All the ghosts have gone away and that spooky feeling has left Manhattan! Time to welcome winter, like it or not…and to kick it off, how about going to NY’s Largest Holiday Festival, Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square? It’s happening on Monday, November 27th, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. and it’s totally free and totally fabulous!

Photo Credit: Elena Olivo

This evening of family fun will kick off with the Upper West Side’s holiday tree lighting ceremony at 5:30PM at Dante Park (Broadway & 63rd Street) with Micky Dolenz, best known as the lead singer of the famed 1960’s pop/rock band The Monkees, who will perform holiday classics, a few of The Monkees’ top hits and help light the holiday tree live on WABC-TV. Micky will take moms and dads down memory lane as kids enjoy the fun and games.  Winter’s Eve continues with more than 20 free, world-class musical performances, processional groups, dancing, strolling circus performers, face-painting, ice-sculpting, free movie screenings of A Christmas Story at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, jugglers, stilt-walkers and other street festivities that will line Broadway and fill the shops of this dynamic, cultural neighborhood.  Here’s where to find the exciting kid-friendly entertainment at New York City’s most anticipated holiday festival:

Winter’s Eve’s Kids Central – Raymour & Flanigan (1961 Broadway at 66th Street – Secord Floor)
  • Headlining Kids Central this year is Tim Kubart and the Space Cadets, a Grammy Award winning indie pop band that performs with tap dancing sidekicks. The band’s show is highly interactive, musically rich and speaks to kids of all ages.  In 2015, Tim won a Grammy Award for Best Children’s Album and became an on-camera host of the Emmy-nominated morning show for preschoolers, “Sunny Side Up.”   Broadcasting from 30 Rock, some of Tim’s favorite visitors include Julie Andrews, William Shatner, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, and Michelle Obama. Performing on a float at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Music Hall of Williamsburg, at Lincoln Center, and now Lincoln Square, Tim has entertained fans and families all over the Big Apple!  Tim also composes songs for Sesame Street, is completing his first picture book “Oopsie-Do,” and is working on an off-Broadway show with Times Square’s New Victory Theater.
  • Arts & Crafts – The New Victory Theater will have two Teaching Artists on hand to teach card tricks and tricks with colorful scarves. Additionally, they will have a ticket giveaway to a Jason Bishop: Believe in Magic show and some free tote bags and playing cards. The West Side Y   will offer their own tables full of engaging crafts for kids.
  • There will be face painting all evening for kids at additional tables.
  • Complimentary sweet treats from Magnolia Bakery will be available at Kids Central (while they last).
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show,  a hit family puppet show  playing at the DR2 Theatre in Union Square after a sold-out run last year, will also be performing at Winter’s Eve here from 6:00pm and 7:15pm.  In between the two shows, the cast and characters will meet, interact and pose for photos with attendees.
Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center (Broadway and 66th Street)
  • Kids can meet PBS Kids/THIRTEEN characters.
Film Society of Lincoln Center (Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center Amphitheater, 144 West 65th Street between Broadway & Amsterdam)
  • Free screenings of Bob Clark’s 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story at the Film Society of Lincoln Center during Winter’s Eve.
  • Complimentary popcorn for all attendees.
Time Warner Center (10 Columbus Cir, Second Floor)
  • JACK FROST: The Original Freezemeister is live on stage at 6:00PM & 6:30PM, bringing a snowstorm of comedy and skills from “The World’s Fastest Holiday Medley” to an enchanting game of “Freeze”.  The frozen follies don’t stop there – there’s music, magic, audience participation, and circus skills.
  • Kids can create holiday card crafts from DOROT.
  • Holiday classics will be performed by Winter’s Eve favorite, the LaGuardia High School Show Choir.
  • Incredible ice sculpting by Okamoto Ice Studio will be featured in front of Time Warner Center.

    Photo Credit: Filip Wolak
Frey Plaza & Calabrese & Keegan Plaza (Beneath the Globe at 60th Street)
 TD Ameritrade (1881 Broadway at 62nd Street)
  • West Side Y Kids Company will transform the lobby and sidewalk into a musical theater with a special performance by The West Side Y Kids Company, whichprovides young people, ages 6-14, of all backgrounds and levels the opportunity to work with acting, dance, and musical theater professionals to develop skills in singing, acting, and dance.
TD Bank (1873 Broadway at 62nd Street)
  • Children and their parents can get creative as they customize their very own holiday crafts at the TD Decorating Station. The craft activity is always a popular Winter’s Eve tradition.
TD Bank Broadway (1995 Broadway 68th Street)
The Church of St Paul the Apostle (Columbus Avenue and 60th Street)
  • Screening of classic movie, The Little Drummer Boy, at 6:30pm and a visit from St. Nicholas at 7:00pm.
 Throughout the Neighborhood
  • Throughout Lincoln Square from Time Warner Center to 70th Street, strolling circus performers, LED butterflies,  processional troupes, and more will fill the streets and sidewalks entertaining all night long.
  • Winter’s Eve Food Tastings – Winter’s Eve revelers can treat themselves to tasty dishes, savory soups, hot drinks, delectable desserts and great food to satisfy all appetitesfrom 30 of Lincoln Square’s finest restaurants and eateries (for nominal cost, $1-$4, from 5:30pm-8:30pm)!

So many fun and free options! This is truly a wonderful way to welcome winter! See you at Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square!
For more info: http://www.winterseve.nyc/forkids/

For Kids