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Holiday Fun in and around New York December 2023

Holiday Fun in and around New York December 2023

Holiday Fun in and around New York December 2023

It’s December, meaning it’s time for New York to light up for the holidays. So dress warmly, grab some hot cocoa, and celebrate. We are excited to share the events our excellent partners are holding this season, so pack up the family and enjoy all that New York has to offer!

Christmas Spectacular 

Radio City Music Hall, NY, NY

Make this holiday season truly unforgettable. See the Rockettes live in the Christmas Spectacular, debuting on November 17 at Radio City Music Hall. Secure your tickets now and begin creating cherished memories.

PsstBest Apple Cider Doughnuts In and Near NYC

Crafts At The Cathedral

1047 Amsterdam Ave. 112 Street, NYC

845-661-1221

stjohndivine.org/crafts-at-the-cathedral

Visit Crafts at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine will return with 85 curated crafts artists from 15 states presenting. their finest original works in clay, wood, metal, paper, fiber, fashion, blown glass and mixed media. Show is from Dec 1-3. For tickets and show hours, admission and directions visit stjohndivine.org. 

 

Staten Island

Historic Richmondtown 

441 Clarke Avenue  

historicrichmondtown.org

This December, Historic Richmond Town will be transformed into a Dickens-style holiday wonderland where guests of all ages will find themselves immersed in holiday cheer. Guests can enjoy living history demonstrations, shopping for gifts, crafts, and commemorative items from the tinsmith, carpenter, and general store; an old-fashioned horse drawn carriage, a visit from Santa and his helpers, hot and tasty local eats, and much more that will bring on the jolly feel of the holiday spirit!

 

The 20th Annual Christmas Show at St. George Theatre 

35 Hyatt Street

stgeorgetheatre.com/the-christmas-show-20th-anniversary

Fri., Dec. 8 to Sun., Dec. 10 (five performances)

The Tradition Continues! Celebrating the 20th year, this two-hour production is a high-energy, rhinestone-studded series of songs and dances that the whole family will enjoy! The show revolves around a grandmother reading a Christmas story about what makes the holiday season so beautiful. Set in grandmother’s house, the story takes the audience on a magical journey through numerous scenes from the North Pole with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to Times Square, Clove Lake Park to The Rainbow Room, and culminates in a justifiably renowned Living Nativity. The show serves as a fundraiser for the St. George Theatre Restoration, Inc. 

 

Storybook Land’s Christmas Fantasy with Lights 

6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 

StorybookLand.com

South Jersey’s Christmas Tradition for over 30 years!  Watch as Santa Claus waves his magic wand and lights the park with over 1 million lights for the holiday season. All rides and snack bars are open. As seen on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight. Go online for ticketing and reservation information.

 

Westchester -Rockland Area

The 15th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop presented by Jenny Allen / Compass

Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, “North Pole on North Street,” 437 North Street, Greenwich, CT 06830

greenwichreindeerfestival.com

Santa and his three live reindeer return to Greenwich for the 15th year. Meet the reindeer, get your child’s photo with Santa (that benefits kids in crisis), write letters to Santa, enjoy the reindeer coloring station, and participate in the two Mercedes-Benz kids electric car raffles. Visit the beautiful Christmas shop and get your Christmas tree at Sam Bridge Nursery!

 

Holiday Happenings at Cross County Center

8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers, NY 10704

crosscountycenter.com/events

914-968-9570

With our outdoor setting, free up-close parking and family-friendly amenities, Cross County Center is a one-stop for holiday shopping, dining, and entertainment. Cross County Center will offer a real NYC Christmas experience right in the heart of Yonkers this month with the largest holiday tree in Westchester that you can walk-thru, Pop-Up Ice Skating Rink, Holiday Food Truck Market with Igloos and of course everyone’s favorite, photos with Santa!

 

Holiday Lane at American Christmas

tinyurl.com/holidaylane23

A Christmas Experience’ Unlike Any Other! This year’s “Holiday Lane at American Christmas” is twice the size and offers numerous opportunities for memorable holiday photos. An immersive in-door walk-through experience with 100,000 dazzling lights, 100 captivating animatronics in nine themed areas. Santa on site Wednesdays and Fridays! Now through December 22nd. Free parking. Prices vary. Check the website for details and tickets. 100% of net ticket proceeds will be donated to three nonprofit organizations!

 

Legoland Bricktacular 

39 Fitzgerald Street, Yonkers, NY 10710

914-775-6015

legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester

Ho-Ho-Whoa! Budding builders can get in the holiday spirit with LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester’s Holiday Bricktacular event starting this November! From November 25th to January 1st, LEGO lovers of all ages can witness each attraction transform into a winter wonderland, full of holiday LEGO creations, merry LEGO experiences and holly-jolly surprises that are sure to delight.

