I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I only want a week off from school in the middle of February if airplane tickets to someplace tropical come with it.
Yeah, I know, I know: embrace winter! I’ve really enjoyed this winter, but those two days of balmy weather were just plain cruel. I was skating and skiing and throwing boiling-hot syrup out the door and generally enjoying myself more than usual. Then suddenly the heat wave reminded me of how delightful it can be to take the recycling outside without shivering, to go for a run in my practically-barefoot shoes, to crunch melting old ice into oblivion on warm asphalt. And now I’m trying to work up enthusiasm for fresh snow tomorrow, but I just can’t. I’ve got spring fever.
Well, we’ll do our best, right? I’ve already done two posts on February break that take a bit more financial/chronological/emotional commitment here and here. But we need more, right? Luckily I’ve found a crazy number of things to do, and there are probably typos because I can’t possibly look at this screen another moment for a thorough proofread. As always, please do share any fun stuff that I neglected to mention in the comments.
All Week:
- Sewing Sisters on Central Avenue in Albany has a number of different classes available, too many to list. I put two of the most appealing easy classes into the week listing.
- Disney’s The Lion King begins at Proctors this week and continues through March. By about March 5th, you’re going to begin thinking that you are the only people in the universe who don’t get to see the show. They’re so clever. Just a reminder, in case you want to get some tickets.
- Proctors will also be showing Molecules to the Max! in 3D at 11 am & 1:30 pm, and it’s recommended for ages 5 and up. Dinosaurs Alive will show at 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm, and it’s recommended for ages 7 and up. These are short shows–40 minutes– and tickets are $8/adult, $7/child 12 and under. They show these often, but I wanted to remind y’all just in case you’re feeling desperate!
- I’ve listed the Steamer 10 Theatre performances below, but you know I’m a fan, so I’m pointing out that you should call them now to reserve tickets, and it might be worth your while to do the Steamer 10 Pass and go to more than one show.
- Keep in mind that many regularly scheduled events will not be happening because it’s vacation week, so call to double check. Others, like those at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga, will continue as usual.
- Pine Ridge Cross Country Ski Area has deep discounts in rental/lesson/access passes for kids ages 6 to 12 this week.
- Colonie Library has several fun programs that are register in-person only, so if it’s your go-to library, check it out.
Monday, February 21st:
- Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is learning to cross country ski or snowshoe, and you can rent snowshoes for $3 or skis for free.
- At Steamer 10 Theatre, Theatre des Petites Ames presents Pekka at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
- Kids 5 and up can participate in City by Design at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Free.
- Create a Flower Corsage at Sewing Sisters from 1-3 pm for $20.
- At 1 pm, go on a GPS Adventure at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
- From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include creative arts and learning about prints.
- Learn some Glowing Science Fun at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Ages 5 and up, $2/non-member.
- Elementary school kids can learn Healthy Money Habits at 3 pm at the main Albany Public Library.
Tuesday, February 22nd:
- The Albany Institute of History & Art has special program from 9 am to noon for 6- to 8-year-olds and 1-4 pm for 9- to 13-year-olds. $20/non-member per class. The theme is Design and Print for 3 all days, but each day can be standalone, too.
- The Friends of Pruyn House in Colonie are hosting a Children’s Tea Party from 9:30-11:30 am and 1-3 pm. It’s for kids ages 8 to 12, and registration is required.
- A 2-day Art Workshop for kids ages 8-12 begins at 10 am today at the LARAC’s Lapham Gallery in Glens Falls. It’s $35/non-member child, $30/additional sibling. Registration is required, and they wanted folks to register by today, so call them ASAP–sorry that I didn’t notice this one earlier.
- Go to Moreau Lake for a Beginner Snowshoe. But you must pre-register.
- Colonie Library has Family Yoga at 10 am. It’s a drop-in program.
- At 10 am and 1 pm today, it’s Ventriloquist Steve Charney performing at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
- At Thacher Nature Center at 10 am, it’s Preschool Story Fun with The Mitten. They’re promising activities and cocoa, too.
- From 10 am to noon, it’s a Family Tracking Day at Dyken Pond. $6/non-member, $15/family, includes snowshoes. I had this event from a while back, but I don’t see the listing on the website now. I’d call to confirm & reserve the snowshoes.
- Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is a nature-collecting walk and craft.
- Make Handwarmers at Sewing Sisters from 10:30 am-12:30 pm for $15.
- BabySmartees is doing a Homemade Baby Food Class at 10:30 am in Glens Falls. It’s $10.
- At the East Greenbush Public Library at 11 am, learn about Animals in Your Backyard, and see them up close. This is for ages 5 and up, and pre-registration is required.
- At 11 am, kids ages 8 to 12 can learn Cartooning at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required.
- There’s a program called Follow the North Star and the Underground Railroad at 11 am at the Albany Visitor’s Center’s Henry Hudson Planetarium. Appropriate for grades 2-12.
- Crandall Public Library has a Preschool Art Time at 11 am as well as a Twisted Tales story and craft activity at 1:15 pm. Their regularly-scheduled activities continue all week as well.
- Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is a Snowshoe Hike. $7 with snowshoe rental, $4 without, but you should call ahead to reserve snowshoes.
- At Thacher Nature Center at 1 pm, it’s A Snowshoe Walk. They’re promising activities and cocoa, too. Call to register and reserves snowshoes.
- At 1 pm, learn the Scoop on Poop at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
- From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include a sky show, indoor snowshoeing, crafts, a healthy kids skit, and more.
- Learn about Sweet Science at 1 OR 2:30 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Pre-registration is required for this one, and it’s for ages 6 and up, $2/non-member.
