New York Family Magazine
Bonus Tip

Are you ready for MulchFest 2012? This Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 2pm, bring your undecorated Christmas tree to a chipping or drop-off location nearby (over 70 locations citywide). Kiddos will adore watching their tree get sucked into the mulching machine (trust us on this!). As a souvenir, everyone can take home a bag of mulch to use in their backyard come springtime. Last year, over 17,000 trees were recycled! Find a MulchFest location near you.    

Weekend Plans & More  

Celebrate Three Kings Day tomorrow with a festive parade in East Harlem sponsored by El Museo del Barrio. Did we mention the live camels? (Friday)

 
Choo-choo! There are only two weekends left to get your fill of the Holiday Train Show at the
New York Botanical Garden. Bring your camera (and of course, the kiddos), as Thomas & Friends fill the day with mini-performances. (Friday-Sunday)

 

It's all about the art of dancing and drumming at the opening weekend of Cumbe--a center for African and Diaspora dance--in Brooklyn. Family members of all ages can try everything from Good Boogie to Afro-Caribbean Percussion. (Saturday-Sunday)

 

What happens when a trio of clowns waits around for a circus that never comes? They perform their own show, of course! See the charming venture, Circus in a Trunk, which opens at the Canal Park Playhouse this weekend. (Saturday-Sunday)

 

Speaking of the circus, it's Grandma's last weekend under the Big Top with the Big Apple Circus. Come say your goodbyes and celebrate 25 years of laughs! (Saturday-Sunday)

 

The Children's Museum of Manhattan is waving their fitness flag high this weekend. Choose from easy-to-learn Family Zumba with Equinox (Saturday) or two sessions of feel-good Naam Yoga. (Sunday)

 

Root for your favorite robot as it navigates a course at Liberty Science Center's FIRST Tech Teen Challenge. Find out that engineering is the stuff of kids, too! (Saturday) 

 

In a limited one-week run, the 14th Street Y presents Hanna and the Moonlit Dress based on the beloved Israeli children's book. Little ones will learn the value of a good deed. (Saturday-Sunday)

 

Get your fill of Charlie & Kiwi's Evolutionary Adventure--an English/Spanish exhibition that explores the link between dinos and birds--before it closes at the New York Hall of Science. (Saturday-Sunday) 

 

The Whitney is holding a series of family workshops entitled The Art of Experimentation over the next three Saturdays. Curious clans should sign up if Galileo and creative collages sound out-of-this-world. (Saturday) 

 

Pick out which plush friend you'll be bringing to the Scholastic Store's Bedtime Book Pajama Party. PJ portraits and show-and-tell are on deck. (Saturday) 

 

Prepare yourself for sing-alongs, dance-alongs (and maybe even be some yell-alongs) at 92Y Tribeca's Billy Kelly concert. (Sunday) 

 

It's all about the Gershwin brothers at the Kaufman Center's Broadway Playhouse Production this Sunday. Ages 4-11 can discover the duo's Broadway legacy through interactive games and a mini-musical. (Sunday)           

 

Learn the legend of La Befana--the Italian Witch who delights with gifts--who will be making an appearance at Snug Harbor's Little Christmas celebration. (Sunday) 

 

Everyone's favorite Big Red Dog takes the spotlight at the Brooklyn Center for a choreographed show all-about Clifford that will teach 4's and up the value of friendship. (Sunday)

          

From the speed of Irish stepping to the sounds of staccato step, Symphony Space's Stam-Pede event, featuring 8 celebrated dance companies, is sure to get your family's feet a-tapping. (Sunday)

For even more events this weekend and beyond, check out our Family Calendar.      

Contests & Giveaways 

*FOR THE WHOLE FAM* 

No plans this weekend? We're giving away a family 4-pack for Disney on Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey for this Saturday's Azure Eventperformance, January 7 at 7pm at Nassau Coliseum. To enter, post on our Facebook Page telling us why you want to bring your family. Then, email us with the subject line "Disney on Ice" and be sure to leave your contact information. Deadline is this Friday at 12noon.  

 

*FOR TODDLERS*   

Can't get enough of Clifford? Then this week's Azure Eventgiveaway, suitable for children aged 2 and up, is your Scholastic dream come true! The BIG BIG Collection is a 6-DVD set from Lionsgate, with over 50 stories and 9 hours of doghouse fun. We have two full DVD sets for lucky tots. To enter, post on our Facebook Page telling us about your favorite dog (real or fictional). Then, send us an email with the subject line "Clifford." Deadline is Wednesday, January 11.

 

*FOR TWEENS*

Style addicts 8 and up will go Gaga over this Azure Eventgiveaway: Nina Chakrabarti's giant coloring book of fashion projects. We've also thrown in a set of fashion postcards so that your design maven can flaunt her talent worldwide! With two stellar sets to dole out, all you have to do is email us about your tween's love for all things art and clothing with the subject line "Wonderful World." Deadline to enter is Wednesday, January 11.

Bonus Tip 
The public library, especially in winter, is one of the most overlooked family venues for a variety of fun and free activities. This season's calendar of activities is sure to offer something for everyone--from animal exploration to time with Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. Here's a sampling of some classes, programs and activities being offered this winter by the New York Public Library (which covers Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island--Queens and Brooklyn families, which have amazing library systems too, should look here and here). Finally, we've included some wonderful upcoming readings for children at local bookstores.

January 5-11, 2012

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