December Break and New Year’s Eve in the Capital District

So what’s everyone doing next week? It doesn’t look too good for sledding, does it? But there’s tons going on, so even if you’re not emotionally prepared at this time to think about next week, I’m putting it out there.

But before we get to all the different programs and events, Natalie at Trendy Tots in Schenectady is offering a special discount to all of you.  If you go from Tuesday December 27th to Saturday December 31st, you can get  20% off  your purchase if you tell them that Katie from Capital District Fun sent you. Hooray!

I’m posting quite a bit way ahead of time, which means I’m likely to update this post, and I might even re-post listings if there’s enough added. But I’m thinking that getting this stuff out earlier will make your lives easier and my lives easier, so as long as you know that there’s going to be more, probably, we’re golden.

So here’s what’s coming up for the week of December break:

All Week:

• There’s a different School Break Camp each day at CMOST. They run from 9 am to 4 pm and they’re for kids ages 5 to 11. It’s $55/day for non-members, and many of them are full at this point.
• Cars 2 is playing at Proctors, and tickets are $5.
• Steamer 10 Theatre has different shows at 10 am and 1 pm Tuesday to Friday. Details on each show below. Tickets are $12 at the door or $9 if you pre-purchase a 10-ticket Steamer 10 Pass. Call to reserve a spot, though, because shows sell out.
• Tumbling Tykes has a Winter Break Camp. It’s for 3- & 4-year-olds on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursdays and for 2-year-olds on Friday.   $20/child, from 9:30 am to noon. Call to reserve a spot.
• The Albany Institute of History & Art is having a Vacation Art Break: A World of Toys. It’s a 3-day program from Tuesday through Thursday, and kids ages 6-8 go from 9 am to noon, kids ages 9-13 go from 1 to 4 pm. The cost is $60 for non-members, $45 for members for all three days.
• From Tuesday to Friday at the Schenectady Museum, there are hands-on science activities from 12:30-2 pm and challenges in the FETCH! Lab from 2-3:30 pm. Free with museum admission ($7.50/adult, $5/kids 4-12).
• Kidzart has art camps that run Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 or 4 pm in Colonie and Clifton Park. Cost is $225.

Monday, December 26th:

• It’s a Science Make & Take: Snow Globes at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. For ages 5 and up, pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• The Palace Theater is showing Mary Poppins at 3 pm. $5/adult, $3/kids 14 and under.
• The Trans-Siberian Orchestra are at the TU Center at 3 & 8 pm.
• At 4:30 & 7 pm, they’re showing a film of the Bolshoi Ballet’s Nutcracker at Proctors. It’s about 2 hours, and tickets are $15/adult, $10/kids 17 and under.

Tuesday, December 27th:

• At 10 am, Five Rivers has a Family Fun program called Birding for Kids. They want you to call and register by Friday the 23rd.
• From 10:30 am to noon, go on a GPS Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. It’s best for 3rd grade and up, but everyone’s welcome. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online. Also at 1 pm.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes Polish traditions like paper cutting. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents Catskill Puppet Theater‘s Hiawatha  at 10 am and 1 pm.
• Kids ages 4 to 8 can learn how to Tracking the Trail at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From 1-2:30 pm, go on a GPS Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. It’s best for 3rd grade and up, but everyone’s welcome. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 1:30-3:30 pm, you can learn about OP Art and create your own at the New York State Museum.
• At the New York State Museum, the Winter Stars Starlab has shows at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. It’s free, but pick up tickets at the front desk.
• There’s a Kwanzaa Celebration from 3-8 pm at the New York State Museum. African marketplace, singing, and traditional foods. Hosted by Hamilton Hill Arts Center.

Wednesday, December 28th:

• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents  Music and Comedy with Keith Munslow at 10 am and 1 pm.
• At 10 am there’s a Kindermusik Playdate for kids 0-7 years at Calvary Methodist Church in Latham. $12 for first child includes class and an instrument, $3 each additional sibling, $2 each additional instrument. Call Laura at 209-4258 for questions or to tell her you’re coming. Also on Thursday and Friday.
• From 10:30 to noon or 1-2:30 pm, go on a Critter Scene Investigation at Albany Pine Bush. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes Lithuanian traditions like straw ornaments. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• At 1 pm, you can drop in to watch Cars 2 at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• Go on a Turkey Trail Hike from 1-3 pm at Moreau Lake State Park. Pre-register.
• Learn All About Whales at 1 pm or 3 pm at the New York State Museum.
• It’s the  Winter Stars Starlab at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm at Huxley Theater at the New York State Museum. For ages 7 and up, and there’s a limit of 30 tickets.
• At the New York State Museum, there are Winter Time Tales for preschoolers next to Sesame Street from 1:30-2:30 pm.
• Learn about Brainy Networks at the New York State Museum from 1:30-4 pm.
• At 2 pm, Five Rivers has a Family Fun program on River Otters. They want you to call and register by Friday the 23rd.
• At 2:30 pm at the downtown Schenectady Public Library, it’s Tales from Aunt Helen’s Closet.
• From 6:30-7:30, David Gleason and Sensemaya are playing Latin Jazz at the Delaware Branch Library.
• There’s a Phantoms Hockey Game at Glens Falls Civic Center at 7 pm.

Thursday, December 29th:

• At 10 am, kids 7 and up can learn about Fantastic Furbearers at Thacher Nature Center at 10 am.
• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents  The Dan Foley Juggling Show at 10 am and 1 pm.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes German traditions like making a German nutcracker. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• At Saratoga Springs Public Library, the Puppet People are performing A Christmas Carol at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. This is for ages 5 and older.
• It’s the  Winter Stars Starlab at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm at Huxley Theater at the New York State Museum. For ages 7 and up, and there’s a limit of 30 tickets.
• From  1:30-11:30 am, they’re showing A Winter’s Tale: A Musical Puppet Show at the Discovery Center at Albany Pine Bush.  $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 11 am-12:30 pm, the Saratoga Spa State Park has planned a Beginning Snowshoeing program–wonder if we’ll have any snow for it? It’s $5 per person with snowshoe rental.
• Kids ages 5 and up can learn about The Science of a Snowflake at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From  1-2:30 pm, they’ve planned a Snowshoe Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. The website doesn’t say what they’ll do if there’s no snow. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• At the New York State Museum, there are a variety of different crafts going on from 1:30-4 pm.
• The First Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church is having a Kwanzaa Celebration from 5:30-8 pm.
• Zumba in the new year starting at 5:30 pm at Proctors. $5/person.
• At 6:30 pm there’s a Kindermusik Playdate for kids 0-7 years at Calvary Methodist Church in Latham. $12 for first child includes class and an instrument, $3 each additional sibling, $2 each additional instrument. Call Laura at 209-4258 for questions or to tell her you’re coming. Also on Friday.
• At 7 pm, they’re showing Mr. Popper’s Penguins at the East Greenbush Public Library. Kids and grown-ups must pre-register.

Friday, December 30th:

• It’s a GE Kids in Free Friday at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology.
• Go on an Eagle Watch at 9:30 am at Moreau Lake State Park. Pre-register and bring binoculars.
• At 9:30 am there’s a Kindermusik Playdate for kids 0-7 years at Calvary Methodist Church in Latham. $12 for first child includes class and an instrument, $3 each additional sibling, $2 each additional instrument. Call Laura at 209-4258 for questions or to tell her you’re coming.
• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents  Magic with Melvin the Magnificent! at 10 am and 1 pm.
• From  10 am to noon, go on a Cookie Burner Stroll at Albany Pine Bush. What the heck are they talking about? Has someone out there been eating cookies? It’s $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes Romanian traditions like making a hedgehog bauble. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• At 11:30 am, it’s Happy New Year’s @ Your (East Greenbush) Library. Balloons drop at noon. For ages 3 and up, pre-register.
• Kids ages 2 to 5  can do a Color Fun Lab at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From  1-2:30 pm, they’ve planned a Snowshoe Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. The website doesn’t say what they’ll do if there’s no snow. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• Kids can Dissect Owl Pellets from 1:30-3:30 pm or Create a Paper Sculpture of the World Trade Center Plaza from 1:30-4 pm, or there are Winter Time Tales for preschoolers next to Sesame Street from 1:30-2:30 pm at the New York State Museum. At 1 pm, they’re showing The Second Day, a child’s view of September 11th.
• The Whale is playing several times today at Proctors. Tickets are $5.
• The Albany Devils are playing at 7 pm at the TU Center. Tickets are $15 to $30.

Saturday, December 31st:

• From 10 am until 1 pm it’s the 7th Annual Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology.
• At 10 am, Five Rivers has a Family Fun program called Watchable Wildlife: Weasels. They want you to call and register by Friday the 23rd.
• At Thacher at 10 am, it’s a “Wish it Would” Snowshoe Walk (or regular hike). Snowshoes are available for rent, but call to reserve.
• From 10 am until 1 pm, it’s the 7th Annual Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology.
• At 11 am, it’s the Holiday High School Hoops Classic at the TU Center.
• At 2 pm, learn about Endangered Species at Five Rivers.
• From 5:30 pm until 12:30 am it’s First Night Saratoga. Tickets are $15 and kids 5 and under are free.
• At Maple Ski Ridge, there’s  a family  New Year’s Eve party. Skiing till 11pm, DJ with Karaoke, Buffet and all the party favors.  This party will be suitable for the entire family.

Sunday, January 1st:

• At Thacher at 11 am, it’s a 2-hour  “First Day” Snowshoe Walk (or regular hike). Snowshoes are available for rent, but call to reserve. Hot chocolate when you’re done. Pre-register.
• Take a First Day Hike from 11 am until 2 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.
• Take a First Day Hike from 11 am ’til 1 pm at Saratoga Spa State Park.
• It’s a First Day Guided Snowshoe (or regular) Hike from 1-4 pm at Mine Kill State Park.