A Dozen Things for Kids to Do in Westchester

You have kids. You have gotten the feeding them, caring for them, and educating them parts down pat, but now and then you need to find things for them to see or do. These things need to be interesting stuff that is nearby and it would be really nice if they weren’t boring for you, right?

Fear not! Patch.com has you covered. Here is an even dozen events and activities in Westchester that are for kids.

Bricktacular in Yonkers: Legoland Discovery Center Westchester in Yonkers offers a great day for the family. Bricktacular is running through Christmas Day. Kids can take part in children’s activities with the Master Model Builder, Miniland, see New York’s top attractions made from Lego, or play in the soft play area. There are also rides, 4D cinema, and more! Legoland is at 39 Fitzgerald St. in Yonkers. For more information, click here.

Holiday at Muscoot: Muscoot Farm will be decorated for the season through New Year’s. On Saturday, Dec. 10, there will be Christmas on the Farm from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening will feature the Westchester Oratorio Society. Children will have a chance to write letters to Santa and tour the farm. The Manor House at Muscoot Farm is located at 51 Route 100 in Katonah. For more information, click here.

Indoor Play in Port Chester: Leapin' Lizards is an indoor playground and recreation center for children of all ages located in Port Chester at 421 Boston Post road. Children can climb, bounce, crawl, jump, and slide through the playspace, which includes tunnels, mazes, ball pits and a foam forest. There is free parking. For more information, click here.

Train Show at Greenburgh Nature Center: Greenburgh Nature Center and the Yonkers Model Railroad Club are presenting their annual train exhibit. The exhibit is open weekends from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and has country scenes, mountains, tunnels and a replica of the Nature Center. The center is also a significant wildlife habitat refuge, both for indigenous species and for the hundreds of species of migratory birds that use it as a resting place on their spring and fall travels. The property includes 30 acres of woodland, two significant wetland sites, and an old orchard. There is more information at Greenburgh Nature Center

Adventure to Santa: Bring the kids to Ridge Hill for a high-tech Santa experience. Ridge Hill in Yonkers is offering an adventure to see Santa with Po and his friends from the Kung Fu Panda movies. Blast off on a rocket-powered cart ride to the North Pole, enjoy a private meet and greet with Santa, and more. For more information and to make reservations, click here.

Trains at Lasdon Park: Lasdon Park, Arboretum, and Veterans Museum is gearing up for the holidays with its winter wonderland and holiday train show featuring the Polar Express. Sweep through New York City and up the Harlem line to picturesque Katonah with a final stop at Christmas Village in the North Pole! Also, you can purchase your Christmas tree and help a homeless Veteran in the process. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 2 to 12, and free for 2 and under

Winter Wonderland at Kensico Dam: The third annual Westchester Winter Wonderland is at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, and will be open on select dates through January 2. Winter Wonderland, put on by the Friends of Westchester Parks, takes place at the park in Kensico Dam Plaza after 5 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per person (5 and under are free) and can be purchased on site or in advance. It’s open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Most of the attractions at Winter Wonderland are included with the fee, including two carnival rides, hay rides, a circus performance, and more. Bring skates or rent them to use the RangersTown Rink. Visitors can buy refreshments and gift items from vendors, or a ride on a pony or camel.

Build Your Own Menorah: Home Depot in New Rochelle and Chabad of Westchester are holding a workshop for children to build a menorah and enjoy music and refreshments on Sunday, Dec. 11. Two workshops will be held, at noon and at 1:30 p.m. Children will receive a work apron.

A Hip-Hop Nutcracker in Purchase: This is a contemporary twist on the classic ballet, set in New York City with modern dance styles and an on-stage DJ. The performance is on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. at the concert hall at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill road. Tickets are $17.50 to $52.50. For more information, call 914-251-6200.

A Colonial Nutcracker in Peekskill: Paramount Hudson Valley Arts will present “The Colonial Nutcracker” at 3 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the Paramount Center for the Arts on Brown Street. The performance is set in pre-Revolutionary Yorktown. Tickets are $26.

A Nutcracker Film in Pelham: The Picture House in Pelham will present a Nutcracker Magical Matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The show features the film of the famed ballet with Darci Kistler. It will open with a live performance by members of Ballet Arts’ Dane Program. General admission is $20, $16 for members, and $10 for children. The Picture House Regional Film Center is at 175 Wolfs Lane in Pelham. For more information, call 914-738-3161.

Go Ice Skating: There is public ice skating at several indoor or outdoor rinks in Westchester. These include the Westchester Skating Academy in Elmsford, Hommocks Park Ice Rink in Mamaroneck, the Edward J. Murray Memorial Skating Center in Yonkers, Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains, the Evarts Rink at the Harvey School in Katonah, the Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon, Playland Ice Casino in Rye, Brewster Ice Arena in Brewster, and the Palisades Center Ice Rink in West Nyack.

Photo via Wikimedia.