04 Jan January Must Do List for NYC Kids

It’s the start of a new year, and we love new beginnings and planning ahead.

Welcome to the first of a brand new monthly feature – Must Do List. Here we share fun family happenings for the month ahead. We may be looking at a long and cold January, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some great fun with our little ones. Wishing you and yours a fabulous start to 2021.

NYBG Glow
Select Dates till January 9; 5–10 p.m.
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458-5126

An outdoor color and light experience. This holiday season, let it GLOW at The New York Botanical Garden in an all-new outdoor experience illuminating NYBG’s landmark landscape and Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

With lots of room to spread out, explore a glowing world of color and light featuring the Haupt Conservatory as the centerpiece—its iconic exterior a glittering canvas. Washes of brilliant colors, thousands of dazzling lights, and picture-perfect installations fill the Reflecting Pool and enliven surrounding gardens and collections. Also during your visit, enjoy artistic ice carving displays, roving dancers and musicians, plus more outdoor fun. Timed entry tickets required.
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NYBG Holiday Train Show®
On till Sunday, January 31, 2021
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458-5126

Members Experience the Magic of the Holiday Train Show®
With tickets and capacity very limited due to enhanced safety protocols that include social distancing, the only way to see this captivating display is as a Member, Patron, Corporate Member, or Bronx Community Partner.

Marvel at model trains zipping through an enchanting display of famous New York landmarks—imagine the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, and other favorites—each delightfully re-created from natural materials such as birch bark, acorns, and cinnamon sticks.

NYBG is pleased to be able to present this beloved, 29-year tradition as an expression of appreciation to our Members and our Bronx community for their loyalty and support.
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Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Daily till March 7, 2021
Bryant Park, New York, NY 10018

Bank of America Winter Village at 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 by Urbanspace.

Per New York State safety guidelines, things have changed in order to keep all visitors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Origami Holiday Tree
Until January 10, 2021
Open 10 am–5:30 pm, Wednesday–Sunday
American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

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.
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Oshogatsu Virtual Family Festival Year of the Ox
January 3–8, 2021
Online with Japanese American National Museum
Free

Join Japanese American National Museum for a week of virtual, kid-friendly activities to celebrate the New Year!

From interactive, offline festivities for all ages to multi-lingual story times and play performances, welcome the Year of the Ox with JANM!
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The Winter Escape
Thursday to Sunday till January 10, 2021
Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004
$24; $15 (ages 10 & under); ages 0-1 free

Winter is upon us and The Floral Escape is ready to spread some holiday cheer! The Winter Escape is all your holiday and winter favorites bundled up into a multi-sensory floral experience like none you have ever visited before. Take a stroll through our Gingerbread Village, or stop by and smell our Candy Cane Rose Garden. Smile, sparkle & shine to make it a holiday season to remember with endless blooming, photo-ops bound to have you feeling merry & bright!
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Learn to Draw with Muppets Illustrator Guy Gilchrist
Sunday, January 24
4pm to 5pm
Online via Zoom with Children’s Museum of the Arts
$5 Tickets / Free for Members

Have you dreamed of learning how to draw from the illustrator of The Muppets? How about listening to a live reading from a Tony Award-winning actor? Join Jim Henson right-hand man Guy Gilchrist and True Blood actor Denis O’Hare for a virtual workshop celebrating the release of their book Monster Dance.

Monster Dance is the first multimedia book designed to help children cope with drastic lifestyle changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, published by Madeleine Editions.
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Little New-Yorkers @ Home
Every Tuesday and Friday
Via Zoom with the New-York Historical Society
Free; ages 3-6

Join us via Zoom every Tuesday and Friday for story time and crafts! Each class includes a special Little New-Yorkers hello song, silly dances and songs, a story book reading, and a craft to do at home. This week, read This Moose Belongs To Me, written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, and meet Wilfred who thinks he owns a moose named Marcel.  Find out who Marcel the moose really belongs to! Then, create your own moose that belongs only to you.
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Skyline Drive-In
Movies shown every evening
Skyline Drive-In, 1 Oak St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
From $22

Enjoy the backdrop of the Manhattan Skyline whilst at the drive-in. Movies are shown nightly. – see this link for the full list – lots of family friendly options. NYC is a walking city and that’s why they have a brand new seating area! Have a bicycle? That works too! Outdoor seating is an option, so you can sit back and enjoy a movie even if you don’t own a car.

Situated on the East River with views of the Manhattan Skyline
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Skate the Skyline Vale Rink
Wed-Sun till January 31
Vale Rink, The William Vale, 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Adults $20; Children (12 and under) $12

Vale Rink takes the 23rd floor to new heights this season! Go all the way up to the top of The William Vale to glide across the outdoor, sustainable skating rink with iconic views of the Manhattan skyline. Take a break from the skates and warm up in the heated enclosure.
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Click here for all events and happenings this month.

Always check ahead with venue before setting off. Please stay safe at all times adhering to social distancing, and wearing a mask.