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Kids Activities Announced for 15th Annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square

The annual fete — featuring free live entertainment, family fun, children’s activities, food tastings, and the Upper West Side’s only tree lighting ceremony — takes place on December 1.

Tony winner Billy Porter, star of the hit Broadway show Kinky Boots, will be the emcee for the 15th Annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square, NY’s largest outdoor holiday festival, which is set for Monday, December 1st from 5:30-9pm. The night will kick off with a special performance from Kinky Boots on the main stage at Dante Park (Broadway & 63rd Street). Headlining the main stage this year is a Winter’s Eve favorite, folk legend Arlo Guthrie. This festival will feature 20 live performance areas and over 30 restaurants offering savory samples of signature dishes.

The evening of family fun will kick off with the Upper West Side’s holiday tree lighting ceremony from 5:30pm to 6pm at Dante Park (Broadway & 63rd Street). Winter’s Eve headliner, folk legend Arlo Guthrie, will be joined by Porter and Jeanna De Waal of Kinky Boots, and WABC-TV’s Sade Baderinwa as they light up Lincoln Square. 

Winter’s Eve’s Kids’ Central will be located at the American Bible Society (Broadway & 61st Street). Headlining this year is award winning NYC singer/songwriter Suzi Shelton who has been rocking parents and kids alike for 10+ years in such prestigious venues as Symphony Space, The White House Easter Egg Roll and Tribeca Film Festival, as well as her local Brooklyn hot spots – The Bellhouse and Hip Tot Music Fest. Suzi’s three free performances take place at 6:15PM, 7:00PM and 7:45PM. 

Activities at Kids’ Central include crown coloring with The New Victory Theater, face painting from the Big Apple Circus, arts and crafts from the West Side Y, MOBIA and the ABS Atrium, Magnolia Bakery cupcakes (while they last), and demonstrations of Sesame Street apps and giveaways. In addition, don’t miss a chance to say hello to Sesame Street favorite Abby Cadabby! Kids will be encouraged to meet Abby Cadabby up close and even get their pictures taken.

Additional family entertainment takes place on the second floor of Time Warner Center, including: Jack Frost presented by Big Apple Circus live on stage performing sing-a-longs, juggling acts, face painting, stilt walking, and many other interactive games, and crafts from DOROT; cast members of the Broadway musical Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA will be performing at 7pm; a performance by the LaGuardia High School Show Choir is at 7:30pm; and incredible ice sculpting outside Time Warner Center and further north on Columbus Avenue between 65th & 66th Streets by Okamoto Ice Studio. 

Meet PBS Kids/THIRTEEN characters Curious George, Digit & Sid the Science Kid outside the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center – Broadway and 66th Street. The Film Society of Lincoln Center will present three free screenings of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971) – a family favorite, returning to the big screen exclusively on Winter’s Eve! Join the Film Society for this beloved classic and enjoy delicious popcorn from Indie Food and Wine free of charge!  The free screenings will take place at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th Street between Broadway & Amsterdam at 3:30pm, 5:30pm & 7:30pm. Doors open 15 minutes before each performance.

Finally, stop by the American Folk Art Museum (125 Columbus Avenue between 65th & 66th St.) where children ages 4-12 can create a little art of their own. Inspired by a selection of images from AFAM’s collection, participants will use a variety of winter-themed stencils, materials, and textures, adhering them to family keepsake boxes of their own design. An additional workshop, which is designed for younger folk art enthusiasts, participants will create their own snowflake designs in the art studio, using crayon resist watercolor techniques.

Thirty-five restaurants and eateries located in the Lincoln Square area will line the sidewalks with savory tastes, desserts, soups, hot drinks, and signature dishes at nominal costs. There will be more restaurants participating in Winter’s Eve this year than ever before, with tastings held under tents in front of Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, along Broadway between 62nd and 64th Streets and at Richard Tucker Park on Broadway between 65th and 66th Streets.
 
The newest restaurants and eateries to participate this season include: the Upper West Side’s Gina la Fornarina, offering crispy focaccia robiola for $3 and porcini mushroom ravioli for $4; Tavern on the Green, offering fennel and oyster soup for $4 and cinnamon oatmeal raisin cookies for $1; Whole Foods Market Columbus Circle offering local mulled hot apple cider with gingersnap cookies for $3 and Starbucks offering a selection of pastries for $2 each and Christmas blend coffee for $1. Click here to see a list of all participants.

The holiday tree has arrived — all the way from Balsam Acres Christmas Tree Farm located in West Leyden, NY; the Balsam Fir is 35 years old and 25 feet tall. The tree features refurbished, old-fashioned silver glass glitter ornaments by Wendy Addison and Tinsel Trading in conjunction with the American Folk Art Museum and will be on display through January 2015.

Kinky Boots' Billy Porter emcees the 2014 Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square
Photo: Matthew Murphy

"Winter in NYC is one of my favorite things, and there's nothing more magical than Lincoln Square during the holidays. I'm thrilled to participate in Lincoln Square BID’s fabulous night of festivities, food, music, culture and community,” said Porter.

Admission to Winter’s Eve is free. Event attendees are encouraged to bring and donate gently used or new coats of all sizes to Dante Park at 63rd Street and Broadway as part of the 26th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive.

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