Hi everyone! December is always a busy month here in NYC and there are lots of virtual and in person events to enjoy with the family!
This weekend check out Photos with Santa + Toy Drive at Old Stone House, a Weather Scavenger Hunt with Brooklyn Bridge Park, Best of BAMkids Film Festival, The Jewish Museum: Hanukkah Family Day, 19th Annual Sinterklaas – St. Nicholas Day Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, Create and Skate in Bryant Park, Holiday on the Hudson, Free Virtual Reading & Art Class – Maia & the Very Tall Wall, Rubin Museum: Family Sundays Online, St. Nicholas Day at The Vander Ende Onderdonk House, Virtual Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music Broadcast, Lavender Blues Virtual Class and Virtual Family Film: Petra and Wolfie, the Movie!
Also check out long running events like Luminaries in the Winter Garden, Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection at New-York Historical Society Museum, Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo, Holiday Under the Stars at The Shops at Columbus Circle, Jack & the Beanstalk at Puppetworks, Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History and Ice Skating at Winter Village in Bryant Park.
These are just some of the weekend events so check the calendar to see everything going on. Also like us on Facebook for last minute events and updates.
Have a fabulous time this weekend!
~ Deirdre (mom to O & C)
Friday December 4th
Best of BAMkids Film Festival (virtual)
Daily until December 6th. Location: virtual. Run time: 57 min. For ages 3-6y. ALL TICKETS: Pay-what-you-can starting at $5 + 50% of ticket sales go to support BAM. Purchase tickets here. In this virtual program of gentle, colorful animated films, curious animals and adventurous kids alike sing, grow up, fly high, and celebrate the magic of life, in all its lovely rainbow colors. This program includes films from China, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and Taiwan. All ticket sales go to support BAM Education, helping to ensure the future of BAM’s adventurous programming for families and students. Note to ticket buyers: Tickets will be available through Eventive, which requires customers to create an account before purchasing. All customers who purchase a ticket will receive an email confirmation with a link to the program; once the link is clicked, viewers have 48 hours to watch the program until it expires. Customers who purchase a ticket on December 5 or later will only be able to view the program until 11:59pm on December 6.
Create and Skate in Bryant Park
Friday December 4th 925-1025a. Free admission. Recommended for ages 3-7, but all ages welcome. This year, all skaters must reserve a skate time online. Reserve your skate time for one of the four staggered entry Create & Skate groups. During Create & Skate mornings, kids rule The Rink! Bring the whole family for safe outdoor fun, singing and skating along to music from your favorite kids movies. Afterward, take a ride on Le Carrousel, grab a take-away craft, and receive 20% off hot chocolate and snacks at the Lodge Deck before noon when you show your skating ticket. Learning to skate? Penguin and Snowman Skate Mate rentals are available for FREE on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Lavender Blues Virtual Class
Fridays 6-645p until December 18th. $15/class. Ages 0 mo – 4 yrs (adult participation required). Register here. A virtual music and movement class for babies and toddlers. Join us as we sing and play for 40 minutes through music and movement with traditional nursery rhymes as well as our own. Grab your instrument, a stuffy and a blanket to use as a parachute! With games, dancing & bubbles of course, we bring Lady B & Lavender Blues into your home! Note: You will receive an email 30 minutes before class with the Zoom class invitation.
See all the Friday events here.
Saturday December 5th
Weather Scavenger Hunt with Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday December 5th 1030a-430p. Location: Environmental Education Center. This event is free and advanced registration is required. Sign up on Eventbrite to reserve a time slot for your family. This month’s family-friendly scavenger hunt will require you to make some weather observations! This activity is best suited for kids 8 years and under. You’ll be challenged to identify clouds forms, find out the temperature, and search for signs of the wind. There will be an opportunity to stop by a prize table at the back of the Environmental Education Center and share your completed hunt with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy! After you register, you will receive an automatic e-mail which includes a PDF copy of the scavenger hunt. Your family can complete the hunt anytime, anywhere! If you want to receive a prize, stop by the back doors of the Environmental Education Center anytime between the hours of 1030a-430p on December 5th with your completed hunt.
