Looking for fun and low-cost things to do with kids in Nassau County, Long Island? We’ve hand-picked the best kids and family events from our December calendar, including fun holiday shows and festivals, a winter break program for kids, and a family-friendly Kwanzaa celebration.
For even more upcoming family events on Long Island and in the NYC area, see our full, searchable calendar of events.
Dress Up Your Veggies
Young women don aprons and learn the rudiments of cooking during a Farm to Table Vegetarian Workshop. Girls will learn how to cook quick, simple meals using seasonal vegetables, along with vegetarian staples, such as beans, nuts, seeds, and organic tofu, while exploring the concept of sustainability as it relates to our world. Decemver 3, 1:30-3:30pm. Age: tweens and teens. $60; registration required (no drop-ins).
Oh My Girls!, 140 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset. 516-802-5800. www.ohmygirls.com.
Natural Talent
The dancers onstage exude what seems to be an inexhaustible supply of energy as they present Momix Botanica, a production that uses the human body and innovative scenery to reveal nature’s changing imagery. The music ranges from birdsong to Vivaldi, and the costumes, projections, and custom-made props and puppetry provide an extra dash of fantasy. This amazing performance provides a visual feast and is a testimony to the creative and artistic direction of its creator, the choreographer Moses Pendleton. December 10. 11am. $42 and up.
Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale. 516-299-3100. www.tillescenter.org.
Now You See It…
The festive treats children prepare during Holiday Magic will be eaten in a flash. Mouth-watering Christmas and Hanukkah cookies, potato latkes with applesauce, and edible dreidels are among the array of yummy foods that will disappear quickly. Not to worry, the children will also decorate their own gingerbread houses to take home. December 12. 4:30-6:30pm. Early registration is recommended. Call for cost.
What’s Cooking?, 30 East Main Street, Oyster Bay. 516-922-2665. www.whatscookingny.com.
Happy Holidays!
Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, there’s something magical about this time of year, with its holly, mistletoe, and merry evergreens. It’s a time to spread plenty of good cheer and dote on the children around us. Get in the spirit with these nearby events:
The sights and sounds of children happily working at Holiday Crafts, surrounded by holiday motifs, is what the festive season is all about. Each project offers kids a unique way to make an item that can be useful during the season, or that can be given to someone as a gift. December 3. 6:30-9pm. $10; $5 children ages 2-17.
Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury. 516-333-0048. www.oldwestburygardens.org.
Old-time contra dancing, hot mulled cider, music, and reminiscences of past Christmases set the stage for Holiday Candlelight Evenings of 19th Century Long Island. Skilled artisans present a delightful craft show in the Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. December 9. 5-9:30pm. $10; $7 children ages 5-12, seniors 60 and older, and volunteer firefighters; free children younger than 5.
Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage. 516-572-8400. www.nassaucountyny.gov/parks.
Can you mimic the rapid foot movements of the Irish dance? Celtic Christmas customs, old and new, are explored during this time of traditional music, song, and storytelling. December 9. 7-9:30pm. $10; $5 children ages 2-17.
Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury. 516-333-0048. www.oldwestburygardens.org.
The holidays become even more special with the performance of New York Dance Theatre’s 30th anniversary season of The Nutcracker. The troupe, complemented by local guest artists and others from Harlem Dance Theatre, brings this much-loved classic to life. December 10. 12pm and 5pm. $35; $28 seniors and children ages 12 and younger.
Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse, South Campus, Hempstead. 631-462-0964. www.ohmanballet.org.
Celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, by learning about its origin and why people light candles on a ceremonial menorah. Visitors can make their own hand-painted menorah as a keepsake. December 11. 1-3pm. $3 with $11 museum admission.
Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City. 516-224-5800. www.licm.org.
A Change of Heart
Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol, finds curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge trying to squash the spirit of Christmas. It takes a visit by four ghosts to show Scrooge the miserly person he has become. And, with their help, the miser finally learns that compassion and generosity make for a loving heart — a life lesson for all who attend the performance. December 1-27. Check website for performance times. $14 and up.
Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson. 631-928-9100. www.theatrethree.com.
A Welcome Break
The day after Christmas, parents can turn to VacationArts Winter Break Program for a respite from children who need somewhere to deposit their extra energy. Art, drama, music, dance, chess, and more are part of this daily program designed to keep kids busy. Call to register. December 26. 9:15am-3:15pm. Call for pricing.
Great Neck Arts Center, 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck. 516-829-2570. www.greatneckarts.org.
Keeping Up With Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa, a non-religious African-American holiday, is observed December 26 through January 1. During this period, families get together to give thanks and celebrate their heritage, community, and culture. At Celebrating Kwanzaa, the Long Island Children’s Museum introduces visitors to the rich traditions and the meaning behind the Kwanzaa celebration and the seven principles upon which it was founded. Participants will make a Kinara (candelabra) to take home. December 27. 1-3pm. $3 with $11 museum admission.
Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City. 516-224-5800. www.licm.org.
