Join the 'in crowd' at the Brooklyn Children's Museum

While school’s out (December 24-January 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily), the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is the “in” place to be, during their annual Winter Break Festival - World of Celebrations.

Back by popular demand, this year’s festival boasts unique interactive family programs exploring toys, holiday customs, and seasonal traditions from across the globe like a toy inventors’ workshop, making peace doves, decorating gingerbread people, and much more (The museum is closed December 25 and January 1). All special programs are included with Museum admission.

Featured holiday programs include: Winter Wonderland (January’s installment of the Blooming Babies toddler workshop series), Beastly Feasts (December’s family science Chase Wonder Why Workshop) and Family Celebrations: Holly Jolly Decorations.

Don’t forget to stop by the new visiting exhibition Top Secret: Mission Toy, a perfect place to discover playthings from around the world through January 3.

December 26 and 27
--Family Celebrations: Kwanzaa (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) ages 5 and under. Find out about seven principles of Kwanzaa, or nguzo saba and make your own Kwanzaa-inspired work of art to take home.

--Harvest Gifts (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Ages 6+. Join in exploring mazao (the gathering of crops), a central theme of the Kwanzaa holiday. Kwanzaa not only commemorates ancient African harvest festivals, but also celebrates the rewards that come when a community works together. Discover your own harvest gifts, as you plant your own seed to take home and grow.

--Meet and Greet Creatures of the Sea (noon-12:30 p.m.) All ages. How does a sea urchin move? What does a starfish eat? Discover how diverse life really is under the sea by exploring animals up close and personal.

--Family Celebrations: Kwanzaa (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Ages 5 and under. Find out about seven principles of Kwanzaa, or nguzo saba and make your own Kwanzaa-inspired work of art to take home.

--Chase Wonder Why Workshop: Beastly Feasts (3-4 p.m.) All ages. For the holidays share feasts with family. Join in Neighborhood Nature and explore animals feasting right in their own habitat. Discover a variety of animal adaptations and survival methods with BCM’s live animal expert.

--Circle Time (4:00-4:30pm) All Ages. Come hear stories from around the world.

December 28 & 29
--Hope for Peace (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Ages 5 and under. Doves are an ancient symbol of peace. Come spread the message by decorating a snow-white bird in the preschoolers’ Art Studio, where we will display your masterpiece during the holiday season.

--Holiday Snapshots (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) Ages 6 and up. Create a snapshot of your family and decorate your own unique picture frame.

--Meet and Greet Creatures of the Sea (noon-12:30 p.m.) All ages. How does a sea urchin move? What does a starfish eat? Discover how diverse life really is under the sea by exploring animals up close and personal.

--Festive Films (1:30-2 p.m.) All Ages. Warm up this winter season with a good movie. Join for a variety of seasonal and holiday films.

--‘Tis the Season for Giving: Toy Inventor’s Workshop (20-3:30 p.m.) All ages. In Top Secret: Mission Toy explore toys from around the world. Little inventors can put their thinking caps to the test as we create marvelous toys that zip, bop and whirrrr.

--Hope for Peace (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Ages 5 and under. Doves are an ancient symbol of peace. Come spread the message by decorating a snow-white bird in the preschoolers’ Art Studio, where your masterpiece will be displayed during the holiday season.

--Festive Films (3-3:30 p.m.) All ages. Join for a variety of seasonal and holiday films.

--Circle Time (4-4:30 p.m.) All ages. Come hear stories from around the world.December 30 & 31--Holiday Snapshots (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) Ages 6 and up. Create a snapshot of your family and decorate your own unique picture frame.

--New Year’s Celebration (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Ages 5 and under. Get ready for the New Year with hands-on activities brought to you by the number 2010.

--Meet and Greet Creatures of the Sea (noon-12:30 p.m.) All ages. How does a sea urchin move? What does a starfish eat? Discover how diverse life really is under the sea by exploring animals up close and personal.

--Festive Films (1:30-2 p.m.) All ages. Join for a variety of seasonal and holiday films.

--‘Tis the Season for Giving: Toy Inventor’s Workshop (2:00-3:30pm) All ages. In Top Secret: Mission Toy explore toys from around the world. Little inventors can put their thinking caps to the test as we create marvelous toys that zip, bop and whirrrr.

--New Year’s Celebration (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Ages 5 and under. Get ready for the New Year with hands-on activities brought to you by the number 2010.

--Festive Films (3-3:30 p.m.) All ages. Join for a variety of seasonal and holiday films.

--Circle Time (4-4:30 p.m.) All ages. Come hear stories from around the world.

January 2 & 3
--World Passport Workshop: Magnificent Camels (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Ages 6 and up. See how the people of Bikaner, India celebrate the ships of the desert during the annual Camel Festival. Create our own charms and other decorations believed to protect travelers and display wealth on long journeys across the desert.

--Blooming Babies: Winter Wonderland (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Ages 18 months- 2 ½ years. Create a winter wonderland landscape with puffy paint, as you learn what people from different cultures wear to keep warm during the winter months.

--Meet and Greet Creatures of the Sea (noon-12:30 p.m.) All ages. How does a sea urchin move? What does a starfish eat? Discover how diverse life really is under the sea by exploring animals up close and personal.

--Can’t Catch Me (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Ages 5 and under. Come hear the classic tale of the Gingerbread Man, then decorate your own version of that “quick” little cookie…if you can catch him.

--Kitchen Chemistry: Food pHun (1:30-2:30 p.m.) Ages 6 and up. Put your taste buds to the (litmus) test as you explore acids and bases in the science kitchen.

--Circle Time (4-4:30 p.m.) All ages. Come hear stories from around the world.****The Museum is at 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue); call 718-735-4400. Admission is $7.50.