Weekly Highlights in NYC #20: December 16-22

Winter break camp recommendations, fun performances this week, great parties in January to get tickets for now and my favorite NYC books for kids...

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There are a LOT of holiday happenings that are ongoing—check out my NYC 2025 Holiday Guide for a comprehensive list. And also, here is my gift guide, if you missed it!

Winter break can feel long. If you’re staying in NYC, here are some activity ideas and day camps to help keep your kids happily busy for the next couple of weeks:

• There are several sports-focused camps to consider, including Fast Break Sports, Dribbl, Chelsea Piers, and Asphalt Green

• NORY: Full- and half-day camp options with STEM and coding programs for ages 3–12.

• ColorPop: School-holiday camps available by the day (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) for ages 4–12, plus Open Studio times on weekends. The Craft Studio offers similar programs.

• Chelsea also has great creative options, including Genius Gems (a favorite with my kids!), Tastes Buds Kitchen, and The Fashion Class.

• The Met—School-Break Family Afternoon, Art Adventures in Egypt: December 29–30 at 1 p.m. Hands-on workshops for families with children ages 3–11, exploring Egyptian art and making crafts. Free with museum admission; materials provided. Space is limited.

• For younger children (ages 3–5), top picks include Art Farm Camp and Kids in Sports.

• Funky Funky Christmas at Brooklyn Bowl: Sunday, December 21 at 12 p.m. at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. A festive, family-friendly holiday concert presented by Rock and Roll Playhouse—an energetic, fun way to celebrate the season with kids.

• My kids love the performances at the 92NY. Disney’s The Little Mermaid runs through December 20, with multiple showtimes. It’s a vibrant, family-friendly musical retelling of Ariel’s underwater adventure, filled with singing, dancing, and plenty of magic.

• The Little Orchestra Society presents “Hansel & Gretel!”: Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 at 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. at Kaye Playhouse (Hunter College). A pleasant, family-friendly staging of the classic tale—an easy, enjoyable option if you’re looking to fill a free afternoon.

There are some fabulous parties coming up in 2026, with tickets on sale now—worth planning ahead for. I’d recommend grabbing tickets early to:

• Sunday Funday: January 25 at the Metropolitan Pavilion. A fun-filled, family fundraiser benefiting the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), with games, sports, face painting, dance parties, and food—all supporting CMOM’s exhibits, learning programs, and outreach for NYC children.

• The Met Family Benefit: Seeing Stars will be held on February 5. A special family fundraising event at The Metropolitan Museum of Art combining art-filled exploration and fun.

• Young Hearts Friends Fest: February 10 at the Museum of Ice Cream. A sweet, family-friendly afternoon hosted by Nicky Hilton and friends, benefiting God’s Love We Deliver. The event brings kids and parents together to celebrate community, learn about giving back, and support meals for New Yorkers living with serious illness. Use promocode LINDAGREENBERG for a discount on individual tickets, courtesy of a friend involved with the organization.

• We were so behind on getting our Christmas tree (no surprise). I wanted an easy delivery early in the week and found NYCTrees online. I am so pleased with the tree they delivered—it’s by far the nicest, freshest, and most fragrant tree I’ve had in NYC. If you’re last-minute like us and still need a tree, I’d highly recommend them (definitely bookmark for next year!). This is not sponsored, but I did reach out to share my praise, and they kindly offered promocode about&out for 15% off any order.

• Here are some of my favorite NYC-themed books—perfect for reading to my kids or as a gift for out-of-towners (thinking of my godson in London!): New York, Baby! (A must for any NYC child. We’ve read it so many times I had to buy a second copy, and I can proudly recite the whole book from memory.), Mr. Boddington’s Studio: NYC ABCs, This Is New York, Little Kid, Big City!: New York, and No Jumping on the Bed! (apartment living gets real in this book, also my favorite as a child)

• My favorite spot to take the kids to see Christmas lights is 73rd Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue—a charming residential block. My favorite decorated townhouse is on 76th Street between 5th and Madison, which I featured in my IG post here.

• I got these ornaments for the kids to decorate, and it’s been a fun craft to keep them busy—plus, they add a thoughtful touch to a card. We’re giving them to teachers, doormen, and friends! (We replaced with a velvet red ribbon, used gem stickers and alphabet stickers to spell out each recipient’s name.)

• This weekend we baked these chewy sugar cookies, and they’ve instantly become my favorite recipe—they’re just as easy as they are delicious. I also made chewy gingerbread cookies, which I highly recommend as well; they pair nicely together for gifting.

If you missed it, here’s a NYC 2025 Holiday Guide for a comprehensive list of all December happenings. And also, check out my gift guide!