Hit one of the amazing beaches in NYC, by train, ferry, bike, or car. Photo by Sara Marentette
40 Things To Do in NYC Before School Starts
Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.
25 Back-to-School Tasks You Didn't Know You Could Pay Someone Else to Do
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Enjoy the spacious shore and freshwater at Fahenstock State Park's Lake Canopus. Photo courtesy of I Love the Hudson Valley
Best Swimming Lakes near NYC You Need to Discover
Dreamery uses only the best all-natural milk and cream from local New York State creameries.
Best Cold Treats in NYC for Kids: Ice Cream, Ice Pops, and More
The Brooklyn Museum is a premier art museum, with floors of treasures and outdoor art, too.
Brooklyn Museum Guide For Kids - Everything You Need to Know Before Your Family Visit
The splash pad in Domino Park puts a smile on faces young and old. Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Top Sprinkler Parks and Splash Pads in NYC for Kids
Frolic in the Fountain of the Fairs, one of our 100 favorite free things to do this summer in NYC.
100 Free Things To Do in NYC this Summer with Kids
GUIDE
Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide
The Pier 6 Waterlab has been one of our favorite NYC splash pads since it opened in 2010. Photo by Sara M
Play Fountains in NYC Where Kids Can Get Totally Soaked
We've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring background-checked nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory.
Find Trusted Babysitters and Nannies Now on Mommy Poppins–Powered by Care.com
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
Enjoy the Summer of Spongebob, courtesy of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana - and Mommy Poppins!
Your Ultimate Summer Starts with Our Nickelodeon Resort Giveaway, Deals, and Guide
Make a splash at Coney Island when you need to beat the heat in NYC. Photo by author
Heat Wave Hot List: 50 Cool Things To Do in NYC with Kids
Enjoy the popular Movies With a View series at Brooklyn Bridge Park in July and August. Photo by Etienne Frossard
Where to See Free Summer Movies in NYC for an Outdoor Movie Night
Noshing on a funnel cake on the Coney Island boardwalk is a sweet ending to an epic day of summer fun.
50 Things To Do This Summer in NYC: Summer Fun Guide
Coney Island's shores are easy to get to, and action packed from the rides to the waves. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
Best NYC Beaches by Ferry or Train
See Isabella's flower-filled wonderland in real-life at the new Disney Encanto x CAMP experience at the Flatiron location.
Encanto's Casita Comes to Life at CAMP Fifth Avenue
GUIDE
Family Amusement Parks & Water Parks Guide
NYC school kids head back to school on Thursday, September 7, 2023, according to the newly released NYC public school calendar. Photo by Al De Ingeniis
2023-24 NYC Public School Calendar: New Holidays, Plus 2024 & 2025 Calendars
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Enjoy a wild visit to the Philadelphia Zoo during a weekend getaway to the City of Brotherly Love. Photo courtesy of the zoo
13 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Lola and Tots offers is a drop-in play as well as membership-based childcare with co-working benefits.
19 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Eat on the rooftop at Fornino on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. Photo by Lisa Seibold-Winder
Best Outdoor Dining in Brooklyn at Family-Friendly Restaurants
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
The Brooklyn Children's Museum offers three floors of rotating and permanent interactive exhibits perfect for warding off the rainy day blues. Photo courtesy of BCM
Indoor Activities for Kids: 35 Things To Do in NYC on a Rainy Day
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
& Juliet turns Shakespeare's classic tale on its head with plenty of girl power. Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy
Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
22 Free Indoor Places To Play in NYC
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones in NYC
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
Hunting down pop-up public art displays is one of our favorite free things to do in NYC. Zaq Landsberg's Reclining Liberty is on display in Morningside Park through April 2022.
100 Free Things To Do in NYC With Kids
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
Top Attractions in NYC: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Find the NYC neighborhood that fits your family.
GUIDE
Moving Guide: Top NYC Neighborhoods for Families
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
GUIDE
News & Openings in NYC
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

Free in December: 18 Things To Do in NYC with Kids

The Luminaries Return to light up the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place. Photo courtesy of Brookfield Place
The Luminaries Return to light up the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place. Photo courtesy of Brookfield Place
12/1/22 - By Rosalind Muggeridge

We've got the best antidote to holiday spending: This list of free things to do in December with kids. While our picks include everything from the season-long Luminaries at Brookfield Place to free holiday break fun in Prospect Park, consider this just the tip of the iceberg, because beyond these 18 free things to do in December, we've got a whole other post on the best free holiday events.

Read on for all our top picks for free fun this December—non-holiday edition—and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for fun things to do any day of the month.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Enjoy story time courtesy of local drag performers at Lincoln Center's Drag Story Hour. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center
Enjoy story time courtesy of local drag performers at Lincoln Center's Drag Story Hour. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center

Free Things To Do in December in NYC

Zeshan B

Upper West Side
Saturday, December 3
A veteran of Lincoln Center's performance and education programs, Zeshan performs a family-friendly inclusive matinee concert featuring new songs crafted in collaboration with Lincoln Center specifically for audiences with autism and other developmental disabilities. READ MORE

Drag Story Hour

Upper West Side
Saturday, December 3
Lincoln Center teams up with the New York Library for the Performing Arts to offer this interactive storytelling event specifically developed for kids. The program features local costumed performers reading picture books, singing songs, and leading dance activities in a fun and age-appropriate introduction to gender diversity. READ MORE

Winter Wonder at the Queens Botanical Garden

Flushing, Queens
Saturday, December 3-Sunday, December 4
Celebrate the best of December with free live musical performances, a tree and menorah lighting, holiday crafts, a tree tour, and selfies with Santa (donations welcome). READ MORE

Holiday Creative Break on Little Island

Chelsea
Thursdays and Saturdays from December 3-December 17
Make a holiday-themed postcard on Little Island to spread some joy by mailing your postcard to family, friends, or neighbors. READ MORE

Family Program - Printmaking and Patterns

Bronx
Sunday, December 4
Experiment with printmaking at the Lehman College Art Gallery. Learn about the work of Edouard Duval-Carrié on an inquiry-based family tour of the exhibition, NY Latin American Art Triennial 2022. Then, create your own patterns in relief printmaking. READ MORE

Fifth Avenue for All

Midtown East
Sundays December 4, 11, and 18
Fifth Avenue is closed to all vehicular traffic, and open to a variety of food vendors and musical performers including local choirs and instrumental ensembles. READ MORE

Indigenous Storytelling

Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday, December 10
Haudenosaunee storyteller and cultural educator Perry Ground shares some of his favorite stories in the Environmental Education Center. READ MORE

Lenfest Kids: Spirited Away (PG)

Upper West Side
Saturday, December 10
Columbia University School of Arts' monthly series of films for the whole family offers a screening of the 2001 anime smash, Spirited Away, in which a young girl, Chihiro, and her family move to the suburbs and wander into a supernatural realm ruled by gods, witches, and spirits. READ MORE

Broadway Under The Stars

Columbus Circle
Wednesdays through December 14
Broadway and The Shops at Columbus Circle team up for the annual return of Broadway Under the Stars, a six-week series of free public concerts and performances taking place this holiday season.  READ MORE

Mathemagics

NoMad
Wednesday, December 14
America's "Best Math Whiz," Dr. Arthur Benjamin, hosts an entertaining, high-energy evening of mathematical magic! Dr. Benjamin performs computations in his head faster than a calculator, compute the day of the week of any date in history, and perform other amazing feats of mind. READ MORE

Farmhouse Family Day: Festive Colors

Canarsie
Saturday, December 17
Capture the season’s festive holiday colors with a paper stained glass activity at the Wyckoff House Museum, perfect for brightening up the long winter days ahead. READ MORE

Family Christmas Bird Count at Prospect Park

Prospect Park
Saturday, December 17-Sunday, December 18
The Prospect Park Audubon Center hosts this annual event, where all ages can participate in a tradition more than 100 years in the making. This nationwide bird census helps conservation researchers track the long-term health of bird populations.  READ MORE

Unsilent Night 2022

Washington Square Park
Sunday, December 18
Each year, composer Phil Kline leads a massive chorus of boomboxes from the West Village to the East Village in the annual holiday presentation of Unsilent Night. READ MORE

Make Music Winter Event: Pilgrimage

Upper West Side
Wednesday, December 21
Under the guidance of conductor James John, artistic director of the Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble, headlamp-clad singers walk a route along Riverside Park, making stops along the way to sing medieval melodies once sung on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. READ MORE

Festival of Lights: Winter Solstice

Marine Park
Wednesday, December 21
The Urban Park Rangers teach young astronomers (and old) how the winter solstice turns the northern hemisphere toward longer days. READ MORE

Winter Recess in Prospect Park

Prospect Park
Tuesday, December 27-Friday, December 30
Make the most of winter break. The Prospect Park Alliance offers family-friendly programming every day during winter recess. READ MORE

Prospect Park's New Year's Eve Fireworks

Prospect Park
Saturday, December 31
Brooklyn's most spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration returns to Prospect Park's iconic Grand Army Plaza after a three-year hiatus. Quintessential Playlist provides a live concert before the fireworks. READ MORE

Luminaries

Battery Park City
Daily through Friday, January 6, 2023
Visitors are immersed in a canopy of light emanating from hundreds of suspended lanterns floating above the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place. Touch-free Wishing Stations on the ground allow visitors to “send” a wish to the canopy of lanterns above, translating the wish into a mesmerizing display of lights and colors. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: