The mercury may drop, but the fun level doesn’t have to.
Organizations and venues throughout the Capital Region are offering up a wide range of activities to keep the kids engaged, happy and busy over the holiday season.
In addition to the standard holiday fare of Nutcracker performances, Christmas plays, holiday movie showings and breakfasts with Santa, there is a wide range of activities in areas including the arts, cooking, sports and science, to name a few.
Here is a sampling:
Through Dec. 18, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Sat.; 12-5 Sun., Trains & Toys at the Museum of Innovation and Science, Schenectady, free with admission ($6.50-$9.50).
Dec. 18, 1-3 p.m., Red Oak Ridge Hike, Moreau Lake State Park Nature Center, Hike 2.5 miles round trip, half way up the mountain range with the park educator, free.
Dec. 18, 2 p.m., The Puppet People Present: A Christmas Carol, Old Songs in Voorheesville, marionettes and shadow puppets tell this class holiday tale, $15.
Dec. 19, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., Elf University at the Pottery Place, Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, paint ornaments, sing carols and decorate candy trees with Prof. Zippy the Elf, $40, registration required.
Dec. 19, 10 a.m., The American Black Bear, Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, free, registration required.
Dec. 19, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Children’s Story Hour at Ten Broeck Mansion, stories, photos and cookie decorating with Sinterklaas, free.
Dec. 20, 2-3 p.m., Flying Fingers Holiday Concert, Saratoga Springs Public Library, holiday musical sign language performance and learning sign language to sing along, free.
Dec 21, 7:30, The Hip Hop Nutcracker, Proctors, $20-$45.
Dec. 22, 6:30-8 p.m., Winter Solstice Hike at Albany Pinebush Discovery Center, $3 per person; $5 per family.
Dec. 22, 10 a.m. and Dec. 23, 6:30 p.m., Holiday Story Time, William. K. Sanford Town Library, Loudonville, read-aloud, sing along and craft, free.
Dec. 26, 5-9 p.m., Kwanzaa Celebration, New York State Museum, Albany, candle lighting ceremony, African marketplace, drum circle, performers, and children’s activities, free.
Dec. 28, 10:30 a.-noon,
Winter Wonderland Celebration, cookie decorating, hot cocoa, tie-dyed snowflakes and other winter activities, $2 plus museum admission ($8).
Dec 28-31, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. drop-in craft project and 1 p.m. guided activity, Albany Public Library Winter Break Boredom Busters, Main Library, free.
Through December 23, 6:30-9 p.m., Marching Rams “Light Up the Sky,” 154 Brookside Ave., Amsterdam., a light show with hand-painted displays, dancing characters and Mr. & Mrs. Claus, $5/car.
Through Dec. 27, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., Saratoga & North Creek Railway’s Polar Express Train Ride, $40-$80.
Dec. 30, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., The Puppet People Present: A Christmas Carol, Saratoga Springs Public Library, free.
Dec. 31, 1-3 p.m., New Year’s Mid-Day Celebration, New York State Museum, Albany, dancing, games, crafting party hats, free.
Through Dec. 31, Imagination Station at Faddegon’s Nursery, Latham, toy train, photo ops, interactive Christmas décor and decorating felt gingerbread houses and Christmas trees. Santa there on Dec. 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., for photos and s’mores from fire pit.
Through March 13, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed from 3-4 p.m. for maintenance), Ice skating at the Empire State Plaza, Albany, free. Skate rental $3 for 12 and under; $4 for adults; free on Fridays.
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