Happy New Year! Holiday fun has died down, but there are still plenty of things to do around the city. We’ve put together a list of family friendly events so you can plan all sorts of fun with your family and friends. Fill up your weekends with events and activities to keep the kids entertained as the weather gets colder.
Family Friendly Things to Do in Cincinnati & NKY {January 2016}
Ongoing Events
U.S. Bank Ice Rink All January | Hours vary based on day | Fountain Square | $6 admission, $4 skate rental | Head down to Fountain Square for a day of ice skating and hot chocolate!
Robot Zoo All January | Hours vary based on day | Boone County Public Library – Main Branch | 1786 Burlington Pike | Free | The Robot Zoo is a popular 5,000-square-foot exhibit of giant robots that shows how real animals work. It includes activities designed for children aged 4-12. These include the Tongue Gun of the robot Chameleon, seeing through the eyes of a common house fly, and racing squid!
The Art of the Brick All January | Hours vary based on day | Cincinnati Museum Center | 1301 Western Avenue | $8.50 – $19.50 | Designed to inspire ingenuity and creativity,The Art of the Brick is the world’s largest and most elaborate display of LEGO art featuring more than 100 works of art. The collection features Sawaya’s original pieces, as well as reimagined versions of some of the world’s most famous art masterpieces such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The exhibit concludes with a spectacular and innovative multimedia collection of LEGO brick-infused, hyper-realistic photography produced in collaboration with award-winning photographer Dean West. Visitors will have the opportunity to get an up-close view of the iconic, pop culture fan favorite Yellow, a life-size sculpture of a man ripping his chest open with thousands of yellow LEGO bricks cascading from the cavity. In addition, visitors will come face-to-face with a 20-foot long T-Rex dinosaur skeleton made out of bricks.
THE WIZARD OF OZ Weekends January 21 – 31, 2016 | Hours vary based on day | The Carnegie | 1028 Scott Boulevard | $30 (family package available – details below) | We’re off to see THE WIZARD OF OZ at The Carnegie! Add a little fantasy and adventure to those gray January days with a trip to the Emerald City to see Dorothy, Toto and the rest of the colorful residents of Oz. Imaginatively reproduced for The Carnegie stage, and impeccably accompanied by The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, this classic tale is sure to delight fans both old and young.
“Patrons can purchase two half-priced tickets for children (17 and under) with the purchase of one full-priced adult ticket. Please call The Carnegie Box Office to take advantage of this special package. Tickets are available at The Carnegie Box Office, open Tuesday through Friday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., (859) 957-1940. ”
NEWPORT AQUARIUM ~ FREE ADMISSION FOR KIDS! From now until February 28th get 2 Kids in FREE for each paying adult. It’s the perfect indoor adventure for these cold winter days! Read all the details on the Newport Aquarium website.
One-on-One Homework Help Daily in January by appointment Kenton County Public Library www.kentonlibrary.org/events Covington Branch Library Free Children needing help with their homework are invited to set up a private homework help session. Call 962-4077 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
January 3-9
National Bird Day Story Time Tuesday, January 5, 2016 | 11am-12pm | blue manatee children’s bookstore | 3054 Madison Road | $2 | It’s National Bird Day! Let’s honor our feathered friends by reading some delightful tales about them! They’re sure to bring some smiles – and what’s better than that on a January day? We’ll add to the fun by creating a very special bird project that is sure to be refrigerator worthy! Call (513) 731-2665 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.
Astronomy Thursday Thursday, January 7, 2016 | 7-8:30pm| Cincinnati Observatory | 3489 Observatory Place | Suggested $5 donation| Astronomy Thursdays include short presentations on a wide variety of topics and plenty of time for your astro questions. Once dark, we will view the moon, planets, and deep space treasures through the historic 1845 telescope.
Playart with Baker Hunt Friday, January 8, 2016 | 10-11am | Kenton County Library – Covington Branch | 502 Scott Boulevard | Free | Enjoy stories, songs, and a hands-on art project with a different theme each week. Dress to be comfy and get messy! The first Friday of every month, Ana bird from the Baker Hunt Art School will be our guest for a day of dancing and music.