Free Virtual Reading & Art Class – Maia & the Very Tall Wall
Saturday December 5th 11-1140a. Free. Register here and activity access information will be sent by email. Private Picassos are thrilled to partner with author Brian Wray and illustrator Shiloh Penfield to host a virtual event for their new book, Maia and the Very Tall Wall. Purchase our special Tall Wall Art Kit and 75% of proceeds will be donated to Brooklyn Book Bodega. BBB provides access to and ownership of books, builds community, and creates a passion for learning through free events and literacy-based community programming. Note: This event is free and open to the public. If you’d like to purchase our accompanying Art Kit, please visit here. You are also welcome to use your own art supplies for our Art Class. See the list of materials here. Schedule: 11a Reading with author Brian Wray, 1110a Sketching project with Shiloh Penfield & 1120a Tall Wall Art Project with Private Picassos
St. Nicholas Day at The Vander Ende Onderdonk House
Saturday December 5th 12n-5p (rain date 12/6). Tickets: $10/family. Celebrate St. Nicholas Day at the Onderdonk House on Saturday December 5th. Seasonal Crafts, Caroling, Mulled Cider, and of course a visit from St. Nicholas himself. Timed Entry. Outdoor Event. Please purchase tickets in advance, this is a limited capacity event! Purchase tickets here.
19th Annual Sinterklaas – St. Nicholas Day Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
Saturday December 5th 2-430p. Free. RSVP here. Join Wyckoff House Museum on Saturday, December 5 for our 19th Annual Sinterklaas – St. Nicholas Day Celebration. This year will look a little different as we adjust for social distancing guidelines but we hope you can join us for craft activities, tree lighting, and a visit from St. Nick. Children will enjoy a special visit from St. Nicholas as he arrives on horseback around 2:30 p.m. St. Nicholas will tell the traditional tale of The Bakers Dozen and children are invited to sign the Red Book. Sip hot cider, create a holiday pomander, decorate a Dutch clog for Sinterklaas, and dress the tree for the tree lighting that will close the day as the sun goes down. Note: The house museum is currently closed to the public. We recommend dressing warmly as all activities will take place outdoors in the park.
Holiday on the Hudson (virtual)
Saturday December 5th 530-6p. Free. Join us virtually for our annual holiday tree lighting in West Harlem Piers Park. Tune in to the Summer on the Hudson Facebook page to light the tree and celebrate the season.
See all the Saturday events here.
Sunday December 6th
Photos with Santa + Toy Drive at Old Stone House (Park Slope)
Sunday December 6th 10a-12n (rain date 12/13). $10 admission supports the park, and professional photos by our fabulous photographer Marc Goldberg will be for available for download from Marc’s website for an additional fee. We welcome you to snap your own photos too. Get in the holiday spirit by taking a photo with Santa in socially distanced 2D on December 6th. Guests will line up along the 4th Street side of OSH for photos with our Santa & Elf cutouts in front of the beautifully decorated outdoor hearth. Note: They are also hosting a toy drive for the Brownsville Recreation Center. Bring a new, wrapped gift appropriate for kids ages 5 – 9. Please mark each package with “B” for boy, “G” for girl, or “X” for gender neutral. Drop off the toys at OSH during our Open Hours on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays from Noon – 3 pm before December 13. Rolie Polie Guacamole are also performing in the park at 11a.
The Jewish Museum: Hanukkah Family Day (virtual)
Sunday December 6th 10-11a. For ages 3 & up. Free with RSVP, one ticket per household. RSVP here. Join us for an exciting mix of Hanukkah related activities and performances that will launch on our YouTube channel for families to explore together. Grab your shakers and groove with musicians Daphna Mor and Saskia Lane in partnership with the Beineinu community during a festive concert. Discover and sketch unexpected Hanukkah objects on a virtual tour. Embark on a journey spanning the globe through an animated performance with illustrator Jeff Hopkins. Get creative at home inspired by art-making videos and activities such as sculptural Hanukkah menorahs, shadow puppetry, and more. The new YouTube playlist premieres at 10am ET. Watch these videos as a family throughout the holiday and enjoy a rich variety of content.
Virtual Family Film: Petra and Wolfie, the Movie!
Sunday December 6th 11a & 2p. This online program is free, but registration is required. Register here. Grab your family and catch a free virtual screening of the Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra’s Petra and Wolfie, The Movie! In this zany modern adaptation of Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, find out what happens when Petra, Wolfie, and the Dog Catcher find themselves at the Brooklyn Museum. Featuring Music Director Dorothy Savitch, the 65-piece Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra, and comic actors Lorinne Lampert and Francis Heaney.
Rubin Museum: Family Sundays Online
First Sunday of the month 1-230p. Free. Register here. At Home Art-Making. Ages 3 and older with accompanying adults. Sundays are for families! This fall join the Rubin Museum live on Zoom every first Sunday of the month from the comfort of your own home for an afternoon of activities both kids and grownups will enjoy. December Family Sundays: Yawning Yeti ~ The Yeti is a mythical snow creature that lives in the Himalayas. This creature is an important part of the indigenous folklore and mythology of the region. Learn more about the Yeti and make your own Yawning Yeti sculpture by mixing and sculpting materials found in your kitchen cabinet! See the website for the materials needed.
Virtual Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music Broadcast
Sunday December 6th 2-4p. Free. Sign up here to receive the Zoom link 24 hours prior. South Street Seaport Museum’s monthly Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music continues – virtually. From our living rooms and kitchens, and even from the deck of Wavertree, join us for our round-robin of shared sea songs, featuring members of The New York Packet and friends. Listen in, lead or request a song, and belt out the choruses for your neighbors to hear. Hosted by singers from the New York Packet.
See all the Sunday events here.
All Weekend
Luminaries in the Winter Garden (Battery Park City)
Ongoing daily 8a-10p until January 3rd. Free. Brighten up the holidays with Brookfield Place! This season we’re keeping our annual Luminaries tradition alive with the interactive installation in the Winter Garden. Luminaries, designed by the LAB at Rockwell Group, is inspired by the season’s traditions of sharing, giving, and community. The installation features a canopy of colorful lights emanating from hundreds of lanterns suspended among the palms. Touchless wishing stations located on the ground allow visitors to send a motion-activated wish to the canopy of lanterns above, prompting a magical display of lights and colors. For each wish, Brookfield Place will donate $1, up to $25,000 to ROAR (Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants),which supports New York City restaurant employees facing unprecedented economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.At the top of every hour, visit the Winter Garden for a special Luminaries light show (8a -10p) featuring: Winter Wonderland by Michael Bublé, Silver Bells by Tony Bennett, Carol of the Bells by The Bird and The Bee, Let It Snow by Pentatonix. See the website for all the details.
Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection at New-York Historical Society Museum (UWS)
Ongoing until February 21, 2021. Free with Museum admission. Purchase timed entry tickets here. Hours are Fridays 11a-8p, Saturdays-Sundays 11a-5p. Friday 10-11a is for Members and age 65+ and immunocompromised. A magical wonderland awaits visitors with the return of this holiday tradition. Featuring toy trains, figurines, and miniature models from the renowned Jerni Collection, Holiday Express transports young and old alike to a bygone era. The installation includes a variety of toy train stations dating from the turn of the 19th century to the WWII era, showcasing the evolving designs of American and European toymakers. New to the display this year are Marklin’s Onion Dome Station and Grand Station (1904–08). Visitors are greeted by animations and fun facts about the toys on nearby screens, and kids will be delighted by a specially created bench inspired by a sleigh in New-York Historical’s collection.
Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo
Select dates through January 10th 3-8p. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance. Tickets start at $22.95. Purchase tickets here. Join us for five animal lantern safaris, ice-carving demonstrations, holiday treats, costumed characters, wildlife theater, stilt walkers, and more! Join us for a global safari in lights featuring illuminated animals from all over the world. Our five lantern safaris, spread out throughout the park each showcase a different wildlife region and will lead you on a fun, safe, and leisurely tour of the attractions. See the website for all the event details.
Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History (UWS)
On exhibit until January 10th (except 12/25). Location: Grand Gallery, first floor. Free with Museum admission. Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays with timed entry tickets are available 10a-4p (museum closes 530p). Visit the American Museum of Natural History this holiday season to see one of New York’s most beloved displays, the Origami Holiday Tree—an annual tradition for more than 40 years. The theme of this year’s 13-foot tree is Cranes and Colors, featuring 1,000 brilliantly colored origami cranes, presented as symbols of peace and good wishes as New York continues to endure the many challenges posed by COVID-19, and drawing inspiration from The Nature of Color special exhibition, which explores the role and power of color in the natural world.The tree—which is the 49th Origami Tree, continuing a Museum tradition started in the 1970s—also features hundreds of other models relating to the Museum’s exhibitions, collections and icons.