- Kids can play Monopoly at 1 pm at the Pine Hills Branch Library. There’s a prize for the winner.
- At 2 pm, it’s Preschool Naturalists at Saratoga Spa State Park. Registration is required, and it’s $3/person, $5/family.
- At 2:30 pm, it’s Dino-Palooza at the Bethlehem Public Library.
- Elementary school kids can learn Healthy Money Habits at 4 pm at the main Pine Hills Branch Library.
- There’s a free Cloth Diapering Class at 6 pm at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Wednesday, February 23rd:
- The Albany Institute of History & Art has special program from 9 am to noon for 6- to 8-year-olds and 1-4 pm for 9- to 13-year-olds. $20/non-member per class. The theme is Design and Print for 3 all days, but each day can be standalone, too.
- At 9:30 am at the Crandall Public Library, there’s music therapy for kids with special needs brought to you by NY Upstate Autism Awareness.
- Look for Animal Tracks and Traces at 10 am at Grafton Lakes State Park. $3/person includes snowshoe rental, and registration is required.
- At 10 am, do a Critter Scene Investigation at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
- At Thacher Nature Center at 10 am, it’s Preschool Story Fun with Keep Looking! Then make a pinecone bird feeder.
- At 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm today, the Zucchini Brothers are performing at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
- Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is The Lorax.
- At 11 am, it’s Winter Challenges at Saratoga Spa State Park. Pre-register, $5/person includes snowshoes.
- It’s Kraazy Chemistry at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Pre-registration is required for ages 6 and up, $2/non-member. Why, oh, why do people so enthusiastic about science have such a blatant disregard for spelling?
- At 1 pm at the Albany Visitor’s Center’s Henry Hudson Planetarium. Kids in pre-K to 3rd grade can find animals in the night sky.
- Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is Starlab Planetarium. $4/person.
- From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include a winterscape craft and programs about migration and hibernation.
- At 2 pm, kids in grades 2 to 5 can learn about spinning wool and make their own bracelets at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required.
- Kids ages 7 and up can learn about World History Through Crafts at 2 pm at the East Greenbush Public Library. Call to register.
- There’s a Rainbow Fairies Ball at 2:30 pm at the Bethlehem Public Library. Wow, do they know how to push those little-girl buttons or what?
- Kids 5 and up can learn Dollar Bill Origami at 3 pm at the main Albany Public Library.
- At 3 pm, Get Crafty with the folks from The Tang Museum at the downtown Schenectady Public Library.
- At 4 pm, kids can do a Make-a-Bank Craft at 4 pm at the main Howe Branch Library.
- Watch Toy Story 3 at the East Greenbush Public Library.
Thursday, February 24th:
- The Albany Institute of History & Art has special program from 9 am to noon for 6- to 8-year-olds and 1-4 pm for 9- to 13-year-olds. $20/non-member per class. The theme is Design and Print for 3 all days, but each day can be standalone, too.
- Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is a story hour with milk and cookies.
- At 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm today, magician Jim Snack is performing at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
- At 10 am at the Thacher Nature Center, learn about animal tracks and make a plaster cast. Pre-register so they’ll have enough supplies.
- There’s a free, drop-in concert by Tommy Gardner from the Uncle Brothers at 11 am at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Recommended for ages 2 to 10.
- Watch Horton Hears a Who at 1 pm at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register, but it’s free.
- Find out Is It Alive? at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Ages 6 and up, $2/non-member.
- Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is Build a Birdfeeder. $12/kit, and you can pre-register online.
- From 1-3 pm, it’s a Moreau Lake Snowshoe Hike. Registration is required.
- From 1-3 pm, it’s Beads! Beads! Beads! at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Free.
- From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include making snow angels and learning about bird migration.
- Learn to Make Your Own Organic Smoothie with folks from Honest Weight at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required. 2 pm for grades K-2, 3:30 pm for grades 3-5. This made me giggle, because I love smoothies, but I always try to make them away from my children so that they won’t notice the ingredients!
- At 2:30 pm it’s Kids Cooking Club at the downtown Schenectady Public Library.
- At 7 pm, adults and young people can learn Pet First Aid at the Bethlehem Public Library.
Friday, February 25th:
- The New York State Museum‘s annual New York in Bloom begins today. It’s $5 admission, kids 12 and under free.
- Kids 4 to 8 years old can be Pups on Snowshoes at 11 am at the Albany Pine Bush. Snowshoes will be provided, and the pace will be slow. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
- Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is a guided nature hike.
- At 10 am, Puppet State Theater Company presents The Man Who Planted Trees at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
- At 10 am it’s a Kids’ Snowshoe and Eagle Watch at Moreau Lake at 10 am. Registration’s required.
- Sesame Street Live present’s Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Palace Theatre in Albany at 10:30 am. Tickets range from $15 to $67, and shows continue through the weekend.
- At 11 am at Saratoga Spa State Park there’s Hug a Tree and Survive, a wilderness safety program for kids 6 to 12. Registration is required and it’s $3/person, which includes a take-home survival pack.
- Watch Beezus and Ramona at the Bethlehem Public Library at 11 am.
- Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is Starlab Planetarium. $4/person.
- At 2 pm it’s Lego Club at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required.
- Candyland in Schenectady will have a Parents’ Night Out from 5:30-8:30 pm. It’s $25/child, and $15/additional sibling, and you have to pre-register and put down a $10 deposit.
- It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.
- Sesame Street Live presents Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Palace Theatre in Albany at 7 pm. Tickets range from $15 to $67, and shows continue through the weekend.
