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Best February Winter Break Activities in NYC (At a Glance)

• Kids Week at the Intrepid offers tons of activities inside one of our favorite museums.
• Bryant Park offers a plethora of FREE fun, including FREE skating lessons for little ones!
• AMNH is worth revisiting to see its new exhibits and rediscover the Discovery Room—newly reopened!
• Transport your crew to the tropics at NYBG's Orchid Show, and visit the rest of this stunning green space that shines in any season.

CREA Interactivity combines tech with real-world romping for a completely unique play space. Photo by Jordana Drell

Top Things To Do During Midwinter Break in NYC

1. CREA Interactivity – Sunset Park, Brooklyn

This brand-new play space is unlike any other we've explored, combining tech with physical challenges and quests themed after real-world problems. Register for a school break camp or schedule a drop-in session.

2. Spyscape Museum – Midtown West

Enjoy being a spy for a day at this cool, interactive museum, and learn about the history of famous spies.

3. Nickelodeon Universe – East Rutherford, New Jersey

Did you know the mega theme park at American Dream Mall is less than a half-hour bus ride away from NYC's Port Authority Bus Terminal? Book your tickets for a day of fun at the largest indoor theme park in the Western Hemisphere.

4. MoMA Family Festival – Midtown West

MoMA invites families to explore the idea of sustainability and nature through colorful crafts and activities in a festival spanning from Sunday, February 15-Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Note that the fest opens on Saturday, February 14, 2026, for MoMA members.) The event includes hands-on exhibits and installations, drop-in art making, films, workshops, and other fun activities.

5. Brooklyn Children's Museum – Crown Heights, Brooklyn

This action-packed museum has plenty to see any day of break, but don't miss out on the temporary exhibits, Empire Skate of Mind and Mobilab, which both leave the museum in spring 2026.

6. Xanadu Roller Arts – Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Enjoy a retro day out at this roller rink. Jam to retro disco, hip-hop, and current pop hits while you circle the rink on quads and reminisce about the good ol' days.

7. AMNH – Upper West Side

Head to this kid-pleaser, and explore the Gilder Center, which features an insectarium, butterfly vivarium, and floor-to-ceiling collection displays. Save some time to explore the newly reopened Discovery Room, which lets kids get hands-on with artifacts!

8. Bryant Park – Midtown West

Hit NYC's only FREE ice skating rink during Kids Week festivities at Bryant Park, plus enjoy plenty of themed off-ice activities. Book your tickets up to two weeks in advance for the chance to climb aboard the limited-time-only bumper cars on ice!

9. Sloomoo Institute – Soho

Play with dozens of different slimes before crafting your own or taking a trip to Sloomoo Falls at this interactive museum of slime in Soho. Check out different textures, play music through slimes, pay a visit to the Slooboratory, and much more.

The NYBG orchid show brings some tropical appeal to the winter season at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo by Jody Mercier

10. NYBG Orchid Show – Bronx Park, the Bronx

For a taste of the tropics without leaving the five boroughs, head to the New York Botanical Garden's annual orchid show, which opens Saturday, February 7, 2026. This year's theme is "Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle," which reimagines NYC engulfed in beautiful, vibrant flowers.

11. HAPIK – Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Explore this mega, kid-friendly climbing zone in Industry City, where colorful climbing walls and a challenging ropes course await.

12. Hunt for Mr. Pink – Flatiron District

Go on a pubic art scavenger hunt for these cartoon-like, bubblegum pink figurines that have popped up in the Flatiron District and NoMad.

13. Jackie Robinson Museum – Soho

Learn about the legacy of Jackie Robinson and the history of Black baseball at the Jackie Robinson Museum. Discover the local impact of the baseball star across New York City through a guided museum tour, games, and activities.

14. The Met – Upper East Side

Visit NYC's largest art museum to explore treasures from antiquity to the present. If you've got little ones in tow, be sure to check out the 81st Street Studio, a creative play space on the museum's ground floor.

15. Museum of Food and Drink – Dumbo, Brooklyn

This interactive museum explores the history of street food with a new exhibit and samples at MOFAD.

16. New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival – Chinatown

The annual Firecracker Ceremony takes place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Usher in the Year of the Horse with vibrant Chinese dragon performances, music, and more fun. (The actual parade takes place this year on Sunday, March 1, 2026.)

