Our overview features the best events for Brooklyn families in January! Usher in the new year with a cold plunge or a long hike, celebrate Three Kings Day, see Disney on Ice at Barclays Center, bring the kids to a magic show at City Point, celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and more!
1. Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge
Wednesday, January 1 | 11am-1pm | FREE to watch or participate (donations encouraged) | Coney Island Beach
Every New Year’s Day, brave swimmers plunge into the water at Coney Island Beach to symbolically wash away the prior year. The tradition goes back 122 years, and The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing club in the United States, dating back to 1903! Come to watch the madness, or register to participate! You can sign up as an individual, join a team, or create your own team to fundraise. Registered swimmers who reach $50 in donations receive a limited edition beanie. Funds help support local organizations in Coney Island, including the Coney Island YMCA and the New York Aquarium.
2. New Year’s Day Super Hike in Prospect Park
Wednesday, January 1 | 11am-1pm | FREE | Prospect Park
If your New Year’s resolution is to get healthy, join the Urban Park Rangers on a lengthy hike. Dress warmly, put on your hiking shoes, and head to the park. Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City. Explore nature, discover our city’s urban forests, and unplug from the world to clear your head.
3. Celebrate El Día de los Reyes Magos
El Día de los Reyes Magos falls on January 6 and honors the Three Wise Men who brought baby Jesus gifts in the Christmas story. Celebrate Three Kings Day with one of these family-friendly events!
- Three Kings Day Celebration in Battery Park City with Poetry and Music of Puerto Rico
Saturday, January 4 | 3pm | FREE | Battery Park City
Enjoy Three Kings Day traditions with live music, poets, and an open mic for guest poets from the audience. Learn how children in Puerto Rico leave a box with hay or grass for the kings’ camels under their beds (like cookies for Santa) on the night before the holiday. Presented by Nuyorican Poets Café, rooted in the Puerto Rican/ Afro Caribbean legacy of spoken word and honoring history by creating forums for expression and experimentation. All ages welcome! - 3 Kings Day After School Special at Moore Street Market
Monday, January 6 | 2-4pm | FREE | Williamsburg
Celebrate El Día de los Reyes Magos with gifts, crown crafting, and hot chocolate! - El Día de los Reyes Magos at Essex Market
Monday, January 6 | 3-5pm | FREE | Lower East Side
This family-friendly holiday event will be fun for parents and kids alike, with traditional holiday foods, a free tory distribution for kids 4-14, a visit from the Three Kings, music, dancing, and more! - Celebrate Three Kings Day at Moore Street Market
Sunday, January 12 | 3-5pm | FREE | Williamsburg
Moore Street Market is closing out the holiday season with a free community event filled with fun for the whole family! There will be crown crafting for kids, gift giveaways for kids 10 and under (while supplies last, child must be present), live entertainment, and hot chocolate to keep you warm!
4. Recycle your Christmas Tree at Mulchfest
Thursday, December 26–Sunday, January 12 | Chipping Weekend on January 11 & 12, 10am-2pm | See all locations here
Wrap up your holiday season and say goodbye to your tree at Mulchfest! Join NYC Parks in the holiday tradition of recycling your Christmas tree. Tree drop-offs are accepted from December 26 through January 12 at various locations in Brooklyn Bridge Park and around New York City. Select locations will participate in Chipping Weekend on January 11 & 12, 10am-2pm. Attendees can take home a bag of wood chips to use in their own gardens, yards, or street tree beds. Everything you need to know here!
5. Catch a kid-friendly show
- Parklife Fam Jam | Gowanus
Saturdays, 2:30-4:00pm | Starting January 11 | $15/family of 3 and $3/additional person
Join us at Parklife for our new weekly Fam Jam! Every Saturday, we’ve got cool art play for the little kiddos followed by music and sing-along with Our Pal Isaac. And for the big kiddos (aka adults), come and enjoy Parklife’s tacos and margaritas! Doors at 2pm, Art Play at 2:30pm, and Music at 3:15pm. - Free Kids Concerts with Suzi Shelton & Hopalong Andrew at Time Out Market | DUMBO
Friday, January 17: Suzi Shelton | Sunday, January 26: Hopalong Andrew | Doors at 10am, Music 10:15-11:00am | FREE
Calling all of our smallest Brooklyn friends! Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW has teamed up with Time Out Market New York to present free family concerts for toddlers and babies featuring Suzi Shelton and Hopalong Andrew. Located on the 5th floor of Time Out Market at 55 Water Street. - Kids Music Shows with Hopalong Andrew | Various Locations
Drop-in classes daily | Check full schedule here | $20/family for most shows | $10/person for Saturday shows at CityPoint | FREE shows at Gowanus Whole Foods on Tuesday mornings
Award-winning singing cowboy Hopalong Andrew indoor music classes all over Brooklyn each week, including a FREE show at the Gowanus Whole Foods (Tuesdays at 10am) and two shows every Thursday at City Point (downstairs in Dekalb Market Hall, 10am and 12pm) for $20/family, and a 10:30am show at CityPoint (main floor, across from bookstore), for $10/person. Check his Instagram for updates. - Show Up, Kids! at The Rat NYC | DUMBO
Saturdays, 2:00-2:45pm | January 25 through March 15 | $15 tickets
The interactive family comedy “Show Up, Kids!” is making its Brooklyn debut at The Rat NYC in DUMBO! This semi-improvised musical show for kids 3-10 years old puts a wildly comedic twist on the traditional kids’ show. When the main attraction doesn’t show up, the host enlists the help of the kids (and their grownups) to control everything from plot to props, characters to costumes, and settings to sound in a one-of-a-kind, 45-minute laughfest.
6. Skate at one of Brooklyn’s winter ice rinks
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum ArtRink | Crown Heights
Wednesday–Friday, 2-5pm and Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm | $15 museum admission, plus $5 add-on ticket
ArtRink is located on the rooftop of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and is a synthetic ice rink where families can glide around in special sock bootees. This new sock skating experience is perfect for families with young children, offering more control and cushioning than traditional ice skating – no special equipment or preparation needed! - Lakeside at LeFrak Center | Prospect Park
Open daily, see all hours for covered rink & open air rink here | $10.60 on weekdays, $15.25 on weekends
Take a spin around one of these two rinks in beautiful Prospect Park. You even skate between the covered rink and open air rink! The LeFrak Center offers several skating sessions per day, 7 days a week, as well as skate rentals, skate aids, and sharpening services. - Roebling Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Mondays–Thursdays, 2-9pm, Fridays–Sundays, 10am-10pm | $10 tickets, plus FREE sessions for Brooklyn residents on Sundays from 10-11am and Mondays from 5-6pm
Located at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park, right under the Brooklyn Bridge, Roebling Rink offers beautiful views of the skyline while you skate! - Skate at Domino Park | Williamsburg
Mondays–Fridays, 12-9pm, Saturdays & Sundays, 9am-10pm | $18 on weekdays and $22 on weekends (For NY residents, $12 on weekdays and $16 on weekends) | Half-price tickets on Wednesdays
Get ready to experience winter fun at Domino Park’s brand-new ice-skating rink in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! Take in the stunning waterfront views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. New Yorkers can enjoy special pricing all week long, and don’t miss Family Day every Wednesday, featuring half-price tickets and skate rentals. - Industry City Ice Rink | Sunset Park
Thursdays & Fridays, 4-8pm | Saturdays & Sundays, 12-8pm | $10 tickets on Thursdays, $28 admission all other days
The IC Ice Rink welcomes everyone to immerse in an iconic winter experience. Set outdoors, it provides a delightful skating atmosphere, complemented by seasonal drinks and hot cocoa available for purchase nearby.
7. See Frozen and Encanto on Ice at Barclays Center
Thursday, January 16–Sunday, January 19 | Tickets start at $39 | Downtown Brooklyn
Step inside the magical adventures of Disney’s Frozen and Encanto as they are brought to life like never before at Disney On Ice in Brooklyn. Dazzling ice skating transports you to Arendelle to be a part of Anna’s adventure to find Elsa, whose icy powers unleashed an eternal winter. Olaf, Kristoff and Sven take you along as they encounter wintry conditions in a race to bring back summer. Then, enter the fantastical Madrigal family’s Casita amidst the beautiful mountains of Colombia. Join Mirabel on her journey to save her enchanted family home alongside her sisters, Isabela and Luisa. Hosted by Mickey and Minnie, invite your family and friends to sing along to your favorite songs and celebrate the power of love and courage at Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto – the show everyone will be talking about!
8. Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 20, and there are plenty of ways to honor the Civil Rights activist, plus more family-friendly activities on the school holiday.
- Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Sunday, January 19 & Monday, January 20 | 10am-5pm | $15 admission | Crown Heights
Celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through performances, protest marches, community art programs, and volunteer projects! This year’s festival features interactive shadow puppet performances created by Nehprii Amenii, music and protest marching with Brooklyn-based musician Fyütch, Our Skin storytime with author Megan Madison, and community art-making projects. On Monday, January 20, Repair the World will also be organizing a volunteer service project to give back to our community. - MLK Day Of Service for Brooklyn Jewish Families
Monday, January 20 | 10am-12pm | FREE; tickets here | Ages 2-10 | Carroll Gardens
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a hands-on service learning event especially designed for families with children ages 2-10! Participate in engaging activities designed to inspire and give back to the community in partnership with local community organizations. Children and their grownups will be broken up into small groups and rotate through multiple stations, each offering unique ways to contribute and learn about justice and service. Plus, a very special program for our littlest helpers and their grownups, including a sing-along with Tkiya Music and storytime with PJ Library. - The 39th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. at BAM
Monday, January 20 | 10:30am | FREE, tickets are first-come, first served beginning at 8am on 1/20 | Downtown Brooklyn
Join us for a very special solo presentation by Ailey II, vibrant music with The Fire Ensemble led by Troy Anthony, and more. Ring in the New Year with friends, neighbors, artists, and civic leaders in a day of activism, music, and family-friendly activities. Learn more here! - BAMkids Celebrates MLK Day: If You Can’t Be the Sun, Be a Star!
Monday, January 20 | 11:45am, 1:30pm & 3pm | FREE, registration required | Ages 6+ | Downtown Brooklyn
This family-friendly program immerses young people in art forms that express the importance of acts of service and collaborative work, while knowing that your best doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Activities include imaginative movement, creating a collaborative tape mural, celebrating friendship and family in a vintage photo booth, and sharing inspirational messages. Guided by a diverse group of artists, kids will express creativity and build community, while learning about Dr. King’s life and mission. - Martin Luther King Jr. Day School Holiday in Prospect Park
Monday, January 20 | 12-4pm | FREE | No RSVP required | Prospect Park
Join Prospect Park Alliance for family-friendly programming on MLK Jr. Day! There will be a winter wilderness walk, nature-themed activities, and a visit from one of the Audubon’s live animals. See the full schedule of activities here. - Day camps for when public schools are closed
Browse our overview of school holiday camps. There are so many camps to choose from, with activities like art-making, coding and robotics, skateboarding, chess, and so much more! - Best drop-in indoor activities for kids & teens
Looking for a drop-in activity on MLK Jr. Day? Our guide includes including play spaces, story times, arts and crafts, adventure parks, rock climbing, mini golf, bowling and more for all ages.
9. Teen Night at the Brooklyn Museum
Friday, January 24 | 5:00-7:30pm | FREE | Register here | Ages 14-19 | Prospect Heights
Celebrate Brooklyn’s creativity and 14 years of the Brooklyn Museum’s Teen Nights, a teen-led program centered on art and activism! This evening will feature art-making, performances, and much more, all inspired by The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, a major group show uniting more than 200 artists. Find it all at 200 Eastern Parkway—renamed Teens Parkway for this special night. Free; registration is encouraged. Open to ages 14–19. Follow #bkmteens on Instagram and Facebook for more details.
10. Celebrate Lunar New Year
Starting January 26 | Various locations
Family-friendly Lunar New Year celebrations will take place indoors and outdoors in the next few weeks in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan! Celebrate the Year of the Snake with traditional lion dances, calligraphy workshops, crafts, story times, and Chinese dance performances. All details here.
Updated: January 10, 2024.
