program includes a hello song, silly interactive activities, a train-themed story book reading, and a train-themed craft. Each day will feature a new book and craft activity.
Kids Week: Winter Birding for Kids
Central Park, West 90th Street and Central Park West, Upper West Side
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1 – 2:30 pm
All ages
Free
Bird watching can be fun, especially during the winter season. Learn all about different ways to identify birds in the parks.
Kids Week: Wigwam Gathering and Campfire
Inwood Hill Park, W. 218th St. & Indian Road, Inwood
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1 – 2:30 pm
All ages
Free
Explore and enter a recently restored Lenape wigwam and enjoy an afternoon by a warm campfire. Plus, learn how to use a bow drill and other methods to start a fire.
Kids Week: Winter Nature Crafts
Inwood Hill Park, W. 218th St. & Indian Road, Inwood
Friday, Jan. 2, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Let the winter season inspire you to create crafts from things found in nature.
Bronx
Magical Matt
Melrose Library, 910 Morris Ave., Morris Park
Wednesday, Dec. 29, 4 – 5 pm
All ages
Free
Using his magical talents, slapstick comedy, and zany humor, Magical Matt will have the entire audience amazed and cracking up as he performs his engaging magic show. This event highlights fantasy and imagination, reinforcing the library’s role in fostering reading and creative exploration.
Kids Week: Nature Puppet Show
Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park, 1702 Crotona Ave., Crotona Park East
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
The Urban Park Rangers welcome you for some nature-themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in the local parks.
Kids Week: Campfire Story Time
Van Cortlandt Nature Center, 246th Street and Broadway, Riverdale
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a cozy campfire and storytelling session. Rangers will read books and use puppets paired with visual props.
Kids Week: Oh Deer! Deer Exploration Hike
Section 2 Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park, Bruckner Blvd. and Wilkinson Ave., Pelham Bay
Friday, Jan. 2, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Oh deer! Learn more about this majestic species and explore the park in search of signs and traces of its presence.
Brooklyn
Empire Skate of Mind
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
Wednesdays – Fridays, 2 – 5 pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 5 pm through April 12
Ages 4 and older
$15 admission; $10 skate rental; $8 bring your own skates
Empire Skate of Mind brings roller skating to BCM’s rooftop terrace—disco music, all-ages fun, and a nod to the legendary Empire Roller Rink that made skating history in the neighborhood.
Kids Week: Sensory Perception Hike for Kids
Canarsie Park, Seaview Ave & Remsen Ave., Canarsie
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a walk through Canarsie Park using your senses of touch, smell, sight and hearing to explore the natural world.
Kids Week: Winter Scavenger Hunt
Irving Square Park, Knickerbocker Ave. and Weirfield St., Bushwick
Wednesday, Dec. 31, noon – 1 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a scavenger hunt! Search high and low for the natural wonders hiding just under your nose.
Kids Week: Survival Skills for Kids
Fort Greene Park Visitor Center, Willoughby Ave. & Washington Park, Fort Greene
Friday, Jan. 2, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Learn basic outdoor skills such as shelter building, fire making and survival skills.
Show Up, Kids! Adventure! Physical Interactive Family Comedy
PlayWellBrooklyn, 94 9th St, Suite 218, Gowanus
Friday, Jan. 2, 5 – 6 pm
Ages 3 – 8
$30
The acclaimed, interactive family comedy “Show Up, Kids!” is partnering with PlayWell Brooklyn on their new physical activity show, “Show Up, Kids! Adventure!” The main attraction didn’t show up, so hapless host Pete gets the kids (and their grownups) to help create an adventure story on the spot – complete with physical activity, curious exploration, outrageous locations, silly costumes, and brave characters.
Queens
Hibernation Station
Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 11 am – noon
Ages 4 – 5
$10 per child with one adult
Curious about who is sleeping through the winter? Learn about hibernating animals, enjoy a nature walk on the trails looking for critter burrows, and meet live animals whose wild relatives are tucked in their winter beds.
Kids Week: Ranger Games
Elmhurst Park, Elmhurst Park Grand Ave. Entrance, Elmhurst
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Spend an afternoon of fun with the Urban Park Rangers playing and learning new and exciting nature games.
Winter Wildlife: Bugs in Winter
Alley Pond Environmental Center, 229-10 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1 – 2:30 pm
Ages 5 – 7
$30
What happens to bugs in the winter? Why do they leave and where do they hide? Find out the answer to all these questions when you learn about what happens to bugs during the winter. Be prepared to meet several real-life insects and go on a nature walk.
Space Glide at the New York Hall of Science
New York Hall of Science, 4701 111th St., Corona
Wednesdays – Sundays, 10 am – 5 pm through Feb. 22
All ages
Included with $19-$22 admission; $6 during free admission hours on Fridays from 2-5 pm
This immersive skating experience, set in deep space, has landed at the New York Hall of Science! The indoor rink is made of “Glice,” an eco-friendly, polymer-based, ice-like substance, which does not require skates. Visitors can glide in booties provided by NYSCI, making it fun and accessible to all ages and skill levels. The rink features projections onto the Glice and around the room to simulate floating through space.
Kids Week: Survival Skills for Kids
Astoria Park, Hoyt Ave. North and 19th St., Astoria
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn what it takes to survive the winter elements. Rangers will go over map reading skills, building a tent, and the basics of fire building. Team up with your family and bond over these team-building activities.
Kids Week: Gather ‘Round the Campfire and Tree Cookie Crafts
Poppenhusen Playground, 20th Ave. & 123rd St., College Point
Friday, Jan. 2, 1 – 2 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a cozy campfire while making a tree cookie craft. Dress for the weather and bring a blanket!
Staten Island
Kids Week: All About Owls Hike and Craft
Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave., Willowbrook
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 11 am – noon
All ages
Free
Advanced registration required
Learn all about the many species of owls that you can find on Staten Island. End the afternoon with an owl nature craft.
Binx the Reptile Guy: Dino Scales & Tails
Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Randall Manor
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 4-5 pm
Ages 8 and younger
Included with $8 admission
Join Binx the Reptile Guy and a live cast of real reptiles – like sulcata and Russian tortoises, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and pythons Ed & Eddie – for a fun, educational, and interactive experience. Designed for young audiences and their caregivers, this show blends prehistoric wonder with hands-on animal encounters and engaging storytelling with Binx the Reptile Guy.
Kids Week: Campfire Story Time
Willowbrook Park, Richmond Ave., Victory Blvd., Ashworth Ave., and Forest Hill Road, Willowbrook
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11 am – noon
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a cozy campfire and storytelling session. Rangers will share engaging and educational stories about wildlife and nature.
Kids Week: Animal Charades
DeMatti Park Fieldhouse in De Matti Park, 430 Tompkins Ave., Rosebank
Friday, Jan. 2, 11 am – noon
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn about our local wildlife by acting out some favorite animals and their adaptations to living in New York City!
Psst… Check Out Post-Midnight New Year Celebration to Kick Off America’s 250th in Times Square
