February recess is next week for Newton Public Schools. Still not sure what your child will be doing while school is out? We rounded up a list of both free and paid activities happening in Newton next week.

The list is split into short activities (some of which require adults to stay, and some of which do not), tween/teen drop off activities, and longer half or all day drop off camps. Many of these require advanced registration and have limited slots. The Beacon tried to ensure all events still had open seats at the time of writing. 

Short Events:

Feb 17, 10 am to 2 pm: Children can expand their engineering skills by building a model car at the Durant-Kenrick House, 286 Waverley Ave. $5 per child; adults and children under 5 are free. Adults must remain on site but can be in a quiet space with free Wi-Fi. Tickets can be bought on site or online.

Feb 17, 11 am: Watch a marionette show about a dragon king, based on Chinese folklore, at 15 Walnut Park. Advance tickets are $8, tickets at the door at $10 while supplies last.

Feb 17, 3 pm to 3:45 pm: Children ages three and up can enjoy a monster circus puppet show at the Newton Free Library. Free, no registration required.

Feb 17, 3 pm (pre K and up), and 5 to 6 pm (2nd grade and up): Children can learn how to dance to music from KPop Demon Hunters at Hannah’s Dance Community, 230 Adams St. Parents can drop off or stay with their child. A $25 ticket is for one child and one adult; additional children are $15. 

Feb 18, 10 am to 2 pm: February 17, 10 am to 2 pm: Children can expand their engineering skills by building a tall tower at the Durant-Kenrick House, 286 Waverley Ave. $5 per child; adults and children under 5 are free. Adults must remain on site but can be in a quiet space with free Wi-Fi. Tickets can be bought on site or online.

Feb 18, 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm: Children ages 4-7 can put on costumes and go on a journey looking for animals while learning new words in Spanish at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free, but registration required.

Feb 18, 4 pm to 4:45 pm: Children ages 7 – 10 can learn how to draw kangaroos at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St. Free, but registration required.

Feb. 19, 10 am to 2 pm: Children can expand their engineering skills by learning about how to create inventions at the Durant-Kenrick House, 286 Waverley Ave. $5 per child; adults and children under 5 are free. Adults must remain on site but can be in a quiet space with free Wi-Fi. Tickets can be bought on site or online.

Feb. 19, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm: Children ages 7-10 can create a leaf-themed paper bookmark at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free, but registration required. 

Feb. 20, 10:30 am to 11:15 am: Children and families can sing along with Seth Hanson on guitar at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free.

Feb. 20, 10 am to 2 pm: Children can expand their engineering skills by building a marble roller coaster run at the Durant-Kenrick House, 286 Waverley Ave. $5 per child; adults and children under 5 are free. Adults must remain on site but can be in a quiet space with free Wi-Fi. Tickets can be bought on site or online.

Feb. 20, 4 pm to 4:45 pm: Children ages 5 and up can make crafts at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free. 

Tweens and Teens:

Feb 17 – 20, 12 pm to 3 pm: Ages 12-18 can learn about new ceramic techniques at the New Art Center, 61 Washington Park. Registration required and is $335. 

Feb 17, 2 pm to 3 pm: Tweens and teens (grades 5-12) can learn how to ice dye a top at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Please bring a white item to dye. Free, but registration required.

Feb 17, 6:30 to 8:30 pm: Tweens and teens (grades 5-12) can play Magic the Gathering at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free, please bring cards if you have them.

Feb 18, 6 pm to 6:45 pm, 7 pm to 7:45 pm, and 8 pm to 8:45 pm: Tweens and teens (grades 5-12) can search for the library’s missing gnome during a 45 minute escape room at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free, but registration required. 

Feb 19, 7 pm to 8 pm: Tweens and teens (grades 5-12) can create a leaf-themed paper bookmark at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free, but registration required.

Feb 20, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Tweens and teens (grades 5-12) can learn how to create a bookmark using TinkerCAD and 3D Modeling at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free, but registration required. 

Weeklong Drop-off Sessions:

Feb 16 – 20, 8 am to 12 pm, 8 am to 5 pm, 1 pm to 5 pm: Children ages 8 – 18 can make crafts, both fiber arts and other crafts, at Knot and Purl, 17 Lincoln St. Each session is $90.

Feb 16 – 20, 9 am to 1 pm, 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, 9 am to 4 pm: Children ages 5 and up can learn about crafting and sewing at Hipstitch, 1276 Washington Street. Prices vary depending on which session is chosen; morning is $140, afternoon is $120, full day is $200.

Feb 16 – Feb 20, 9 am to 3 pm: Children ages 6 to 16 can learn about cooking at Third Space Kitchen, 53 Winchester Street. Lunch provided. Price is $1150, and registration is required.

Feb. 17 – Feb 20, 9 am to 12:30 pm, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Children in grades 1-5 can enjoy Buildwave, a building game, at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. Each session is $300; registration required. Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch. 

Feb. 17 – Feb 20, 9 am to 12 pm: Children in grades K-8 can enjoy games like floor hockey and capture the flag at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch. 

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 9 am to 12 pm: Children in grades 2-5 can enjoy building Minecraft worlds at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch. 

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 9 am to 12:30 pm: Children in grades K – 3 can enjoy painting and mixed media art at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch.

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 9 am to 12 pm: Children in grades K – 2 can enjoy hearing a story and creating an art piece based off the story at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch. 

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Children in grades 3 -6 can learn about more advanced painting techniques such as color theory and layering at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch. 

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Children in grades K -5 can make various crafts, such as fuse beads and tie-dye shirts, at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch.

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Children in grades K – 8 can learn basketball drilling skills at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch. 

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Children in grades K – 3 can enjoy building with LEGO at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch. 

Feb 17 – Feb 20, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Children in grades 2 – 8 with prior chess knowledge can learn more advanced chess techniques at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon Street. This session is $300; registration required.  Food is not provided, so please provide a snack or lunch.