 

The Nutcracker 

The Capitol Theatre, 149 Westchester Avenue in Port Chester

thecapitoltheatre.com/events/detail/central-park-dance-presents-the-nutcracker-g5vvz94aaz4s8

On December 11th Central Park Dance Presents The Nutcracker: A winter tradition for Westchester families, Central Park Dance will return to The Capitol Theatre this holiday season with its eighth annual production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Join Clara on her wild journey through a blizzard of ballerinas into a Land of Sweets filled with colorful characters and pure holiday magic. This beloved classic features over 100 dancers from Central Park Dance and surrounding Westchester communities. 

 

Otto Specht School Holiday Fair & Crafts Sale

241 Hungry Hollow Rd., Chestnut Ridge, NY 

845-352-5020

ottospechtschool.org/holiday-fair-2023 

The Otto Specht School and the Fellowship Community invite you to their annual Holiday Fair and Craft Sale. Located in Chestnut Ridge, NY the fair will feature children’s activities, puppet plays, live music, great food, and the nostalgic charm of an old time holiday village complete with chestnuts roasting on an open fire, fresh hot cider, and more! Dec. 1st 2pm – 8pm & Dec. 2nd 10 am – 4 pm

 

Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble Presents The Nutcracker 

Rockland Community College 

145 College Rd. 

Suffern N.Y. 10901

845-623-2808  

Rocklandyouthdanc eensemble.org

[email protected] 

Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble’s family friendly classic The Nutcracker returns to Rockland Community College for its 44th season. There are special narrated performances for young guests. They also offer group rates for scout troops and other organizations. December 8th thru Dec 10th.

 

RSC 

1 Elm St, Ardsley, NY 10502

rscwestchester.com

Everyone in the special needs community is invited to our first SNEAKER BALL-Dec31st 2023 1pm-6pm at House of Sports in Ardsley, NY. Celebrate the New Year with us by dressing up, joining the  fun, and making new friends–AND wearing your favorite sneakers. Register at rscwestchester.com.

 

Skate with Santa at Hommocks Park Ice Rink

140 Hommocks Road, Larchmont NY 10538 

914-834-1069

townofmamaroneckny.org/recreation

Are you looking for a unique, fun, and festive way to celebrate the holiday season? Then look no further! Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of ice skating with Santa. This magical event will be happening on Saturday December 9th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. But here’s a tip: the public session starts at 1:00 PM, so you can come early and warm up your skating skills before Santa arrives.

 

Wave Hill Holiday

4900 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY 10471

Wavehill.org

Wave Hill Gardens will be dressed for the holidays and host many memorable events to celebrate the season with family and friends, from forest bathing and birding to a Latin social night and evening of transcendent sound. Dec 1-3 is the much-anticipated Artisan Market and Wreath-Making Workshops. Free family programs will be held on select Thursday evenings in December, including a Winter Solstice Celebration on December 21. On Friday nights, adults can dance the night away with instructors from Ailey Extension or enjoy jazz and more. Also, the garden is open for all to come for an evening stroll. Wave Hill is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10-4:30 every day, with late-night hours for Winter Haven Opening Weekend and select Thursday and Friday evenings throughout the month. Check wavehill.org for event times and further details.

 

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland 

1 Bronx River Pkwy, Valhalla, NY 10595

wwinterwonderland.com

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland, will return to Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla from November 24 through December 31, 2023. Check out electrifying lights, fan-favorite holiday scenes and the best LIVE Santa Claus in Westchester all conveniently located close to home and from the warmth and comfort of your own car.

Yonkers Downtown Presents 3rd Annual Festive, Fun-Filled Winter Market

Indoors at 25 Warburton Ave. Outdoors at Van Der Donck Park.

Sunday, December 15th from 12 Noon to 5pm

Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District is inviting everyone to an enchanting indoor-outdoor Winter Market experience. Perfectly timed to ring in the holiday season, this festive, one-day special market is perfect for the whole family. The heart of the Winter Market is the wide variety of 20+ local artisan vendors. This fun-filled event features ice skating, snow globe photo ops, food, and festive live entertainment. Free admission.

 

White Plains Holiday Market

Court Street between Main Street and Martine Avenue, White Plains, NY

wpbid.com/events/holidaymarket2022

Wed Dec 6, 2023 – Sun Dec 17, 2023

This outdoor holiday market features more than 40 local and regional vendors in an open-air booth format, including food and drink. Pick up a Christmas tree while you’re there. The White Plains Holiday Market is located on Court Street between Main Street and Martine Avenue and will be open from 11am to 6pm, Monday through Wednesday, and 11am to 7pm, Thursday through Sunday. All ages are welcome with free admission!

