Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

New Year's Eve Weekend in New York City with Kids: Best Ways to Count Down to 2026

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 01/02/2026 - 9:15am

The big ball drop in Times Square is an unforgettable New Year's Eve sight, if you can handle the crowds! Photo by Michael Hull

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this New Year's holiday weekend.

It's time to ring in 2026, and you don't have to stay up until midnight on Wednesday to get in on the fun. Teens can count down to the New Year by making origami fortune cookies at the NYPL, families can take a first-day hike in Central Park or Prospect Park to start the year on the right foot, or watch the Coney Island Polar Bear Club members take their annual frigid dip in the Atlantic.

We've got picks for fun lasting all through the long weekend below, plus more fun on our list of fun things to do between Christmas and New Year's. It's also the last chance to check out many of our favorite holiday happenings.

28 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC in January 2026 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 01/01/2026 - 10:42am

Head to the Prospect Park Audobon Center when school is out for some fun, free programming. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

If your bank account needs a rest, fear not: We've found 28 FREE things to do in January to keep New York City families busy all month long.

Though most of the big holiday attractions in NYC are packing up the tinsel this month, January celebrations, including the Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem and BAM's annual tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., are just around the corner. Plus, Battery Park City's KindieRock series kicks off at the end of January, so little ones have a warm spot to shake their sillies out, and skating fans (even beginners!) can help Wollman Rink break a World Record.

Top Things To Do with Kids in NYC in January 2026, from MP Editors

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 12/28/2025 - 10:52am

Museo del Barrio's The Three Kings Day Parade takes over the streets of East Harlem Photo by Mommy Poppins

From New Year's Day to MLK weekend, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don't miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in New York City this month.

The new year gets off to a thrilling (and chilling) start when Coney Island Polar Bear Club members plunge into the freezing Atlantic on Wednesday, January 1, and families are welcome to join in (or just watch, which I recommend). Catch up with the Three Kings as they hand out gifts on the Lower East Side, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at BAM's always-moving tribute. Close down the first month of 2026 by helping Wollman Rink break a World Record!

New York City New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 12/26/2025 - 10:47am

The ball drops at noon at CMOM! Photo courtesy of the museum

New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and there are lots of ways to ring in 2026 in New York City with kids, even if staying up late is not on your family's agenda. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations, including Times Square's legendary ball drop. Our family-friendly picks include the fireworks over Prospect Park and a special Big Apple Circus performance. However you welcome the new year, we hope it's a blast.

You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide for NYC Families, and be sure to check out our post on fun things to do over Christmas vacation.

Christmas Weekend 2025 in NYC Top Things To Do: Caroling, Kwanzaa, and More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 12/26/2025 - 8:17am

The eye-popping displays of the Dyker Lights are a holiday must-see in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

You may still have gifts to wrap (or—gulp—shop for) and stockings to hang, but there's festive fun to be had all weekend and beyond. Some of my annual Christmas favorites include singing carols under the Washington Square Arch, catching a holiday show, and checking out the Dyker Lights.

Plus, families can celebrate Kwanzaa at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, have an intergalactic Space Glide at NYSCI, or catch the Nefesh Mountain Family Concert at the Jewish Museum.

No matter how you celebrate, Happy Holidays from the Mommy Poppins team!

Bumper Cars on Ice, Wollman's World Record, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 12/19/2025 - 9:44am

Wollman Rink's skate instructors will lead a huge group lesson in an attempt to break a world record on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Wollman Ice Rink

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Bryant Park's beloved bumper cars on ice bash back into town for a fun wintertime diversion. And, over at Wollman Rink, families can help set a world record for the largest ice skating lesson ever!

It's the perfect weekend to get crafty, from Sew Many Possibilities at the Children's Museum of Manhattan to Designing Your Own Board Game at the Cooper Hewitt.

Keep reading for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

20 Best Things To Do in NYC with Kids December 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 11/30/2025 - 5:48am

The Met Opera returns to the stage with The Magic Flute this holiday season. Photo by Richard Termine/courtesy of the Met Opera

Holiday lights, sights, and celebrations abound in NYC this December. Read on for our top things to do with kids to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.

We're plowing through the leftover turkey, and prepping for Christmas, Hanukkah, and 2025's final bow. Luckily, there's a spectacular array of kid-friendly things to do in NYC this December.

Families can witness Clara dancing her heart out during The Nutcracker at Lehman College, and MOMIX invites you to fall down the rabbit hole at The Joyce. Plus, you can get in tune for the holidays during the musical madness that is Unsilent Night.

Finally, bid farewell to 2025 during the New Year's Eve Fireworks in Prospect Park! We're channeling the holiday spirit at warp speed: be sure to check our calendar for tons more holiday festivities.

Keep our top picks for holiday must-do's handy all month long, too, and bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for easy access to all the holiday hullabaloo!

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/28/2025 - 10:41am

Santa rolls into town at the tail end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and starts taking gift requests at Santaland on Friday. Photo by Jody Mercier

Looking for the best things to do in New York City on Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this Thanksgiving weekend.

We're grateful for so much this weekend, including two behind-the-scenes Thanksgiving Day Parade peeks: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation and Marching Bands Practice at the Seaport Museum. Then, Thursday brings the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Macy's Santaland opens Friday, serving as the gateway to the sparkly NYC holiday season.

Plus, we're anticipating classic holiday fun, like the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker at Lincoln Center and setting sail with Santa on an activity-packed seasonal cruise. Read on for all our top picks for Thanksgiving Day weekend fun in NYC.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

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