With Presidents Day Monday and New York City public schools out for mid-winter break, some families are fleeing the icy weather this week for warmer climes. But for those staying local, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to get into. Some museums, like the Intrepid and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, have special programming to help keep kids busy while school’s out. The break also overlaps with Black History Month and ongoing Lunar New Year celebrations, adding to the range of offerings.
The ticket prices for some of these activities can add up, but before paying full freight, be sure to check Culture Pass. Anyone with a public library card can sign up and get free entry to museums, performance venues and even Central Park’s Wollman Rink — although skate rentals aren’t covered.
Here are a few ideas for your family staycation.
Black Future Festival at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum holds its Black Future Festival during mid-winter break each year so kids can take advantage of all the activities the museum has to offer. This year’s program includes dance performances, hip hop classes, poetry and music workshops, mask-making, and more. Kids can even make their own Afrofuturist comic book covers in the style of author and illustrator John Jennings.
“Even though it's at the Children's Museum, we definitely wanted to make it intergenerational with everything that we did because everybody can gain something from it,” said Kendra Bostock, the dancer and teaching artist who curated this year’s event.
Bostock said she was inspired by the annual summer festival she helps organize in Bedford-Stuyvesant with the group Stoops, which also seeks to expose kids to a range of different art forms.
Activities are free with admission.
Feb. 18-25. Tickets and schedule here.
Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum
The Intrepid, a museum situated inside an aircraft carrier on the Hudson River, is already kid-friendly with its interactive maritime and space exhibits. This week there will be extra activities on board, including crafts and animal shows. There will also be activities led by NASA scientists and engineers.
Activities are free with admission.
Feb. 17 to 24. Tickets and schedule here.
Caribbean food tasting at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Chef Isra Gordon, owner of Brooklyn’s Mint Porch Cafe, will host a Caribbean food tasting at the garden from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday. There will also be hands-on activities to celebrate the first birthday of the garden’s Trees of Little Caribbean exhibit. Later in the week, the garden’s conservatory will host indoor activities for kids and toddlers.
Activities are free with admission.
Feb. 19 to 23. Info and tickets here.
Kid’s Week at Bryant Park skating rink
Admission to Bryant Park’s skating rink is always free, although there’s a fee for skate rentals. This week, kids can also get free group skating lessons and take part in a wide range of activities on and off the ice. Activities are organized around special themes, including Transportation Day and Nature Day.
Feb. 20 to 23. More info here.
Lunar New Year Parade in Manhattan’s Chinatown
This year’s lunar new year fell on Feb. 10 but the festivities are still going. Usher in the Year of the Dragon at the annual Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown. It will start at Mott Street and Canal Street. Vendors will also set up festival booths on Bayard Street between Mott Street and Mulberry Street.
Feb. 25, 1 p.m. More info here.
Drop your kids off at the Queens Botanical Garden
Kids in pre-school through 5th grade can spend full days at the Queens Botanical Garden this week making art and planting veggies in the greenhouse.
$110 per day for nonmembers.
Feb. 20 to 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sign up here.
Getting around over the holiday
As you’re making your way around, keep an eye out for subway service changes over the holiday weekend. The 1 train won’t be running between Dyckman Street and 116 Street-Columbia University in either direction, and downtown trains aren't stopping at 207 Street because of structural maintenance, according to the MTA. The J train also won’t be running between Hewes Street. and Broad Street. because of work to replace the tracks. And D train service will be suspended between Norwood-205 Street and 161 Street-Yankee Stadium in either direction.
Alternate side parking will be suspended Monday for Presidents’ Day, but is in effect the rest of the week, according to the sanitation department. The same goes for trash and recycling pickup.