Your Awesome New York Kids Holiday Break

New Year’s Eve is around the corner! Will all the exciting festivities going on in NYC, you’ll want to start making reservations now to celebrate. Although it’s tradition to stay up until midnight, your little ones probably won’t be able to make it. That is why City Vineyard is having a family party from 5-8 pm so that you can have an early celebration! Toast to the New Year with sparkling wine for adults and sparkling cider for kids, along with a three-course meal! Don’t forget to stop by the photo booth and capture your family’s last picture of 2019! Enjoy a variety of cocktails and select your first and second course from options like Beef Carpaccio, Scallop Ceviche, Filet Oscar, and Lobster Risotto. After you enjoy your main dishes, top it off by choosing a tasty dessert of bread pudding or Chocolate Pot De Creme. $65 per person, $100 per person with wine pairing, and $20 each for kids 12 and under. cityvineyardnyc.com

The Rock and Roll Playhouse plays Motown for Kids at this holiday-themed family concert. This interactive concert gets little ones on their feet to move, dance, listen, and explore. All ages are welcome to explore their creativity and jam to great music! Motown for Kids Holiday Celebration features the music of Diana, Stevie, Gladys, The Temptations, and more. $13, 12 pm, doors open at 11 am. December 22, Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211, therockandrollplayhouse.com

Celebrate Hanukkah by gathering for the lighting of Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah. Listen to live music, eat delicious hot latkes, and spend quality time with your family. There will even be small gifts for little ones at this local holiday celebration! A tradition since 1985 and rated by USA Today and CBS, you don’t want to miss Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah. December 22-29, free; Dec. 22, 4 pm; Dec. 23-26, 6 pm; Dec. 27, 3:30 pm; Dec. 28, 7 pm; Dec. 29, 5:30 pm. Grand Army Plaza, Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238, chabadparkslope.com

Head to Ross Hall to catch your favorite holiday movies on the big screen. Enjoy a rotating selection of classics that please every crowd, from little ones to adults. Grab your popcorn and get ready for heart-warming and funny holiday entertainment. December 21-24, 26-29, free with garden admission, 11 am-4 pm. New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, nybg.org

Get the family and friends together for a fun holiday experience where there will be tons of hands-on experiences. Take a family portrait with an oversized greeting card, step inside a life-size snow globe, walk through a hallway of Star War’s lightsabers, get a princess-inspired makeover, and more! You can even get a little holiday shopping done by scanning the featured products with your Target app! Free, Dec. 13 – 22, 10 am – 8 pm, target.com

Make memories at American Girl’s 2019 Holiday Tea! They’ll serve a selection of treats and delicious drinks for both kids and adults. Children will get to craft a festive scarf for their dolls and decorate “silly sweaters” on paper dolls. There will also be a build-your-own hot chocolate station where guests can create a drink that they can take home as a gift. This event requires a reservation. American Girl Place 75 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10019. $25, Dec. 21 – 31, 2 – 4:30 pm, americangirl.com

Santa is coming to the American Girl store, and he can’t wait to meet you and your child! This holiday tradition gives your girl the chance to strike a special pose with St. Nick. It’s the perfect photo opportunity, so be sure to bring your camera. Guests can enjoy a delicious meal during the visit too. Reservations required. $30, Sundays, 8:30 am, through Dec. 22, americangirl.com

Kick off the holiday light season with this grand festival. See 120 lantern exhibits and enjoy live entertainment that the family will love. This isn’t just a light festival, but a celebration of the Chinese art of lantern-making. There will be artisans, cultural performances, a holiday market, international food vendors, and tons of displays that illuminate bright colors! Up to $90, Dec. 6 – Jan. 26, 2020, 5 – 10 pm, hellopandafest.com

This winter, a festival of lights comes to NYC; joining the ranks of Rockefeller Center and The Rockettes as one of New York’s must see/do holiday experiences. LuminoCity Festival features over 16 acres of spectacular, larger than life light and art installations for teens, parents, and families to enjoy. But beyond lights, there will be holiday shopping, food and drink, activities, and performances/shows. Visitors will experience a giant doughnut light tunnel, a castle in the sky, a glowing unicorn, an illuminated lollipop land, and life-size dinosaurs by a roaring volcano, to name a few. Nov. 23 – Jan. 5, 2020, 4 – 11 pm, luminocityfestival.com

Get ready for family-friendly programming in Prospect Park during Winter Recess! Make your own “Gilded Frame” for holiday photos, grab a Discovery Pack with nature activities, play bird-related games, and learn about animals. There’s lots to do during Winter Recess, so spread it out over a few days. December 26-29, free, 12-4 pm. Multiple locations in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY, prospectpark.org

Kids ages 5 to 12 and their siblings and parents are invited to this enrichment program to learn together. Explore the Intrepid Museum’s planetarium to learn the myths from around the world that explain the patterns of stars in the sky. Then create your own constellation and myth in a storytelling activity. December 28-29, free with museum admission, 12-1 pm. Intrepid Museum, Pier 86 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036, intrepidmuseum.org

Bring your family to this annual holiday event at Queens County Farm Museum! Warm up by the fireplace and check out the decor in the Adriance Farmhouse. Take a tour of this historic landmark and enjoy mulled cider throughout the afternoon. There will even be arts and crafts for little ones. December 26-28, free, 12-4 pm. 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, Queens, NY 11004-1129, queensfarm.org

Head to Queens Zoo for educational fun with the animals! Over Winter Break, Queens Zoo welcomes little ones in preschool (age 4) to second grade for hands-on activities, up-close animal experiences, and a snack. Each day has a different focus: Zoo Vet, Biologist, and Animal Keeper, so register for whichever topic you think your little one will love. December 26, 27, and 30, $100, Members $80, 9 am-3 pm. 53-51 111th St., Corona, Queens, NY 11368, queenszoo.com

Make your own gingerbread houses or trains in these Gingerbread Lane 2019 Workshops! Each participant will get a kit with all of the materials that Chef Jon Lovitch uses to create his GingerBread Lane exhibit, including gingerbread pieces, icing, and candy. Recommended for kids ages 4 and up, these workshops are quite popular and have limited capacity, so sign up early. December 27-30, $15 per project, members $10, various workshop times: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm. 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens, NY 11368, nysci.org

A must-see event, the Ice Carving Competition will draw families all across NYC to check out these sculptors in action. Watch as five professional sculptors create 20 ice sculptures in a “speed carving” elimination challenge. Your little ones will be amazed to see the blocks of ice transformed into holiday masterpieces! December 28, included with Holiday Lights Tickets: Adults $29.95, Kids ages 3-12 $22.95, Kids ages 2 and under free, 6-9 pm. Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, bronxzoo.com