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Things To Do

Weekend Planner: Fun Family Activities In NYC (February 12-15)

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To see our guide to free weekend fun, click HERE!

Please Note: Due to extreme temperatures and high winds, Saturday’s Ice Festival in Central Park has been cancelled.

  • "Sesame Street Live: Let's Dance" at the Theater at Madison Square Garden

     Join your family’s favorite Sesame Street characters at the Theater at Madison Square Garden for a live dance extravaganza! Sesame Street Live’s newest show, “Let’s Dance!” will feature two performers who will lead the audience through dance steps while Elmo, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and others take to the theater floor to boogie down. Fans can expect to hear song favorites such as “Do the Robot” and “Shake Your Head One Time.” (Opens Thursday)

  • "Handa's Surprise" at the New 42nd Street Studios

     London’s Little Angel Theatre will present its production of “Handa’s Surprise” starting this Friday at the New Victory Theater's New 42nd Street Studios. Based on the picture book by Eileen Browne, “Handa’s Surprise” tells the story of Handa’s journey to a neighboring village and the schemes of seven sneaky animals who are trying to steal her basket of fruit. Perfect for ages 6 months to 4 years, this 30-minute production also features puppetry and a Swahili music soundtrack. (Opens Friday)
  • Play Fair at Javits Center North

    Play Fair at Javits Center North

     This weekend, Javits Center North will host Play Fair! Sponsored by LEGO and Nickelodeon, this family-friendly event for all ages will feature demos and exhibits of toys from brands such as Hasbro, Crayola, Mattel, DC Comics, Cartoon Network, and others. There will also be a live performance from the Story Pirates, storytimes, meet-and-greets with Dora the Explorer, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Wars Bladebuilders’ lightsaber training sessions, and the opportunity to buy best-selling games and toys. (Saturday-Sunday)
  • Culinary Kids Weekend at the New York Botanical Garden

    Culinary Kids Weekend at the New York Botanical Garden

     Satisfy your hunger for farm-to-table cooking during Culinary Kids Weekend at the New York Botanical Garden. Kids of all ages are welcome to watch cooking demos led by the Family Garden staff, participate in activity stations and cooking workshops, and don a chef’s jacket in the Kids Kitchen Corner playspace. Chefs scheduled to appear include George Edwards and Alicia Walters. (Saturday-Monday)

  • "America to Zanzibar" Exhibit at the Children's Museum of Manhattan

     Children of all ages can travel to the far regions of the globe–all without leaving NYC–when they visit the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s new exhibit “America to Zanzibar.” More than 50 countries will be represented throughout this exploration of Muslim culture. Visitors can learn about ancient trade routes, Muslim architecture, open-air bazaars, and Eastern music through hands-on activities and interactive installations. Over the course of the exhibition’s run, the museum will host a variety of workshops, demos, and performances led by local American Muslims. (Opens Saturday)
  • Ponycon 2016 at Grand Prospect Hall

    Ponycon 2016 at Grand Prospect Hall

    Ponycon NYC is hosting its fourth annual convention for the fans of My Little Pony. This unique, three-day event will have a number of activities and events for the entire family. Some of the offerings include a vendor marketplace selling all things Pony with a number of limited edition items, lectures, panel discussions, arts and crafts for the kids, a fashion parade, an arcade, and more. (Saturday-Monday)
  • AKC Meet the Breeds at Piers 92 & 94

    AKC Meet the Breeds at Piers 92 & 94

     Love dogs? Take your little ones to Piers 92 & 94 for some canine quality time! Meet and play with over 100 different dog breeds, and learn about responsible pet ownership at this “Meet the Breeds” event, held in conjunction with the 140th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 15-16. (Saturday)
  • Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival

    Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival

    Head over to Chinatown and celebrate the Lunar New Year at the largest Lunar New Year parade in New York City. Enjoy the lion and dragon dancers, floats, and performers along the parade route. (Sunday)
  • Family Fun for Valentine's Day

    Family Fun for Valentine's Day

    Whether your Valentine is a toddler or a tween, New York City has something fun the entire family can enjoy together. From Central Park’s annual Ice Festival to a super-fun dance party, celebrate with one of these fun local options.
  • Presidents' Day Activities for Kids and Families

    Presidents' Day Activities for Kids and Families

    Celebrate George Washington’s (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays (February 12) with these fun and historical activities for kids and families! Meet the Washingtons, test your knowledge with presidential trivia, and more!
  • Kids Week at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

    Kids Week at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

     This year, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s annual Kids Week will be all about Extreme Environments! Participants will learn how NASA researches earth’s climates, meet scientists, and learn how robots are designed for space exploration. Plus, there will be engaging shows in the pop-up planetarium, science presentations, hands-on workshops, and special guests each day! (Starts Monday)

  • "Vikings" at Discovery Times Square

    “Vikings,” Discovery Times Square’s newest exhibit, draws children and families into the Norse people’s rich history–while dispelling common misconceptions. Click the link above to read our review of the exhibit!
  • The Big Chill: 2016 Winter Fun Guide

    The Big Chill: 2016 Winter Fun Guide

    Now that temps are well below 40, here are 40+ ideas for making the most of winter in the city!
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Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens

<p dir="ltr">With more than 35 years of experience, Broadway Dance Center Children & 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 & Teens can provide.</p> <p dir="ltr">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’s love and ability in dance, but to do so in a nurturing and supportive way.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-16583089-7fff-d8a9-61c2-8f689f7348b2"></span></p>

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Summer Game Camp</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including –</p> <p dir="ltr">- Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch!</p> <p dir="ltr">- A digital campus!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Moderated chat hours!</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more!</p> <p dir="ltr">Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons & Dragons</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons & Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons & Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons & Dragons workshop! </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together!</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Dungeons & Dragons Junior</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons & Dragons games. Our Dungeons & Dragons Jr. game provides a D&D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons & Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&D so they can eventually move onto the main game.</p>

Plugged in Band

<div>Plugged In is a nonprofit program that offers online programs to student musicians (Ages 10-18) in a non-competitive environment and provides band and individual performance opportunities in support of community and charitable causes.</div> <div> </div> <div>Our programs include:</div> <div> </div> <div>Rock Band Classes</div> <div>Private Music Lessons</div> <div>Summer Camp</div> <div>Digital/Audio Production</div> <div>Songwriting and Recording Workshops</div> <div> </div> <div>Oh and hey parents, we are now offering private music lessons and our rock band program for adults too. Reach out to us for more information. </div>