Kids Korner: February 1 to 8, 2024

PROGRAMS

Groundhog Day celebration

The Town of Brookhaven will host its annual Groundhog Day Celebration at the Holtsville Ecology Center, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville on Feb. 2 starting at 7 a.m. Come meet Holtsville Hal and find out what his shadow foretells. Then grab some hot chocolate and visit with more than 100 animals that call the Ecology Center home. Free. For more information, call 451-5330 for more information.

Night at the Museum

Explore, learn, and lay after hours at the Long Island Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson during its Night at the Museum event on Feb. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. Children in grades 2 to 5 will enjoy pizza, play at the museum after-hours and participate in a fun STEM-themed activity. $40 per child. To register, visit www.longislandexplorium.org. 631-331-3277

Science Pioneers

In honor of Black History Month, Nissequogue River State Park, 799 St. Johnland Road, Kings Park presents a family program, Science Pioneers, on Feb. 3 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Foundations of modern science are known thanks to the contributions of Black scientists. Come see exciting science experiments relating to their discoveries! For ages 6 and up. $4 per person. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com. 631-269-4927

Tracks and Traces

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown presents  Tracks and Traces on Feb. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Children become nature detectives as they unravel clues left behind by park wildlife. Create a book of local animal tracks. $4 per child. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com.

Lunar New Year at the Heckscher

Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington presents a Lunar Year Celebration on Feb. 3 from noon to 5 p.m. Get creative and enjoy a variety of hands-on holiday activities from different Asian cultures. Meet artist Joan Kim Suzuki, see her artwork inspired by her Korean heritage, and create a Korean drum and fan! Enjoy beautiful traditional Chinese dances by Wendi Weng. Create origami with Hansen Lee and learn about Chinese culture with Patricia Shih. Free. No registration required. Questions? Call 631-380-3230.

Narwhal Ball

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor hosts its annual Narwhal Ball on Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The whole family is invited to a wintry celebration! Explore the world of polar sea creatures through special activities and presentations. Gather around for “Storytime with Elsa” as she shares tales from her icy domain and meet the icy queen herself to snap a photo. Indulge in an icy treat with ice cream sponsored by Kilwin’s of Huntington. Create frosty crafts to take home with you. Tickets online (through Feb. 2) are $20 age 2-17 (all access) $8 adults, $6 seniors at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org; Door tickets are $25 ages 2-17 (all access) $8 adults, $6 seniors. 631-367-3418.

A Groundhog Adventure

Join Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown for Sunday Funday: Searching for Sweetbriar Sam — A Groundhog Adventure on Feb. 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet some of Sweetbriar’s resident animals and do some fun activities while learning all about groundhogs and their friends. Tickets are $15 per child, $5 adult at www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Black History Month Hike

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a self-guided hike for Black History Month on Feb. 4 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. 10 stations along this hike feature a Black environmentalist and their contributions to science. Stop by the Nature Center for a map of the self-guided trail. Free. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com. 631-269-4333. 

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Avenue Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Feb. 5 at 10:30 a.m. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4 (sometimes older siblings join as well). 631-482-5008

Super Bowl ‘Saturday’

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket hosts a Super Bowl “Saturday” event on Feb. 10. Get excited for the big game! Elementary-aged kids and their families are welcome to stop by anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. to enjoy football-themed festivities. Includes a raffle to win a special prize. Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite team’s jersey or football-themed attire. There is no registration for this event, and it is geared towards children in kindergarten through 6th grade. 631-941-4080

Lunar New Year at the Vanderbilt

Join the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport in celebrating the Year of the Dragon on Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. Make a paper lantern, learn Chinese calligraphy, create a traditional good luck decoration, and visit the collections to see one of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Tickets are $20 guests,  $18 members at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Storytime Under Stars

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Storytime Under the Stars series on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. Your favorite bedtime storybooks come to life in the planetarium theater! Children ages 2 and older are invited to wear their most comfy pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed animal. Tickets are $8 for guests, $6 for members at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

THEATER

‘Frozen Jr.’

Frozen Jr. returns to the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport on weekends from Jan. 27 to March 3. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film including “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?,” “For the First Time in Forever” and “Let It Go.” All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. See review on page B18.

‘Jack and the Beanstalk’

Children’s theater continues at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson with Jack and the Beanstalk — or The Boy Who Cried “Giant!” from Jan. 20 to Feb. 3. A handful of magic beans starts our hero and his best friend, Filpail the Cow, on one of the best-remembered adventures. Come explore the Castle in the Sky with Jack as he learns the importance of truth-telling in a hilarious original musical for the entire family. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

A Royal Princess Party

Sing along with a princess during winter break as the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown hosts A Royal Princess Party from Feb. 17 to 25 with a sensory sensitive performance on Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Royal Historians will guide you through meeting each of the princesses, teaching the morals behind each of their stories and singing along to their favorite songs. Be sure to wear your best royal attire — this is going to be one party you don’t want to miss! You’ll love this heartwarming celebration filled with stories, songs and special guests. Tickets are $16 per person. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

FILM

‘Wallace & Gromit’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of Wallace & Gromit: The Case of the Were-Rabbit on Feb. 4 at noon. Daffy, cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his faithful dog Gromit become heroes in stopping a crime spree. They learn that a giant, fuzzy creature is stealing the town’s produce and the not-completely-dynamic duo set out to capture the beast and save the day. Rated G. Tickets are $13 adults, $5 children 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

DANCE

‘Swan Lake Act II’

Ballet Long Island, 1863 Pond Road, Ronkonkoma will present a performance of Swan Lake Act II on Feb 7 at 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. Dazzling white and beautiful best describe the second act of the most classical of all classical ballets: Swan Lake, choreographed to Tchaikovsky’s brilliant music. Tickets are $20 adult, $10 senior citizen, $10 children. To order, call 631-737-1984 or visit www.balletlongisland.com