To help you plan your busy weekend, we have partnered with Mommy Poppins, the NO COST online resource curating the best things to do for kids and families in NYC. Each week they will provide us with their top weekend picks for events and activities in New York City.
It’s the last weekend before Christmas and NYC is overflowing with holiday cheer. It’s a great weekend to hit all the seasonal sights before the tourists take over. So in between last-minute gift shopping, make sure you carve out time to see Santa, gawk at awesome holiday windows and light displays.
ALL WEEKEND:
Grand Opening: Ice-Skating Rinks in Prospect Park – Prospect Park
After years of construction and $74 million dollars, Prospect Park‘s brand-new ice-skating spot is set to open to the public. Dubbed the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, the complex features two rinks, a cafe and awesome views. Plus it’s one of the cheaper outdoor rinks in town, and will offer hockey and learn-to-skate programs. $6 on weekdays, $8 on weekends, $5 for skate rental
Holiday Circus – Brighton Beach
Watch as circus skills are mixed with seasonal spirit. Santa himself hosts the show, which features acrobats, jugglers, animal acts and, new this year, Grandma the Clown, formerly of the Big Apple Circus. $35-$65 but you can save money on tickets through Mommy Poppins affiliate Goldstar.
SATURDAY:
East Meets West Christmas Parade – Little Italy to Chinatown
One of Mommy Poppins December Go List picks: Adjacent communities Chinatown and Little Italy come together to celebrate the holidays in this multi-culti mash up. Watch marching bands, Chinese Lion and Dragon Dance troupes, half a dozen floats, a gondola on wheels, and other entertainers and attractions parade throughout the nabes’ main streets. FREE
Make Music Winter – Manhattan & Brooklyn
Make some noise at a dozen interactive music-filled parades in honor of winter solstice. While a handful of the processions require preregistration and rehearsals, most don’t. Families should enjoy Tom Peyton’s Bell by Bell in Midtown West and Peregrine, a boombox parade in Fort Greene led by Unsilent Night‘s Phil Kline. See the event listing for the complete schedule of parades. FREE
SUNDAY
Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas – Williamsburg
Hit theater/restaurant Nighthawk Cinema for a family matinee of Jim Henson’s made-for-TV movie Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas followed by a concert by Lloyd Miller of Deedle Deedle Dees fame. Preregistration required. The Saturday screening is already sold out but there are still spots for Sunday’s as of this writing. FREE but families are encouraged to order food
Like what you read? Sign up for our free newsletter so you can be informed of the latest FREE webinars & teleclasses, parenting articles, & weekly raffles.
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.
