Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

Bryant Park’s third annual Winter Carnival will begin this Friday! Photo by Angelito Jusay Photography via wintervillage.org.

January is wrapping up this week, and we found some fabulous events for you and yours. Check out two winter themed events: a colorful carnival and a jolly jam. If you are more in the mood for a kid-pleasing play or film festival, we’ve got you covered. There is also a joyous Japanese new year’s celebration to delight all ages. Enjoy!

Beginning Friday, January 27

Winter Carnival
Bryant Park
12-10pm
Celebrate winter during Bryant Park’s Third Annual Winter Carnival. All ages are invited to participate in an eclectic mix of outdoor seasonal activities including ice skating lessons, juggling workshops, an Ice Ball, curling lessons, a Cozy Sweater Pup Meet-Up, and more. Be sure to attend the Silent Disco on Sunday, January 29, an outdoor dance party where dancers will be provided with headphones to boogie down to DJ music. Runs through Saturday, February 4. This event is free.

Saturday, January 28

Winter Jam
Central Park
11am-3pm
Enjoy a free afternoon of winter activities this Saturday in Central Park! Winter Jam activities include arctic golf, an ice slide for ages 5 and under, live ice sculpting, shuffleboard games, the Taste of NY Winter Market, and more. This event is free and will be held rain, snow, or shine. All ages and abilities welcome.

Beginning Saturday, January 28

“Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!”
New Victory Theater
Various times
Best buddies Elephant and Piggie are complete opposites, but that doesn’t stop them from having a ton of fun together! Based on the “Elephant and Piggie” children’s book series by Mo Willems, this musical presented by the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour answers challenging questions such as “Should you share your ice cream?” and “What do you wear to a fancy costume pool party?” Recommended for ages 4 to 7. Runs Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, February 5. Tickets start at $25.

Saturday, January 28-Sunday, January 29

BAMkids Film Festival 2017
Brooklyn Academy of Music
9:30am-4pm
The BAMkids Film Festival is back for its 19th year this weekend! This year the fest will screen shorts and feature films from 27 countries, including “Molly Monster” and “Martha & Niki,” a doc about the first female champions of the world’s largest hip hop dance competition. After the screenings children can stop by the café for face painting, animation workshops, balloon twisting, a performance by the Fire Flame Steppers, food, and much more. Recommended for ages 3 to 11. Tickets are $10 for ages 13 and under and $14 for adults.

Sunday, January 29

New Year’s Celebration: Oshogatsu
Japan Society
1-4pm
In honor of the Japanese New Year, Japan Society is hosting its annual Oshogatsu celebration this Sunday. Stop by for an afternoon filled with traditional Japanese entertainment and activities like rice-pounding workshops, calligraphy sessions, kite making, games, live taiko drumming, and storytelling. Light Japanese meals, snacks, and refreshments will be available for purchase from BentOn Cafe. Tickets are $18. Children ages 2 and under are free.

British Swim School - Long Island

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"

Yuletide Factory

Fill your hearts with circus cheer&mdash;the merry daredevils of Cirque Mechanics (Zephyr, 2023) are back with an industrial-strength spectacular for you and your kin. Sparkling with holiday spirit, the ever energetic ensemble of acrobats transforms a drab assembly plant into a holly jolly Yuletide Factory! From the wonder of the German wheel to festive flips from the trampoline wall, they dash and dance through a pageant of powerhouse stunts with grins and goodwill. It&rsquo;s high-flying fun, comfort and joy for the whole family!