DECEMBER HOLIDAY FUN
Hanukkah Party
Kids make edible menorahs and chocolate lollipops, decorate cookies and eat latkes and donuts. Free. For ages 4–10. Mon, 12/2, 3:45-5:15 pm. Tribeca Synagogue, 41 White St., tribecasynagogue.org.
Winter Garden Holiday
Kids build a winter sleigh ship, led by the ScrapKins (who teach children how to build things from trash), listen to Klezmer music and snack on holiday treats by Mud Hot Chocolate and One Girl Cookies. Tue, 12/3, 5:30 pm. Free. Brookfield Place Winter Garden, 220 Vesey St., brookfieldplaceny.com.
The Polar Express
A reading of the classic Christmas tale “The Polar Express.” The story, by Chris Van Allsburg, follows a young boy who boards a train for the North Pole, where he meets Santa Claus and his elves. Fri, 12/6, 7 pm. Free. Barnes & Noble, 97 Warren St., bn.com.
Hanukkah Concert
Tamid is hosting Josh Nelson in a Downtown Hanukkah Concert followed by the Downtown Dreidle Competition. 12/6, 6 and 7 pm at St. Paul's Chapel, 209 Broadway. tamidnyc.org/hanukkah.
The Anne Frank Center
For Anne Frank and her family, the holiday season was a bittersweet time. Based on Anne Frank’s diary, this one-woman show recalls how the family celebrated with extra rations and small gifts. The performance is followed by a Q&A, with Anne still in character. Sat, 12/7, 1 pm. $8; $5 students, seniors; free under 8. Anne Frank Center, 44 Park Pl., annefrank.com.
Washington Market Park
Holiday arts and crafts led by the Church Street School for Music and Art, carols by the Trinity Youth Choir, pedicab rides, homemade cookies, hot apple cider and a visit from Santa, who will take requests in the gazebo. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Sat, 12/7, 2 p.m.; rain date: Sun, 12/8, 2 p.m. Free. Washington Market Park, Greenwich and Duane streets, washingtonmarketpark.org.
Make a Fairy House
Kids make fairy houses out of pine cones, acorns, ivy, dried flowers and decorative grasses that have been collected in Battery Park City parks and gardens. These may be used as holiday decorations or table centerpieces. Registration is required by 12/5. Call 212-267-9700, ext. 363, or email fbelliard@bpcparks.org. Saturday, 12/7, 3–5 pm. $10 per person, all supplies are provided. For age 5 and older. Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, 6 River Terrace.
Made a Gingerbread House: for Kids
Decorate a gingerbread house with icing and dozens of candies. Family workshops: Sat, 12/7, 14 & 21, 2:15 & 4 p.m. Sun, 12/8, 15 & 22, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $95/house. Church Street School for Music and Art, 74 Warren St. Call 212-571-7290 or email gb@churchstreet.org.
JCP’s Hanukkah Bash
Activities for kids of all ages, including a menorah craft project, face painting, dreidel and Pictionary games, holiday stories and Hanukkah snacks. Entertainment by the Church Street School for Music and Art’s Rockin’ Kid Band, and Jacob Stein and the Bakery Band Puppets. Sun, 12/8, 11 a.m. $15/person; $60/family of four or more. At Citigroup, 388 Greenwich St., jcpdowntown.org.
Handel’s Messiah
Performance of the “Messiah” by the Trinity Choir and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra of the “Messiah.” Sat, 12/7, 7 p.m. & Sun, 12/8, 3 p.m. $45–$95. Trinity Church, Broadway at Wall St., trinitywallstreet.org.
Adult Gingerbread Houses
Decorate a gingerbread house while drinking champagne and eating hors d’oeuvres. Sun, 12/8, 1 pm. $125/single; $150/couple. Church Street School for Music and Art at Maslow 6, 211 W. Broadway, churchstreetschool.org.
Singing at Bogardus
The Church Street School Choristers and the Battery Park City Adult Chorus will perform holiday songs on the plaza. Homemade cookies and hot chocolate will be served. The free event is sponsored by the Friends of Bogardus Garden, who will be collecting new, unwrapped toys (K-5th grade) for the Henry Street Settlement. Wed, 12/11, 4 pm. At Reade and Hudson streets.
The Nutcracker
A performance of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic by students of the Gelsey Kirkland Academy. Thu, 12/12 & Fri, 12/13, 7:30 pm; Sat, 12/14, 2 & 7:30 pm; Sun, 12/15, 4 pm. $30–$55. Schimmel Center for the Arts, 3 Spruce St., pace.edu.
Santa’s Winter Garden
Visit Santa and his reindeer and elves. Photo packages with Santa start at $20 and benefit the New York Theatre Ballet. Fri, 12/13–Sun, 12/15, 9 am–1:30 pm & 3–6 pm. Brookfield Place Winter Garden, 220 Vesey St., brookfieldplaceny.com.
Make A Holiday Postcard
Kids tour the museum, then draw New York City skyscrapers and make holiday cards. For all ages. Sat, 12/14, 10:30 am. $5. Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Pl., skyscraper.org.
Jigsaw Jones
In “Jigsaw Jones and the Case of the Class Clown,” Theodore “Jigsaw” Jones and his friend Mila are investigating a “sliming” incident and tracking down the class clown. Based on the book by James Preller. Sat, 12/14, 1:30 pm. $25 ($15 for 10Club Members). Tickets at 212-220-1460, tribecapac.org/children-families or at the box office. Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St., Tues–Sat, 12–6 pm.
A Christmas Carol
New York Classical Theatre performs an abridged (15 minutes), lively version of Dickens’s classic tale with just two actors playing all the roles. Wed, 12/18–Fri, 12/20, 12:30 & 1:30 pm. Free. Brookfield Place Winter Garden, 220 Vesey St., brookfieldplaceny.com.
It’s a Wonderful Life
A screening of the 1946 classic starring James Stewart as George Bailey, a disenchanted man who receives a life-changing visit on Christmas Eve. Fri, 12/20, 6 pm. Free. Charlotte’s Place, 107 Greenwich St., trinitywallstreet.org.