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28 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC in January 2026 with Kids

Head to the Prospect Park Audobon Center when school is out for some fun, free programming. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance
Head to the Prospect Park Audobon Center when school is out for some fun, free programming. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance
1/1/26 - By Drew Kristofik

If your bank account needs a rest, fear not: We've found 28 FREE things to do in January to keep New York City families busy all month long.

Though most of the big holiday attractions in NYC are packing up the tinsel this month, January celebrations, including the Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem and BAM's annual tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., are just around the corner. Plus, Battery Park City's KindieRock series kicks off at the end of January, so little ones have a warm spot to shake their sillies out, and skating fans (even beginners!) can help Wollman Rink break a World Record.

Want even more fun things to do this January? Our New York City Events Calendar is packed with great family activities every day of the month—and you can filter by age, location, and even FREE events!

Not on our newsletter list yet? Subscribe for FREE and get the best local family fun sent straight to your inbox. Already subscribed? Share it with a friend and start planning your weekend together!

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NYC Parks sponsors Mulchfest events citywide. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
NYC Parks sponsors Mulchfest events citywide. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Free Things To Do in NYC from Thursday, January 1-Sunday, January 4, 2026

123rd Annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club Plunge

Coney Island, Brooklyn
Thursday, January 1, 2026
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club hosts its annual New Year's Day swim in the frigid Atlantic. A $25 suggested donation benefits local Coney Island organizations, including the NY Aquarium and the Alliance for Coney Island. READ MORE

New Year's Day Super Hike in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Dress warmly, put on your hiking shoes, and head to the park. Urban Park Ranger hiking guides 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.    READ MORE

Kids Week: Winter Nature Crafts in Inwood Hill Park

Inwood
Friday, January 2, 2026
Create crafts from items found in nature, with a little help from the Urban Park Rangers. READ MORE

Kids Week: Deer Exploration in Pelham Bay Park

Pelham, the Bronx
Friday, January 2, 2026
Oh deer! Kids learn all about these large animals and explore the park for signs they've passed through. READ MORE

Kids Week: Survival Skills in Fort Greene Park

Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Friday, January 2, 2026
Urban Park Rangers are skilled in the techniques and development of diverse outdoor skills. Learn basic outdoor skills, such as shelter building, fire making, and survival skills. READ MORE

Kids Week: Gather 'Round the Campfire and Tree Cookie Crafts in Poppenhusen Playground

College Point, Queens
Friday, January 2, 2026
Tree cookies are sliced up tree branches that kids can make a multitude of crafts with, from chimes to coasters, to lovely wall pieces. Create something fun around the cozy campfire. READ MORE

Kids Week: Animal Charades in De Matti Park

Park Hill, Staten Island
Friday, January 2, 2026
The Urban Park Rangers introduce kids to local wildlife by acting out some of the roles of favorite animals and their adaptations to living in New York City! READ MORE

Three Kings Day Celebration in Battery Park City

Battery Park City
Saturday, January 3, 2026
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. READ MORE

Mulchfest 2025

Citywide
Through Sunday, January 11, 2026
Bring your holiday tree to Mulchfest to be recycled into mulch to nourish plantings in the parks all year long! You can watch your tree devolve and evolve in person! READ MORE
Teatro SEA invites children to meet the Three Kings and receive a small gift on the holiday. Photo courtesy of Teatro SEA
Teatro SEA invites children to meet the Three Kings and receive a small gift on the holiday. Photo courtesy of Teatro SEA

Free Things To Do in NYC from Monday, January 5-Sunday, January 11, 2026

Three Kings Day at Essex Market

Lower East Side
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Essex Market's free community Three Kings Day event includes a toy distribution for kids ages 4-14. Children can pick out a toy from the Essex Market Toy Drive and try bites from local vendors.   READ MORE

Three Kings Day Parade at Museo del Barrio

East Harlem
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Line up with live camels, colorful puppets, parrandas, music, and dancing on this magical day. This time-honored annual parade begins at 106th Street and Park Avenue and ends at 115th Street and Park Avenue. Return to the museum to keep the party going following the parade. READ MORE

Three Kings Day at Teatro SEA

Lower East Side
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
New York’s only Latino children’s theater celebrates one of the most important Latin American holidays for children, El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos/Three Kings Day.  READ MORE

Family Music Showcase at Lincoln Center

Midtown West
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Prepare to be dazzled by an award-winning, eclectic group of artists as they perform mini-concerts for audiences of all ages. The programming for this showcase is curated by Mayers Consulting. READ MORE

Wollman Rink a World Record Skating Lesson Attempt

Central Park
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Wollman Rink takes on a decade-old record for the world’s largest ice skating lesson, previously set at 523 skaters in 2014. To break it, Wollman Rink is inviting 600 skaters onto the ice for a 30-minute lesson led by the talented Wollman Rink Skate School instructors. READ MORE

Jewish Children's Book Festival

Upper East Side
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Spend the day immersed in the magic of Jewish storytelling! Children of all ages are invited to pick up free PJ Library books, meet storybook authors, explore creative workshops, enjoy hands-on crafts, and dance along to live music.  READ MORE

Free Things To Do in NYC from Monday, January 12-Sunday, January 18, 2026

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Craft at Jamaica Bay Library

Canarsie, Brooklyn
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by making a craft inspired by MLK's dream of equality for all. READ MORE

Winter Shoreline Wildlife Watch in Lemon Creek Park

Tottenville, Staten Island
Saturday, January 18, 2026
Explore the shore on World Snow Day! Raritan Bay features many species of winter waterfowl and seals can often be seen basking nearby. Use binoculars and spotting scopes along the beach to view wildlife.   READ MORE

Free Things To Do in NYC from Monday, January 19-Saturday, January 31, 2026

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Monday, January 19, 2026
Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation. READ MORE

Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. at BAM

Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Monday, January 19, 2026
BAM hosts its 40th annual free Brooklyn tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., and everyone is invited. The celebration brings together artists and civic leaders to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King.  READ MORE

Kindie Rock in Battery Park City

Battery Park City
Debuts Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Shake all those wiggles out at Battery Park City's weekly kid concerts. Attendance is first-come, first-served, so arrive early for one of the two sessions. READ MORE

Slime Time STEM Project at Gerritsen Beach Library

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Make glow-in-the-dark popping slime at Gerritsen Beach Library. Please wear clothes that can get messy. READ MORE

Gates of Equality: Martin Luther King's Story at Saratoga Library

Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Urban Stages presents the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as told from his speeches and writings. This one-man show is an intimate introduction to this important historical figure. READ MORE

KoKo NYC Makers Workshop in Battery Park City

Battery Park City
Saturday, January 24, 2026
KoKo NYC leads families in a sustainable makers workshop and inventors lab! Led by teaching artists, kids and their families can hone their skills, use real tools, and experiment with recycled materials, found objects, and textiles to bring their ideas to life. READ MORE

New Year, New Buildings at the Skyscraper Museum

Battery Park City
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Learn how NYC’s iconic skyline is changing this year, as well as the process of approval for building something new in the city. Then create building spires out of paper, cardboard, and construction materials. READ MORE

Owl Pellet Discovery in Pelham Bay Park

Pelham Bay, the Bronx
Sunday, January 25, 2026
The Urban Park Rangers lead kids on a nature walk in search of owl pellets. Kids learn about all about owls and dissect their pellets to see what they eat. READ MORE

Ice Age Hike in Cunningham Park

Fresh Meadows, Queens
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Take a trip back in time with the Urban Park Rangers and hike through Cunningham Park discussing the lay of the land in prehistoric times. Rangers describe the Pleistocene megafauna of New York. READ MORE

Rosie Revere, Engineer at the Skyscraper Museum

Battery Park City
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Young learners take inspiration from a reading of Andrea Beaty’s illustrated book, Rosie Revere, Engineer. After the story, little engineers use different materials to design and construct their very own innovative skyscraper. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Lincoln Center - Rubenstein Atrium
Pelham Bay Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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