Holiday Under the Stars at The Shops at Columbus Circle (UWS)
Daily 4-7p until December 24th. Free. Location: Ground Floor. Holiday Under the Stars, the largest specialty crafted exhibit of illuminated color mixing in the world featuring twelve 14-foot stars that hang from the ceiling of the 150-foot Great Room overlooking iconic Central Park perform daily from 4:00pm until 7:00pm (every half hour). The free, indoor colorful spectacle with stunning views of Central Park is an ideal destination during the cold, shorter days of winter. The destination also will offer extended shopping hours.
Ice Skating at Winter Village in Bryant Park
Skating hours daily 8a-10p until March 7th. Admission is free. Skating rental vary by day. Reservations must be made in advance. See website for all the information on skating & the shops. Bryant Park is Manhattan’s winter wonderland. Enjoy New York City’s only free admission ice skating rink, the Holiday Shops, and rinkside eats and drinks at The Lodge Deck.
Indoor Exhibits Open at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)
Museum hours Saturdays-Sundays 10a-7p. Museum admission: $13 per person (children under 1 free). BCM is delighted to have the indoor exhibits open. Make sure you don’t miss a minute of fun by ordering your tickets online in advance and reserving a timed ticket. There are two types of tickets to BCM: Play Session tickets and ColorLab Session tickets. Play Sessions are Saturdays & Sundays at 10a, 1230p, 3p or 5p (90-minute session). Come play in our exhibits! BCM favorite exhibits including Totally Tots, World Brooklyn, Neighborhood Nature, Collections Central and The Nest are open for exploration. For more information on BCM’s exhibits, check out our Permanent Exhibits page. Artmaking in ColorLab are Saturdays & Sundays at 1030a, 130p & 330p. Every weekend, BCM hosts artmaking workshops featuring a muse artist and family art projects inspired by their work. Families attending the 1030a & 1p ColorLab sessions may come up to 30 minutes in advance to play in BCM’s exhibits, and visitors attending the 3p session may stay up to 30 minutes after their workshop. Space is limited to ensure that families can spread out in our art studio. See our ColorLab page for more information on art workshops. Masks required. See website for all the details.
Jack & the Beanstalk at Puppetworks (Park Slope)
Ongoing Wednesdays-Fridays at 4p and Saturdays-Sundays at 1230p & 230p until December 13th NOTE: no performances 11/26 & 11/27). Tickets: Children $10 each, Adults $11 each (suggested for ages 3 and up). Jack & the Beanstalk with an original song score adapted for Marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. Call for Reservations: 718-965-3391 or e-mail to: puppetworksinfo@gmail.com NO Same Day e-mail reservations please. Performances are @ 25% Capacity, Masks Required.
Brooklyn Public Library Vitural Storytimes
Daily usually at 11a & 2p (none 11/26). Free. Sometimes the storytimes are on the Brooklyn Public Library Family facebook page and other times they are on a specific branch facebook page. See the website for all the details.
Spineless Exhibit at The New York Aquarium (Coney Island)
Daily 10a-330p (park closes 430p) until March 2021. Admission included with ticket. All visitors must reserve a date-specific ticket in advance. Please check Know Before You Go for details. We have great news: The New York Aquarium is reopening on August 27! Buy tickets to see all of your favorite marine animals today and enjoy summer on Coney Island! Explore Spineless, our latest exhibit, and marvel and the jellies, octopus, and more. Come wave hello to Erie the sea lion and Murphy the Harbor Seal. Relax in Ocean Wonders: Sharks! and watch the rays, sharks, and turtles.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan at Home
CMOM is now open Wednesday-Sunday 10a-5p. CMOM at Home is still ongoing. Activities are sent in a daily email newsletter. CMOM can still be a part of your day through videos, sing-a-longs, games and so much more for you to do together with your family at home! Sign up for emails here. From slime-making, dance parties and being transported to Japan with a recipe for sushi, to making animal puppets from recycled materials around the house, creating a bedtime routine and storytimes, “CMOM at Home” is sure to delight. Each day of the week will feature a different theme: Magical Monday, Move & Grove Tuesday, Our World Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, Feel Good Friday, Storytime Saturday and Surprise Sunday.