Top Things to Do with Kids in Westchester County NY this January

Want fun and affordable things to do in Westchester this January? We've got you covered! Get all the details on the best local kids' events happening this month, from fun family shows to our top picks for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Plus, find out why a trip over the border either CT or the Bronx (or both!) is totally worth your while.

For even more upcoming family events in Westchester and the NYC area, head to our full (searchable!) calendar of events.

Cerealist Works

Families are invited to visit Michael Albert's One-Man Show & Retrospective at the White Plains Library Gallery, running through January 31. Albert, a collage- and pop-artist, is best known for his cubist mosaic cereal-box collages. In the past several years, he has worked to create "epic" collage works on historical, geographical, and literary themes, including the Map Collage of White Plains, which he dedicated in a ceremony at the library in December. On January 15, from 2-4pm, the library will host a special drop-in Cerealism Collage Workshop with Michael Albert. Families can view the exhibit, then peruse picture books and make collages of their own. FREE.

The White Plains Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains.914-422-1476. www.whiteplainslibrary.org.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Highlights

January 16 is a national holiday, so schools are closed, as are many places you'd ordinarily take the kids. But there are some wonderful events happening on and around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to help children understand the meaning of this important time of remembrance. New events are announced daily, so be sure to check our online calendar at www.nymetroparents.com/calendar for those that were announced after press time.

Wave Hill, the public garden and cultural center in the Bronx, is offering Freedom Pillows, a family art project. Participants will make a pillow that expresses their personal dream of freedom, drawing on the spirit of Dr. King and traditional African-American quilts. January 13-14. 10am-1pm. The program is free both days, but Sunday admission to the grounds is $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 ages 6-18.

Wave Hill, 675 West 252nd Street, Bronx. 718-549-3200. www.wavehill.org.

Kids can drop in to Free Craft Saturday at Straight A's to make their own "I Have a Dream" picture. The recently opened store in downtown White Plains sells educational toys, gifts, and teacher supplies. January 14. 11am-4pm.

Straight A's, 180 East Post Road, White Plains. 914-437-8922. www.straightaseductional.com.

The White Plains Public Library will hold three free events in honor of the holiday. Children in kindergarten through grade 6 (along with their family members) are invited to attend "Martin's Big Words" and Other Books About Dr. King on January 14, 2-2:30pm, in Galaxy Hall. Then, at the Martin Luther King Dream Collage program in the Castle, they will make collages about Dr King's "I Have a Dream" speech using recycled materials and listen to White Plains artist Michael Albert read Dr. King's speech from his own collage; 2:30-4pm. On January 15, Short Films About Dr. King will play in The Cave, 1-5pm.

White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains. 914-422-1476. www.whiteplainslibrary.org.

The theme of this year's Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Day Celebration at the Bruce Museum is "Dr. King's Message of Love." The program will feature performances by Built for Praise Dance Academy and students of all ages and abilities can make "I Have a Dream" buttons and add their self-portraits to the Circle of Friends mural. January 16. 10am-4pm. $7; $6 ages 5-22; free ages 4 and younger.

Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT. 203-869-0376. www.brucemuseum.org.

Self-taught artist Winfred Rembert lived through many of the pivotal and tumultuous moments of 20th-century civil rights history. As a prisoner serving an unjust seven-year sentence, he learned to make designs on hand-tooled leather. Years later, in colorful tableaux on tanned leather, Rembert conjured a world of incredible brutality from his past experiences. The mid-career exhibition Winfred Rembert: Amazing Grace shows the dramatic, biographical nature of Rembert's art. Rembert will sing gospel songs and discuss his experiences in the galleries on several dates. Please note: This exhibition contains some graphic images of racism and brutality, so it may not be appropriate for young children. The show opens January 21 and runs through May 5. Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm. $5; $3 seniors and ages 5-16; free ages 4 and younger.