Outdoor & Virtual Escapades During Winter Break

Despite our best efforts to move beyond the exhausting Covid cycle, Omicron has us yet again scrambling for Covid tests and wary of indoor gatherings just in time for the holidays. (ps: Try Building 92 at the Navy Yard for tests thru 12/26. No line, 24-48 hr results turnaround.)

I sincerely hope you and yours are healthy and you haven't had to cancel everything. Regardless, let us help you entertain, stimulate, and exhaust your children! Here's a roundup of ideas to safely make the most of the holiday break with your kids. Simply bring the fun outside and bundle up or bring the fun home virtually!

Outdoor events:

🎶‍‍🎄Sing Christmas carols under the Washington Square Arch on Christmas Eve. The Washington Square Association will distribute songbooks, The Rob Susman Brass Quartet will accompany.

✏️ Fri, 12/24 5-6pm @ Washington Square Arch

🤠Bust a move with Hopalong Andrew! The "urban cowpoke" will keep your kids grooving and entertained as he makes the outdoor circuit around Brooklyn this week.

✏️ Thurs, 12/23, 9:30am @ Underwood Park & 11am @ Fort Greene Park

✏️ Fri, 12/24, 10:30am @ Cadman Plaza Park

✏️ Tues, 12/28, 10:30am @ Cadman Plaza Park

✏️ Wed, 12/29, 10:30am @ Carroll Park

✏️ Thurs, 12/30, 9:30am @ Underwood Park & 11am @ Fort Greene Park

✏️ Fri, 12/31, 10:30am @ Cadman Plaza Park

✏️ Sat, 1/1, 10:30am @ Fort Greene Park

✏️ Sun, 1/2, 10:30am @ Carroll Park

⚓ Board a historical ship on Open Ship Day. The Statsraad Lehmkuhl, Norway’s oldest and largest square-rigged tall ship, is docked in Brooklyn Bridge Park through Jan 4. Bring the fam to board this magnificent ship on Monday for their 2nd and final Open Ship Day.

✏️ Mon, 12/27 12-3pm @ Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5

🥶Watch – or participate in – the Annual Polar Bear Club Plunge on New Year's Day. Bring the kids to watch the most daring Brooklynites dive into the icy cold water. Or win a year's worth of brownie points and take the plunge yourself!

✏️ Sat, 1/1 1pm sharp (check-in by noon) @ Coney Island

Find all these events and many more in Macaroni Kid Brooklyn NW’s events calendar. We keep it updated with family-friendly events so that you can spend less time looking for something to do and more quality time with your family! Missing an event? Email or submit it.

Outdoor ice skating:
What's more magical than an ice skating outing with your kids? Try these locations in lieu of that big crowded one at Rock Center 😉

⛸️ William Vale Rink (Williamsburg)

23rd floor with stunning views of the city!
Hours: Mon – Fri 2pm – 10pm, Sat/Sun 12pm – 10pm
Cost: $20 Adults, $12 Children (12 and under) includes skate rental and locker

⛸️Industry City Ice Rink (Sunset Park)

Hours: Thurs 4 – 8pm, Fri 12 – 8pm, Sat 10am – 8pm, Sun 10am – 6pm
Cost: $12 ticket, $10 skate rental, $10 skate aid, $5 helmet, $5 bag check

⛸️ Governors Island Ice Skating Rink & Winter Village (Ferry via Pier 11 to Governors Island)

Hours: Dec 23 – Jan 2:10am – 5pm during Winter Break; Jan 3 – Feb 28: Fri 12-5pm, Sat/Sun 10am – 5pm
Cost: $11 Admission, $8 Skate rental **FREE admission on Fridays for all visitors!**

⛸️ArtRink at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)

During museum hours: Thursday & Friday 2pm–5pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am–1pm & 2pm–5pm (closed 1pm-2pm for cleaning)
Cost: $23 Skate & Play Sessions include 60-minutes of skate time, skate rental, and Museum general admission. ($8 for BCM Members.) Book session in advance.

⛸️LeFrak Center Prospect Park Ice Skating (Prospect Heights)

Hours:
- Covered rink: Mon – Thurs: 9am – 4:30pm, Fri: 9am – 7pm, Sat: 1pm – 9pm & Sunday: 1pm – 4:30pm
- Open air rink: Mon – Thurs: 9am – 7pm, Fri & Sat: 9am – 9pm, Sun: 9am – 7pm
Cost: $7.50 – $11 per person, $8 skate rental

⛸️The Rink at Brookfield Place (Battery Park City)

Hours: 9am – 9:15pm through 1/2, open only Sat/Sun thereafter
Cost: $17 admission, $22 admission + skate rental

⛸️The Rink at Brooklyn Commons (Downtown Brooklyn)

**Delayed/TBD opening date**
Hours: Mon–Thurs 2 – 8pm; Fri 2 – 9pm, Sat 10am – 9pm, Sun 10am – 7pm
Cost: $15 admission, $5 Skate rental, $15 Skate aid rental (30mins), $40 15 min private lesson, $75 30 min private lesson, $100 30 min semi-private lesson

Get out of town for a day to ski/snowboard/tube the slopes:
(SN)OW WHAT FUN! After a couple of unseasonably warm weeks, it's finally cold enough to blow snow at nearby, family-friendly ski mountains! Most resorts are open so you can start considering your first snow adventure of the season...

⛷️Campgaw Mountain (Mahwah, NJ)

Opening soon
37 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$22 1 hour tubing, $29+ 2 hour tubing (min 42" tall)

⛷️Catamount Mountain Resort (Hillsdale, NY)

Open
43 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$25 Tubing opening January (2 hours, min 42" tall)

⛷️Mountain Creek (Vernon, NJ)

Opening TODAY, Dec 23
54 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$30 Tubing (2 hours, min 42" tall, min 5 years old)

⛷️Mount Peter (Warwick, NY)

Opening soon – rumor is this Sunday, Dec 26
56 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$35 adults, $25 little tikes tubing (1.5 hours, min 36" tall for double tube, min 42" tall for single tube)

⛷️Camelback Mountain Resort (Tannersville, PA - Poconos)

Open
86 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$33+ Tubing opening Dec 25th (2 hours, min 33" tall for double tube, min 44" tall for single tube)

⛷️Mohawk Mountain (Cornwall, CT)

Open
105 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$30 Tubing opening "by Christmas" (1h45mins, min 42" tall)

⛷️Belleayre Mountain (Highmount, NY - Catskills)

Open
136 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
No snowtubing

⛷️Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY - Catskills)

Open
128 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$35 Tubing for adult and 36"+ kid in double, $25 Tubing for min 44" tall (2 hours)

⛷️Windham Mountain (Windham, NY - Catskills)

Open
142 miles from Brooklyn Bridge
$25 Tubing (2 hours, no height or age limits as long as you can sit in and get out of a tube, only 1 rider per tube)

Virtual fun:
Keep the kids busy from the comfort of home with these virtual happenings!

Available to stream: