Things To Do With The Kids, Through December 8: Holiday Fair At St. Luke And St. Matthew’s, Star-Gazing At Fort Greene Park, And A French-Chinese Book Fair At Brooklyn Music School
Looking for something to do with the whole family this week? There are a lot of great kid-friendly events coming up in Brooklyn, and we’ve selected some of our favorites. See the full details below!
For more things to do around Brooklyn, and to add your own upcoming event, check out our calendar.
REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Holiday Book Fair
When: Saturday, December 5, 11am-5pm
Where: Old Stone House, 336 3rd Avenue, Park Slope
What: With graphic novelist Adrian Tomine doing a book signing, this one is for your older kids. This event is also just great for the whole family as various local bookstore owners and other vendors will be there with their goods.
How Much: Free!
Celestial, Astronomical Fun At Fort Greene Park
When: Saturday, December 5, 1-2:30pm
Where: Fort Greene Park, enter at Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park
What: With a renewed interested in space exploration and talk of colonizing Mars, now is a good time to inspire your kids to rocket out to the deadly, black abyss of space. The park rangers here will be be your guides to the solar system, discussing the science, history, and folklore of the universe.
How Much: Free!
Bird Watching In Prospect Park
When: Saturday, December 5, 12-1pm
Where: Prospect Park, Audubon House
What: Birds, the great outdoors, and staring up at the sky with binoculars, that’s what it’s all about. The Prospect Park Alliance will be on hand to add the educational element. Enter the park from the east side on Lincoln Road.
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
When: Saturday, December 5, 3pm
Where: Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Avenue, Flatbush
What: The Christmas classic performed by the Moscow Ballet features 40 world-class Russian artists bring this charming classic to life, with larger than-life-puppets, a growing Christmas tree, and super-sized Matrushka dolls.
How Much: Tickets currently available are $44 and up, and may be purchased here.
Story Time: The Thing About Yetis
When: Sunday, December 6, 11:30am
Where: powerHouse on 8th, 1111 8th Avenue, South Slope
What: Yetis, the mysterious snow creatures, apparently miss summer! Hear the tale from the author and illustrator, Vin Vogel.
St Luke & St Matthew Holiday Fair
When: Sunday, December 6, 12-5pm
Where: St Luke & St Matthew Episcopal Church, 520 Clinton Avenue, Clinton Hill
What: Shop for gifts from local vendors while the kids decorate (and, we’re guessing, eat a few) gingerbread cookies!
How Much: Free admission, with suggested $3 contribution for cookie decorating.
French & Chinese Book Fair & Winter Festival
When: Sunday, December 6, 12-5pm
Where: Science, Language & Arts @ The Brooklyn Music School, 126 St Felix Street, Fort Greene
What: Look out for free performances in the theater, including a Manhattan Shaolin Kung Fu demonstration at 12pm; Haitian folktales and songs at 2pm; and David Engel’s Pirate School at 3pm. Plus, there will be a French and Chinese book fair, holiday gifts for sale, and crafts, games, raffles prizes, a bake sale, and a silent auction with items from local shops.
How Much: Free admission.
Lighting Of The World’s Largest Menorah
When: Daily at 6pm from Sunday, December 6-Sunday, December 13
Where: Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
What: Chabad of Park Slope sets up their annual menorah, which they claim is the “world’s largest.” Look out for a free concert starting at 5pm on the first night, plus free latkes and children’s entertainment.
How Much: Free admission.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1
Teen Tech Time
When: Tuesday, December 1 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come race your wheels off, battle your heart out, and dance your socks off with Wii games at the library! We have sports games, dancing games, racing games, and more! No registration or experience necessary.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2
Kids Concert Series: Hopalong Andrew
When: Wednesdays at 3:30pm
Where: DSK Brooklyn at 710 Fulton Street
What: Music for the whole family!
How much: Free
Kids Create: Popsicle Stick Ornaments
When: Wednesday, December 2 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Colorful holiday decorations made from popsicle sticks: a classic! Kids younger than 6 may participate with the help of a caregiver.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3
Sing With Me
When: Every Thursday from 11am-12:30pm
Where: Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Avenue
What: Sing, dance, laugh, and make music with your little one. Ages four months to four years.
Stutengarten Brooklyn
When: Thursdays from 2:30-5pm
Where: Die Stammkneipe/ Der Schwarze Kölner at 710 Fulton Street
What: Tuesdays & Thursdays playgroup! Parents and/or caregivers can bring their babies (infants and toddlers) for play and socializing.
How much: $10 includes food and drink
Reading Is Fundamental
When: Thursday, December 3 at 3:30pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Kids and teens can earn FREE books by borrowing and returning books with their library card.
DIY: Lanyards
When: Thursday, December 3 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come make lanyards at the library! Make bracelets and keychains to keep or give as gifts! Whether you’ve never made a lanyard or you’ve made hundreds, don’t worry — we’ll cover the basics to get you started.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
Toddler Time
When: Friday, December 4 at 10:15am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Stories, songs, fingerplays, puppets, and fun for toddlers and caregivers!
Babies and Books
When: Friday, December 4 at 11:15am
Where: Clinton Hill LIbrary at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Storytime is for babies, too! Come sing, play, hear stories, and meet with other parents and caregivers.
Free Movie
When: Friday, December 4 at 3:30pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Free movie screenings for kids ages 6-12 and their families.
Build with LEGOS and DUPLOS
When: Friday, December 4 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come help us think up new things to build – towers, house, cities, vehicles, monsters? Collaborate with your friends and get creative. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will also have their own play area at the library with DUPLO blocks galore!
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5-6
4th Annual Gingerbread Ship Workshop
When: Saturday, December 5 from 12-3pm
Where: BLDG 92 at 63 Flushing Avenue
What: Pastry Chef Katie Rosenhouse and holiday helpers will create a gingerbread ship model ready for children to decorate. Participants become ship builders in training on a mini interactive exhibit tour followed by an arts-and-crafts shipbuilding workshop led by an educator from the Brooklyn Historical Society. Each child receives a gingerbread ship cookie and decorating supplies.
How Much: $10 for children; accompanying adult attends free
Holiday Tree Lighting
When: Sunday, December 6 from 5-6pm
Where: Fort Greene Park at Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park
What: Free hot cocoa and treats, plus live music, Santa, a toy drive by SNAP/Whitman Tenants Association, and the community holiday tree lighting!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7
Preschool Storytime
When: Monday, December 7 at 10:30am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: A read-aloud for preschool-aged kids. Groups and classes are welcome to attend (please contact the children’s librarian, Emily Heath, at 718-398-8713 to let us know ahead of time that you will be bringing a group, if possible.
Homework Help
When: Monday, December 7 at 3pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Get homework help for children in grades k-8.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8
Story Play First RIF
When: Tuesday, December 8 at 11am
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Hear stories, sing songs and play with other children. Ages 0-5
Toddler Time with First RIF
When: Tuesday, December 8 at 11am
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Come and enjoy books, songs and toy time. For ages 18 months to 3 years. Get free books with the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program.
Read To Me
When: Tuesday, December 8 at 3:30pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Kids ages 8-12 practice reading aloud. Vocabulary, comprehension, pronunciation and annunciation are emphasized.