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Free in January: 30+ Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Come to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum after hours and explore exhibits for free on family free nights. Photo courtesy of the museum
Come to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum after hours and explore exhibits for free on family free nights. Photo courtesy of the museum
1/6/23 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

Looking for FREE things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this January? Read on for dozens of great options. 

As spectacular as the holidays are in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, all of the celebrations can take a toll on the family budget. Luckily, we've found tons of fun family-friendly events in January that are FREE to enjoy, so you can give the wallet a rest.  

These awesome activities include an acrobatics performance, interactive science demonstrations, and celebrations of winter held outdoors and indoors. January is also the start of the maple-sugaring season in the area, and you can kick it off with a backyard sugaring workshop. Read on for more of our top FREE event picks in January, and don't forget to eyeball our just-released Best of January List, which includes our top picks all month long. You can always find more freebies in our Guide to Free Things To Do in Westchester with Kids and our rundown of 50 Free Places to Play in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids.

Note that some events listed below may require advance registration. Click through to the listings for details.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Sunday, January 1-Sunday, January 8, 2023

Folk Music from Puerto Rico

White Plains
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Kids and families are invited to enjoy a free live performance of traditional Puerto Rican folk music in the library auditorium. READ MORE

Three Kings Day Bilingual Storytime

White Plains
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Enjoy a storytime in English and Spanish about Día de Reyes with a related craft. Presented in conjunction with the Puerto Rican Artist Poster Exhibit on view in the Library Gallery November 7 through January 7. READ MORE

Storytime Yoga

Croton-on-Hudson
Saturdays, January 7-28, 2023
Introduce your little one to the benefits of yoga. A certified kids' yoga instructor teaches leads participants in acting out favorite stories through yoga, music, movement, breath and sound. This class is perfect for kids ages 6 weeks to 5 years old with a caregiver, but all are welcome. READ MORE

Animal Tracking

Pound Ridge
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Learn how to spot animal tracks in the snow or mud. Come take a walk around the reservation and look for tracks of the local wildlife. READ MORE

Winter Shelter Building

White Plains
Sunday, January 8, 2023
Learn the fundamentals of shelter building, how to adapt them to the winter weather, and build your own using items found in nature. Afterwards, enjoy a hike around Cranberry Lake or visit the animals in the nature center.  READ MORE
Explore the joys of nature in the wintertime at the Sheldrake Environmental Center. Photo courtesy of the center
Explore the joys of nature in the wintertime at the Sheldrake Environmental Center. Photo courtesy of the center

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Monday, January 9-Sunday, January 15, 2023

Jr. Garden Club - Pollinators

Chappaqua
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Join the Junior Garden club and learn about different pollinators and the plants they need to thrive. Kids will learn the differences between moths and butterflies, bees and wasps. Through stories and games children will have fun learning how to care for these gentle creatures. Each child will take home a plant to start their own pollinator garden.  READ MORE

Nature Discovery for 2s and 3s

Larchmont
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Join other families outside with your little ones to explore the joys of nature in the wintertime. Adventures might include studying animal tracks, noticing nests, identifying over-wintering animals, nature activities, and storytime. READ MORE

Family BINGO Night

Montrose
Thursday, January 12 & Wednesday January 18, 2023
Enjoy a family fun night playing BINGO at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library!  Book prizes awarded to all winners.  Ages 5 and up.  READ MORE

Origami Workshop for Teens

Harrison
Friday, January 13, 2023
Learn the art of artistic paper folding in this workshop led by Japanese volunteers. No experience necessary. READ MORE

Backyard Sugaring

Katonah
Saturday, January 14-Sunday January 15, 2023
Kick off maple sugaring season by making maple syrup right in your backyard! Meet at Muscoot's Sugar Shack to learn about the equipment you need, identifying sugar maples in all seasons, the right way to tap trees, and how to turn sap from maples in your yard into syrup on your pancakes. READ MORE

Poison & Venom with the Stamford Museum & Nature Center

Pound Ridge
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Learn about animals that use poison or venom to survive and even meet a few, including a tarantula. Guests can also learn about the venomous snakes in the area. READ MORE

Animals in Hibernation

Rye
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Come out and learn about the animals that hibernate in the sanctuary in the wintertime. Find out where they might be hiding and how they manage to sleep for so long. READ MORE

Happy Birthday Dr. King Storytime

Ossining
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in this special story time featuring the illustrated children's book about his life I Am Martin Luther King Jr. by Brad Meltzer.  READ MORE

Henna for Teens

Tarrytown
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Teens can learn and practice the the Indian art of henna tattooing in this free workshop. READ MORE
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with "Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics" in Croton on Hudson. Photo courtesy of the Croton Free Library

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Monday, January 16-Sunday, January 22, 2023

Storybook Dancing with Steffi Nossen

White Plains
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Children embark on a storybook adventure, enhanced by music and dance. Led by an instructor from the Steffi Nossen School of Dance. READ MORE

Family Storytime: Wolf Moon & Conservation

White Plains
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Families are invited to celebrate the Wolf Moon (January's Full Moon on 1/21) and learn about wolf conservation efforts with a presentation and storytime from authors and wolf activists Lois Kral and Leokadia George.   READ MORE

Storytime & Craft with Risa Horiuchi

Tarrytown
Friday, January 20, 2023
Come in and read a story and make a craft with children's illustrator Lisa Horuichi. Lisa is the illustrator of Malty the Blue Tiger, a bilingual children's book in English and Spanish.  READ MORE

Paper Airplane Flight School

Larchmont
Friday, January 20, 2023
Learn to build paper airplanes that fly the farthest in this free STEM workshop for kids.  READ MORE

Family Free Night at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum

Poughkeepsie
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Come in after-hours and explore all of the museum exhibits for free at family free nights at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum.  READ MORE

Revolutionary Westchester 250: Songs and Stories with Joy Kelly Smith

Harrison
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War by learning some of the folktales, legends, and songs of the period. Joy Kelly Smith presents an interactive performance, accompanying herself on guitar and encouraging the audience participate verbally, with sung response, and with movement.  READ MORE

Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics

Croton-on-Hudson
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with "Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics," a solo acrobatic performance by experienced performer Li Liu. Li performs hand balancing, plate spinning, ribbon dancing, diabolos and foot juggling. She will also teach some basic Chinese phrases and explain the rituals of the Chinese New Year celebrations.  READ MORE

Jewelry-Making with Aribah

Pelham
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Join volunteer Aribah Zaidi in her popular jewelry-making program for kids ages 4 and up. All materials are provided.  READ MORE

Dragons and the Ice Sorceress - A STEAM Program

White Plains
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Join Talewise at the library for an interactive learning experience featuring experiments with dry ice. The audience will help the performer tell the story. READ MORE

Pop-up Bird Cafe at HCL

New Rochelle
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Drop in and make bird feeders to take home using recycled and natural materials. READ MORE

Palisades Center DJ Skate Party

Nyack
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Enjoy free skate rentals, admission, and a DJ performance at this free skate party at the Palisades Center Ice Rink. Skate rentals are free for the entire month of January.  READ MORE
Dia: Beacon offers free admission to its gallery for Hudson Valley residents on the last Sunday of the month. Photo by Diana Kim
Dia: Beacon offers free admission to its gallery for Hudson Valley residents on the last Sunday of the month. Photo by Diana Kim

Free Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Monday, January 23-Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Free Beginner Ice Skating Class

Nyack
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Celebrate national skating month by learning to ice skate in this free 30-minute class with instructors from the Palisades Center Ice Rink’s Skate School, followed by 30 min of free skating. Skate rentals are free for the entire month of January.  READ MORE

Origami for Kids

Croton-on-Hudson
Friday, January 28, 2023
Children ages 5 and up can learn this artistic paper folding technique in this workshop presented by the Northern Westchester Chinese School. READ MORE

Wintering Eagles Hike

Croton-on-Hudson
Friday, January 28, 2023
Get out and enjoy the fresh air on a guided hike through scenic Croton Point Park, and learn to spot bald eagles in their winter habitat. Learn about America's national bird's history and behavior. READ MORE

Fireside Nature Storytime

White Plains
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Bundle up and drop by the nature preserve for a special nature-based storytime outside by the campfire. READ MORE

Super Saturdays: Weird Science with Professor Sparks

Hudson
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Come spend the morning exploring the science of fire with Professor Sparks and her robot canine companion, Spot 2000. After the program, do your own science experiment with Professor Sparks (supplies included with the program). This hands-on program is appropriate for children ages 5 and up. READ MORE

Dia: Beacon Hudson Valley Free Day

Beacon
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Dia: Beacon offers FREE admission to its gallery for Hudson Valley residents on the last Sunday of the month. READ MORE

Winter Sing-Along with Laurel

South Salem
Monday, January 30, 2023
Celebrate winter in this sing-along performance of winter-themed songs by Laurel Aronian, an accomplished singer-songwriter who has studied at Juilliard, Berklee, and Interlochen Center for The Arts.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Trailside Nature Museum - Ward Pound Reservation
Sheldrake Environmental Center
Harrison Public Library - West Harrison Branch
Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary
Harrison Public Library - Richard E. Halperin Building