17. Harlem Globetrotters – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

It's high-flying, trick-shooting, and action-packed fun when this traveling troop of basketball stars takes the floor at Barclays Center on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

18. Glide at the Davis Center – Harlem

Ice skating has returned to northern Central Park at the Davis Center. Have you had a chance to check out this stunning new facility yet?

Pray for a snow day so you can hit the sledding hills! Photo by Sara Marentette

19. Go Sledding – Multiple Locations

If the fresh powder flies in the city, check out one of our favorite sledding hills.

20. Discovery Days at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Learn about the trees of the Caribbean, embark on a conservatory quest, and enjoy a toddler-friendly discovery day at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which offers pay-what-you-wish admission on weekdays throughout the break.

21. Ice Skating – Multiple Locations

Lace your skates and enjoy the crisp winter air at one of NYC's outdoor ice skating rinks, including options in Central Park or Brookfield Place. Prefer to glide indoors? Here's our list of indoor ice skating rinks in NYC.

22. Kids Week in NYC Parks – Multiple Locations

Head to your local park to see what the Urban Park Rangers are planning during NYC Parks' FREE Kids Week programs, which include fun activities like bonfires, hikes, nature center exploration, and more.

23. Go Skiing – Multiple Locations

Gear up for some winter fun at these downhill skiing destinations or shred at one of these snowboarding parks within driving distance.

24. Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum – Hell's Kitchen

This is one of our favorite annual traditions! Not only can you explore the World War II-era aircraft carrier, but its hangar is a veritable wonderland of kid-friendly activities, experiences, and live entertainment. This year's Kids Week takes place from Saturday, February 14-Saturday, February 21, 2026. Events include presentations and displays from NASA, hands-on workshops, and even live animal shows.

25. Snow Tubing – Multiple Locations

Snow tubing is another great winter getaway. Bonus: It's easier than skiing and requires much less gear.

26. Midwinter Recess in Prospect Park – Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Explore the park's plants, insects, birds, and mammals with the naturalists from Prospect Park Alliance.

27. Freezin' Season Winter Workshops – Jamaica, Queens

Keep the kids busy at King Manor, the historic house museum, which celebrates the life and legacy of Rufus King. This year's workshop celebrates Frederick Douglass' birthday (a few days late!) on Friday, February 20, 2026, with a reading circle and a themed DIY bookmark.

28. Culture Pass – Citywide

Not only are NYC's public libraries cool spots to hang out—but having a library card grants you gratis access to more than 100 cultural institutions. Be sure to reserve your FREE passes for February's midwinter break in NYC now, though!

29. MoMath – Chelsea

We're crossing our fingers that this stunning new museum is open in time for long days of exploration—with a side of education—during the midwinter break!

FAQs About February's Winter Break in NYC

What are the best family-friendly events during February's winter break in NYC?
The best family-friendly events during the winter break depend on what your family likes to do for fun. If you love outdoor adventure and nature, then check out NYC Parks' Kids Week or one of the many great skiing and snowboarding locations near NYC. If you prefer to stay inside and be crafty, activities like the King Manor workshop might be more up your alley.

Are there any FREE things to do with kids during February's winter break in NYC?
There are plenty of FREE, family-friendly activities in NYC during winter break, like the Lunar New Year Firecracker Festival and park activities. Visit a local playground, explore a new neighborhood in the city, or spend a lazy afternoon at a nearby bookstore or shop where kids can play without having to spend a dime.

What indoor activities are open during February's winter break?
Libraries are always free and regularly host events and workshops. There are some especially kid-friendly libraries worth a visit over the break! Many NYC museums have free admission days, though they tend to get crowded when school is out. And, if all of those aren't enough, there are many other free activities to do with kids in NYC.

Are museums, zoos, or attractions open during winter break in NYC?
Yes! Museums, zoos, and other attractions are open during the February break. In fact, many have special events for families visiting over the break. The Children's Museum of Manhattan, for instance, has some Lunar New Year and Presidents' Day programming happening over the break, as well as special break week performances and read-alongs.

What’s the best day trip from NYC during February's winter break?
A trip to American Dream Mall is a quick and easy one to make over the winter break. Other options for excellent day trips from NYC include the Long Island Aquarium, the Liberty Science Center, historic locations, and so much more.

Unless noted, all photos courtesy of the respective venues

A version of this story was published in 2018; it is updated annually. Rosalind Muggeridge contributed additional reporting.