Winter break activities for New York City kids
Your guide to winter break including free activities for kids, special museum events, winter break camps and other holiday activities.
Sat Dec 1 2012
Grand Central Holiday Train Show
This year, winter break for New York City public school students runs from Saturday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 1—that's 11 days off from school! Thankfully, we've got you covered with tons of ideas for how to keep little ones busy during the winter break, including free activities for kids, special museum events at local institutions, winter break camps and other holiday activities. It's also a great time to check out a city ice-skating rink, visit the new Museum of Math or head to movies for one of the season's newest family flicks.
Holiday activities
"Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection"
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Take a journey back in time as you peruse this vintage collection of
- New-York Historical Society 170 Central Park West, between 76th and 77th Sts
- Until Sun Jan 27
"The Grinch's Holiday Workshop"
At CMOM's latest interactive exhibit, kids immerse themselves in the world
- Children's Museum of Manhattan 212 W 83rd St, between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway
- Sun Jan 6
Origami Holiday Tree
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
More than 500 handmade origami ornaments adorn the holiday season's
- American Museum of Natural History Central Park West, at 79th St
- Sun Jan 6
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
- Price band: 3/4
You'll get a kick out of this holiday stalwart, which still features
- Radio City Music Hall 1260 Sixth Ave, at 50th St
- Until Sun Dec 30
Free activities for kids
30th Annual Wreath Exhibition
- Critics choice
- Free
This multifaceted display of door hangings features 43 unconventional
- Arsenal Gallery in Central Park 830 Fifth Ave, at 64th St, third floor
- Thu Jan 10
City Harvest Gingerbread Extravaganza
- Free
You may not be allowed to nibble on the confectionary edifices featured in
- Le Parker Meridien 119 W 56th St, between Sixth and Seventh Aves
- Until Thu Jan 3
- Lefferts Historic House Museum 95 Prospect Park West, at Flatbush Ave
- Until Tue Jan 1
New York Transit Museum's Holiday Train Show
- Critics choice
- Free
The iconic Grand Central Terminal turns 100 in 2013—and the railroad hub
- New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex Grand Central Terminal, E 42nd St, between Lexington and Vanderbilt Aves
- Until Sun Feb 10
Clifford's Happy New Year Party
- Free
Prepare for New Year's Eve with everyone's favorite big red dog! Kids will
- Scholastic Store 557 Broadway, between Prince and Spring Sts
- Until Sat Dec 29
- Queens Library, Ridgewood Branch 20-12 Madison Street, between Forest and Fairview Aves
- Until Mon Dec 31
R&R: Shabbat at the JCC
- Free
Spend an afternoon of free fun with the JCC in Manhattan! While grownups
- JCC in Manhattan 334 Amsterdam Ave, at 76th St
- Until Sat Mar 23
- Queens Library, Flushing 41-17 Main St, between 41st Ave and 41st Rd
- Until Sat Dec 22
Christmas in New York
Holiday windows and displays
Take the family on a tour of this year's stunning department store holiday
Museum events
Holiday Week Workshop: Claymation Creatures
Tweens are invited to the Museum of Moving Image for a DreamWorks animated
- Museum of the Moving Image 36-01 35th Ave, at 37th St
- Until Tue Jan 1
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Ave, at 82nd St
- Sun May 26 - Sun Aug 25
Björk's Biophilia workshops
City kids will get to know the Icelandic musician Björk, her music and a
- Children's Museum of Manhattan 212 W 83rd St, between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway
- Until Sun Dec 30
Vacation Week Art Workshop: Whimsical Puppet Creatures
- Price band: 1/4
Take advantage of the break from school by dropping in to the Jewish
- The Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Ave, at 92nd St
- Until Sun Dec 30
Winter break camps
Winter break camps for NYC kids
These winter break camps keep the children busy—and give you a break!—during this year's holiday recess.
December in New York
Kwanzaa Celebration
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Take in the sights and sounds of African and African-American arts and
- American Museum of Natural History Central Park West, at 79th St
- Sat Jan 4
The Event of a Thread
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Installation artist Ann Hamilton blends elements of nostalgia, sound,
- Park Avenue Armory 643 Park Ave, between 66th and 67th Sts
- Sun Jan 6
"Harry Potter: The Exhibition"
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
After a successful run at Discovery Times Square last spring, "Harry
- Discovery Times Square 226 W 44th St, between Seventh and Eighth Aves
- Mon May 6 - Sun Apr 7
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