January 10-16
Disney Week Monday January 11 – Friday, January 15, 2015 | Kenton County Library – Covington Branch | 502 Scott Boulevard | Free | Visit the Children’s library for a different Disney-themed activity each day this week. Activities include an Animator’s Studio, Movie Night, and more.
Pajama Story Time Tuesday, January 12, 2016 | 6:30pm | Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County – Mt. Healthy Branch | 7608 Hamilton Ave| Free | Zip up your onesies and come in for all the songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts you need before your head touches the pillow.
Thursday Art Play: Winter Wonderland Thursday, January 15, 2016 | 10:30-11:30 am | Contemporary Arts Center | 44 E. 6th Street | Free | Baby it’s cold outside! Stop by Art Play for some snowy fun. We’ll do some ice and snow painting, make a snowball catapult, and then warm up with hot chocolate and yoga!
Winter Play Day Saturday, January 16,2016 | 1pm | Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County – Mariemont Branch | 3810 Pochahontas Ave | Free | Children ages 1-4 and caregivers enjoy a winter afternoon of literacy promoting play and music. Play starts at 1pm, music begins at 2pm.
January 17 – 23
Squirrel Appreciation Day! Thursday, January 21, 2016 | 7-8pm | Kenton County Library – Erlanger Branch | 401 Kenton Lands Road | In honor of Squirrel Appreciation Day, we’ll share some squirrel-y stories, and create an ingenious craft!
Heroes Unite! 3rd Sunday Funday Sunday, January 17, 2016 | 1-4pm | Taft Museum of Art | 316 Pike Street | Free | Come save the day at the Taft’s superhero Funday! Learn about color and patterns at the Art Cart, create a superhuman craft, and take a look at a real-life hero in Heroism in Paint: A Master Series by Jacob Lawrence. Join Wonder Woman and Captain America at 2pm for Heroes in Training!
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration January 18, 2016 2:00- 3:00 pm Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Main Library, Children’s Learning Center 800 S. Vine St. Free Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s life and work for social justice. Renowned storyteller Omope Carter Daboiku will inspire all ages through stories, Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration songs, and folk tradition.”
Adult Cooking Class January 20, 2016 5:30-7pm Northside Farmers Market http://www.northsidefm.org/adult-cooking-classes.html 4222 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati OH 45223 $10 Learn to cook with local farmers market products in our Adult Cooking Class taught by Dietitian Mary Pat McKee. Spots are limited to 8 participants to make sure you get individual attention and time to ask questions. Mary Pat makes up her recipes to reflect whatever is in season at the market. Her foods are wholesome, flavorful, and delicious!
Family Festival: Frosty Frozen Fun! January 23, 2016 Noon – 3:00pm Contemporary Arts Center FREE! Don’t miss out on a fabulous winter wonderland party. Join us for a meet and greet with a real live penguin from the WAVE Foundation (at the CAC from 12:00-2:00)! Stop by for some frosty fun as we experiment with snow and ice painting, create magical snow globes, and take part in an epic snowball battle. No blizzard bash would be complete without a hot chocolate warm up station stocked with all of your favorite toppings (because whip cream makes everything better).
Linton Music Peanut Butter & Jam Session Saturday, January 23 | 1am, 11:30am, 1pm | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church | 7701 Kenwood Road | $5 | Joy and sadness are just a few of the feelings we can hear and explore with music, so if you’re happy and you know it, join the violin, cello, and piano on this musical adventure!
Cincinnati Cyclones: Princess Night ~ Saturday, January 23rd Dress like your favorite princess for the Cyclones game. The first 2,000 guests will receive a light up crown and there will be photo ops throughout the game. Visit the Cincinnati Cyclones Website to find ticket information.
Colors & Cupcakes MineCraft Painting Party Saturday, January 23, 2016 10 am – Noon Wyoming Fine Arts Center 322 Wyoming Ave, Wyoming, OH 45215 $35 per child – no sibling discounts Come to the PARTY and get ready for a memorable experience led by an art educator and local artist who will guide you step-by-step through a feature painting on canvas. At the end of the party…leave with your own masterpiece. We will have everything you need – you will just add your own flare and become an artist in no time. Oh, did we mention there will be cupcakes and other treats? Registration is required: Please register online or call us at 513-948-1900.
