Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities In NYC (December 24-27)

Even though the weather outside is eerily far from frightful, you can still make your holiday weekend delightful with our picks for family fun. Sing carols on Christmas Eve, check out holiday weekend workshops at the Museum of the Moving Image and the New York Hall of Science, or celebrate Kwanzaa at the American Museum of Natural History’s Big Bash! Wishing you and your family a happy holidays!

Christmas Eve Caroling
Spend Christmas Eve spreading cheer through seasonal song! Carolers can head to the Washington Square Arch at 5pm, where they'll sing classic Christmas songs, joined by the Rob Sussman Brass Quartet. Song books will be distributed. Or, at 6pm, the Parish of Cavalry~ St. George's will open the gates of Gramercy Park to carolers.
Oran Etkin Concert at the Jewish Museum
Clarinetist Oran Etkin will take young audiences through the kingdom of swing–introducing them to greats such as King Oliver, Duke Ellington, and a boy named Benny Goodman. Children are invited to express themselves during this interactive concert experience. (Friday) (Photo via the Jewish Museum)
Family Concert: Klez for Kids at the Museum at Eldridge Street
The Museum at Eldridge Street’s Annual Family Concert will give the audience the chance to sing, dance, and learn Yiddish! Clarinetist Greg Wall and his band Klezmerfest will lead the audience on a musical tour of Eastern European Jewish culture. (Friday) (Photo via the Museum at Eldridge Street)
Holiday Open House at the Queens County Farm Museum
Head to the Queens County Farm Museum to keep the Christmas celebrations going! Check out the decorations at the Adriance Farmhouse, participate in craft activities, and warm up with a cup of hot cider! (Saturday-Monday) (Photo via Queens Times-Ledger)
"Shaun the Sheep" Screening and Claymation Creatures Family Workshop at the Museum of the Moving Image
Bring the family to the Museum of the Moving Image to catch this silly stop-motion feature! When Shaun and his fellow sheep get bored with farm life, they try to take a holiday–but the Farmer gets lost in the big city! Told without dialogue, the humor is conveyed through physical comedy, sound effects, and music. After the movie, be sure to check out the Claymation workshop at 2:30pm! (Saturday- January 1)
ReMake the Holidays 2015 at the New York Hall of Science
Over the course of the holiday week, the New York Hall of Science will be offering a plethora of hands-on activities for kids and holidays. A response to the consumerism and waste of the holiday season, ReMake the Holidays seeks to provide inspiration and an opportunity to spend the holidays differently, by offering a variety of workshops, demos, artist demonstrations, and more. (Saturday-December 30)
Celebrate Kwanzaa! at the Brooklyn Children's Museum
Come to the Brooklyn Museum for a family-friendly Kwanzaa celebration, featuring an exclusive presentation by Cumbe: Center for African and Disapora Dance. (Saturday)
Kwanzaa 2015: Energize, Recognize! at AMNH
This year marks the 37th annual Kwanzaa celebration at the American Museum of Natural History. This“Energize, Recognize!” celebration will be highlighted by a performance by rapper and producer, Doug E. Fresh. Fresh is known as the first human beatboxer in the rap world, and he will combine his energy with traditions honoring Kwanzaa’s seven guiding principles. There will also be activities, performances which include a musical tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou, an international marketplace, and special Kwanzaa foods to celebrate the holiday. (Sunday) (Photo via AMNH)
"Nutcracker Sweets" and "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" at Puppetworks USA
Come to Puppetworks for a holiday special! See Tchaikovsky’s Land of Sweets interpreted through puppetry in “Nutcracker Sweets,” and Anderson’s toy story “The Steadfast Tin Soldier.” (Saturday-January 3)
New York Family's Holiday Fun Guide
Make spirits bright with our guide to a classic New York holiday--including the best trees, dazzling light displays, joyful Santas, and more.

Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens

With more than 35 years of experience, Broadway Dance Center Children &amp; Teens provides young movers ages 3-18 with exceptional training. BDC delivers the finest all-around dance experience for students by offering a wide variety of styles and levels, performance opportunities, and the highest caliber dance instruction that only New York City and BDC Children &amp; Teens can provide. This studio is so much more than a training course for young dancers; it is a diverse, family-friendly community for budding creatives. It has an exemplary faculty who follow the vision to not only develop a dancer&rsquo;s love and ability in dance, but to do so in a nurturing and supportive way.

Monster Mini Golf

Upon entering Monster Mini Golf, all perceptions of traditional mini golf will be spirited away by the indoor, 18-hole, monster-theme, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course! The locations in <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Deer Park</a>, and <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/gardencity/">Garden City, NY</a> invite guests to experience a host of family-oriented fun activities. Whether visiting for the first time or the one hundredth, mini golfers feel the excitement and adventure of playing mini golf amidst spooktacular monsters and custom, glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted artwork. While testing their skill on the fairways, lively music flows over the course from the unique &ldquo;WEIRD Radio&rdquo; station&rdquo; and an interactive DJ entertains golfers with contests, awarding cool prizes for the wackiest reasons. While the course is challenging enough for adults, it is also quite playable for children. Monster Mini Golf is open year-round and frightfully fun for the entire family. In addition to miniature golf and thrilling arcade and redemption games, the locations offer additional attractions. <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park, NY</a> offers a Laser Maze and a Virtual Reality experience. The Garden City location offers a Laser Maze, Bowling, and a Virtual Reality Experience. Two very posh, private party rooms are also available and are perfect for any event. Monster Mini Golf looks forward to making it a monstrous success. Monster Mini Golf is indoors, ensuring that the event will always take place, regardless of the weather. It is a climate-controlled, affordable source of family entertainment. For more details please visit <a href="http://monsterminigolf.com">monsterminigolf.com</a> or find them on Facebook.

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp offers five daily rotating activities such as swimming, ice skating gymnastics, rock climbing, parkour, indoor/outdoor turf, and courts plus more in its ample 175,000 sq. ft. facility and 35-acre outdoor area. Aviator Summer Camp also offers off-site and on-site field trips such as a day at Green Meadows Farm, Launch Trampoline Park, and a Brooklyn Cyclones game. The summer camp runs from 9 am-5 pm with early drop off and late stay available. Bus transportation is also available throughout Brooklyn. Lunch and an afternoon snack are included. Sign up by February 28th to receive up to $300 off camp with early bird discounts.