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Midwinter Break Activities in NYC and Nearby 2024

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Midwinter Break Activities Around NYC 2024

Midwinter break for New York public schools and some private schools is here! While the weather can be all over the map these days we live in the best place to keep the kids active and play tourist.

We’ve rounded up some of the best things to do during the kids’ week off of school. Take a visit to a museum, blow off some steam or create something new!

Psst…

Click on your location to jump to events near you!

Citywide
Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens
Bronx
Long Island
Rockland/Bergen

Citywide

Play a Game of Laser Tag

Give your kids an afternoon to blow off steam with a few rounds of laser tag. It’s the perfect family activity for all ages, and there’s laser tag spots all over New York!

Visit an Indoor Play Space

Indoor play spaces offer comfortable and secure play areas for children to play in while they burn pent up energy, explore fun games and stimulating activities, and make new friends.

Every play space is unique, offering obstacles courses, games, and activities that will keep kids of all ages laughing and at play.

Your kids are probably bouncing off the walls by the time midwinter break rolls around, so a family trip to one of New York’s many trampoline parks. Turn your outing into a day of fun for the whole family.

Go Ice Skating

Take full advantage of the winter season! There are a ton of indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks in NYC and on Long Island for you and your family to check out during mid-winter break. Don’t forget to grab a cup of hot chocolate to warm up when you’re done!

Take a Look at the Stars

A week off of school is the perfect opportunity for a late night stargazing adventure with your family. We’ve put together some tips for beginner stargazers and some of the best spots near New York City for you and your family to gaze at the stars.

Psst…Our Ultimate Summer Camp Guide 2024 is here!

Manhattan

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum – Kids Week

Feb. 17 to 24

Children of all ages can learn about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) through fun activities, exhibits, live animal shows, workshops, performances and more. Check out the full lineup of the week’s events on the museum’s website!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – School Break Programs

Feb. 20 and 22, 1 to 4 pm

Drop in and create art inspired by the Met collection on this break from school! School break programs at the Met are recommended for families with children ages 3 to 11 years. All family programs are free with admission.

And while you’re there, be sure to check out the Met’s 81st Street Studio to experience the museum in a freeform, hands-on way.

CAMP 5th Avenue – Trolls x CAMP

Trolls fans can step into a one-of-a-kind musical adventure at Trolls x CAMP. Take an interactive bus ride and be part of a live Trollpop concert. You can even meet Poppy and Branch while you’re there! Trolls fans of all ages are sure to have a troll-tastic time.

American Museum of Natural History – The Secret World of Elephants

You can learn all about elephants in the new exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History. Featuring life-size models, engaging interactive and more, visitors young and old will find out why elephants are essential to their ecosystems and how we’ve learned more about elephants over time.

Bryant Park – Bumper Cars on Ice

Bumper Cars on Ice are back in Bryant Park! Bump and slide with your family; these bumper cars are perfect for guests 7 years old and up, making it perfect for kids looking to blow off some steam while they’re off from school.

Museum of Broadway

This mid-winter break, take a family trip to the first permanent museum documenting the history of Broadway and its influence on Manhattan and culture. The Museum of Broadway is the ultimate destination for theatre lovers of any age and it’s the perfect choice for a day out.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Children’s Museum – Black Future Festival

Feb. 18 to 25

Spend your mid-winter break at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a week of reflection and future-forward fun. Cultural curator Adia Tamar Whitaker and the BCM present a week-long experience featuring dance, historical explorations, art projects, music and more.

The activities at Black Future Festival are inspired by the national celebration of people of the African Diaspora and Black History Month.

Jewish Children’s Museum

Stop by the Jewish Children’s Museum to watch as Jewish history comes to life right in front of your eyes. Explore Jewish life through the museum’s hands-on exhibitions. Check out toys from the toybrary. Play a round of Six Holes of Life mini golf as a family.

Queens

Queens Botanical Garden – School Holiday Programs: Mid-Winter Break

Feb. 20 to 23

In this drop-off break program, kids will have the chance to make art with botanic materials and learn about the contributions of Black scientists in honor of Black History Month.

New York Hall of Science

The New York Hall of Science is open during midwinter break! Make your way through the Hall and learn about different areas of science. Young visitors can explore and build in the Preschool Place. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the educational exhibits located throughout the museum.

Museum of the Moving Image

A trip to the Museum of the Moving Image is a great choice for movie lovers young and old. Learn about the groundbreaking work of Jim Henson or about the work that goes into creating a stop motion film.

Watch screenings of great films snubbed at the Oscars, classic silent films, family-friendly animated films and more.

Bronx

Blippi at the New York Botanical Garden

Feb. 19 to 25, 11 am, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm

This 20-minute interactive experience will showcase the journey a seed takes to become a flower. Through games, music and imagination, Blippi will help prepare the next generation of botanists to care for the natural world. Be sure to stick around after for a photo opportunity!

Bronx Children’s Museum

Visit the Bronx Children’s Museum in its brand new home! Explore what makes the Bronx so special, visit a mini replica of a local neighborhood and learn about the animals that live nearby.

Long Island

Jurassic Quest

Feb. 17 and 18, 9 am to 8 pm; Feb. 19, 9 am to 5 pm

Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest and most popular dinosaur event. See a heard of life size dinosaurs, interact with dino trainers and baby dinos, and watch a live Raptor Training Experience. Look for clues throughout the exhibit, dig for fossils and more!

The Center for Science Teaching and Learning – School’s Out!

Feb. 19 to 23

Keep learning on your break from school at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning. Drop in for full-day programming where kids can explore nature, visit live animals, conduct experiments, take part in science shows and more.

Long Island Science Center – Mid-Winter Break Classes

Feb. 20 to 24

MakerSpace is open for midwinter break! Their mid-winter break classes include the workshop as well as museum admission for the participating student. Learn about hovercrafts, Rube Goldberg machines, roller coasters and much more.

Rockland/Bergen

Newark Museum of Art – Animal Kingdom Exhibit

Learn about the wonders of the animal kingdom from the comfort of an art museum!

The Animal Kingdom exhibition at the Newark Museum of Art teaches visitors about the different animals that inhabit the land, air and sea and how we as humans impact them through a series of immersive and interactive experiences.