Aesop’s Classic Fables Saturday, January 23, 2016 | 11am & 1pm | Clifton Cultural Arts Center | 3711 Clifton Ave | $8 | Madcap Puppets will present Aesop’s Classic Fables, the second show of their annual Hats Off Series, at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center.
Dancing Wheels: Art in Motion January 23, 2016 | 8:00pm Fairfield Community Arts Center 411 Wessel Dr., Fairfield, OH 45014 $12-$15 The Dancing Wheels Company & School bring their dynamic and captivating choreographic works featuring both classical and contemporary dance from full-length story ballets to compelling repertory that touch current day issues. Dancing Wheels Company & School is an organization of artists with and without disabilities that educates, entertains and advocates worldwide through innovative dance. Millions have enjoyed their artistry via appearances on CNN, Good Morning America, and the TV special “Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope.” Tickets at 513-867-5348 or online at www.Fairfield-City.org/Tickets
Star Wars Art Party! Saturday, January 23, 2016 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Wyoming Fine Arts Center 322 Wyoming Ave, Wyoming, OH 45215 $40 per child – no sibling discounts In an art room, far far away: Star Wars ART party!
Actually its not far at all, but here at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center, we are using all of our force to pull together the most stellar party ever! Star Wars crafts, goodies and oh yes, pizza is included. Put your light sabers on and fly this way January 23rd. Please register by 4pm the Thursday beforehand. Ages 7-14 Register online or call us at 513-948-1900.
January 24 – 31
ManaTots Story Time Tuesday, January 26, 2016 | 10-10:30am | blue manatee children’s bookstore | 3054 Madison Road | Free | Miss Sarah will bring stories, songs, and fun to Tuesday mornings for our youngest fans.
Wee Wednesday: Winter Wonderland Wednesday, January 27 | 10am-12pm | Cincinnati Art Museum | 953 Eden Park Drive | Free | You and your preschooler can take an adventure through beautiful snowy scenes while staying warm and snuggly inside. Wander through the galleries with your little ones and be sure to stop at our interactive art stops. Recommended for ages 5 and under.
Lotion Making Workshop January 27, 2016 5:30-7pm Northside Farmers Market 4222 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223 $15 In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to make natural hand lotion out of plant based sustainable sourced materials. By the end of the class, each participant will have made a bottle of lotion to take home. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy. This class will be limited to 10 people so that everyone gets the needed attention they need.
Linton Music’s Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions January 30, 2016 (10am & 11:30am) Linton Music www.lintonmusic.org Wyoming Fine Arts Center 322 Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, OH 45215 $5.00 per person or $15.00 for Flex-Book of 4 tickets good at any PB&J concert. Children under 2 are free! Brasstacular!
Meet the members of the brass family. You’ll want to join the parade and toot your own horn after hearing the bold, brazen, and brassy sounds of these instruments! Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions brings families together for a musical encounter that provides a friendly, educational, and enjoyable introduction to classical music. Designed for ages two to six, these interactive concerts will touch, teach, and enrich your child’s life. 10am and 11:30am. $5.00 per person or $15.00 for Flex-Book of 4 tickets good at any PB&J concert. Children under 2 are free! Free Graeter’s cookies at every concert! Tickets available at the door, by calling 513.381.6868, or visit www.lintonmusic.org.
Antigone January 31, 2016/ 1:30p.m. Fort Wright Civic Club 115 Kennedy Rd. Fort Wright, KY 41011 $1 – $2 Fort Wright Civic Club is pleased to be hosting a performance by the Cincinnati Playhouse in Park entitled ANTIGONE. ANTIGONE, John Yearley’s world premiere adaptation about a brave young woman who must choose between obeying the laws of men and honoring her loyalty to her family. ANTIGONE is an inventive retelling of the timeless Greek legend It is recommended for ages 11 and up, however parental discretion is permitted.