 

New Jersey and Connecticut 

The 15th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop presented by Jenny Allen / Compass 

Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, “North Pole on North Street,” 437 North Street, Greenwich, CT 06830

greenwichreindeerfestival.com

Santa and his three live reindeer return to Greenwich for the 15th year. Meet the reindeer, get your child’s photo with Santa (that benefits kids in crisis), write letters to Santa, enjoy the reindeer coloring station, and participate in the two Mercedes-Benz kids electric car raffles. Visit the beautiful Christmas shop and get your Christmas tree at Sam Bridge Nursery! November 24 – December 23, 2023

 

 

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British Swim School - Long Island

<p>The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.  British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School’s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!</p>

Child's Play NY Virtual Classes

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f0d8558c-7fff-41d5-daea-321d9ce61efc" style="white-space: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Child's Play NY is a Brooklyn-based company founded in 2009, committed to offering a diverse array of theater arts classes for children. They believe studying the art of acting encourages kids to be even more creative, collaborative and compassionate human beings. Since its inception, Child's Play NY has touched the lives of hundreds of students, worked inside dozens of schools and is consistently ranked as among the top theater arts programs. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is the 2019 winner of Brooklyn Family's Choice award for Best Performing Arts Class.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall/Winter 2020-21 Virtual Class Guide</span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make a Movie Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experience creative fulfillment and movie magic with Child’s Play NY! Kids get to make and star in their own film, with professional actors, directors and designers. From development to design to editing choices too, kids can take ownership over the creative process. Their friends and family get to celebrate their accomplishments at a final watch party premiere! Deep project-based learning and peer-connection is at the heart of this 9-week experience which can be done remotely or in-person.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall and Winter Virtual Classes</span></strong></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-left: 36pt; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Hogwarts School (grades 1-3)</strong>: Come get sorted into your favorite house, jump on your Firebolt and let’s make some magic! Class culminates in a movie montage featuring our original scripted work from the session.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create Your Own Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make your own custom group to support social-emotional growth and play. Child’s Play NY provides a dynamic teacher and their lauded curriculum that puts peer-interaction at the front and center. Custom classes are a special way to nurture what your child loves most and share that excitement with their friends, in-person or online.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Playwriting (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students will use their creativity, compassion and confidence to build a story they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Individually, each student will craft a play, and together they will workshop their scenes, exercising their acting, directing, and most importantly, imagination skills. Over the course of the sessions, students will learn the basics of playwriting and be able to present any and all parts of their theatrical story. All classes will include individual assignments and collaborative opportunities. Each day will be structured so that all participants have the chance to learn and study other writers’ work, write for 10-15 minutes and share their words with each other. By the end of the semester they will have used their bodies, intellect and imagination to come up with an original play. By being confident, vulnerable and creative with each other and actively supporting and encouraging each other’s work, students will emerge with meaningful connections to each other and a strong sense of their writing and collaborative abilities.<br />Class culminates in a montage and packet of students’ original work.<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Musical Theater Lab (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn how to be a triple threat in this dynamic class for budding performers with Child’s Play NY. Students focus on songs, dances and characters from Broadway’s most celebrated and kid-friendly shows. They work alongside professional performers with years of experience bringing their passion to children. Class culminates in a movie showcase of scenes and songs.<br />Join for the full session, or enroll as a drop-in!<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Shakespeare Scene Study (Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young people become confident with Shakespeare’s world, language and characters as they learn how to interpret a role with technique and courage. Classically trained professional actors assist the players in their physical, vocal and emotional transformations. All Shakespeare teaching artists are classically trained professional actors and have performed Shakespeare both on and off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students jump into the worlds of Shakespeare in this robust mash-up of improvisation and classic text scene study class. After learning the plot and characters from several plays, they rehearse and memorize scenes from the original text. New material, devised by the cast, adds a contemporary through-line to their show and highlights the universality of Shakespeare’s themes.<br />Class culminates in a movie showcasing their work.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Big Twist: A New Musical (Grade 1-4)</strong></div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this acting class, students get to perform a brand new musical based on The Wizard of Oz.<br />The Wicked Witch of the South wants to return Oz to a time when WITCHES reigned supreme, and all was evil. Summoning a dark magic Tornado, the Wicked Witch of the South sends Oz hurtling into an alternate Oz. With the Yellow Brick road destroyed, the Wizard left powerless, and the citizens of Oz scattered to the Wind, our heroes are forced into unlikely partnerships to stop the Witch and restore the world to order. The Wizard of Oz meets The Tempest.  Class culminates in a premiere of a movie starring the students, filmed over the last few days of the session.</div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-57c50323-7fff-79ce-175a-5e25408c0e29"></span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-84ebe141-7fff-03c2-24cf-fead86e88df2"></span></p>

Atlantic Acting School

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Looking for a fun and exciting theater program for kids and teens? Join us at the Atlantic. Our programs are intense, exciting and fun!</span></p>