This year's exhibition features quilts that draw inspiration from the word cool––whether it's a cold, wintery scene, a quilt of cool colors like greens and blues, or another interpretation of the word cool, this year the quilt show faces the cold of fall and winter head-on.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Seneca Village was Manhattan's first known community of African-American property owners, on land that would become Central Park. Learn about the history of the village, the property owners, and what New York City was like at the time.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or e-mail tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: 85th Street and Central Park West (in Central Park)

Before video games, movies, and television, indoor games and projects helped pass the long winter days. At Lefferts Historic House, you can also try your hand at needlepoint!

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Whether you are preparing for an extended journey through the woods or just want to be more prepared for any situation, a wilderness survival program is perfect for you.

Wilderness survival programs take place in the fall and winter. All programs are family friendly, but are recommended for ages 8 years and older. Wilderness survival programs feature hands-on activities in an outdoor setting. Please dress appropriately for cold weather.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 548-0912

Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park)

On Nature Exploration Hikes we will discover the plants and animals that inhabit the urban forest.

This is a moderate hike, which is a longer, faster paced hike on rugged terrain. For all hiking programs we recommend wearing comfortable shoes or boots, and packing water and a light snack.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 421-2021

Location: Prospect Park Picnic House (in Prospect Park)

View significant artifacts from 19th-century family life and walk into a fully furnished 1820s bedroom. There will be tours every half hour.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 789-2822

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Spend time outside enjoying nature while helping to keep Prospect Park clean. Families can take a tour of the Park and its waterways and help keep it clean along the way. Gloves, garbage bags and trash grabbers will be provided.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed the North Woods to replicate the forests of the Adirondack Mountains, with their crystal streams, tumbling cascades, rustic bridges, and picturesque pools right in New York City's backyard. Join us for a tour through the North Woods and admire their work.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Hilly, stairs, and a few Park-related obstacles to negotiate - not recommended for people with disabilities.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides, or ask a Ranger to borrow a pair.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 421-2021

Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Envision the year ahead, design your seasons and capture their delights with beautiful, Wave Hill-inspired images to create your very own hanging calendar for the new year.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Wave Hill

For more than ten years, the Corinne May Botz searched for ghost stories in buildings across the United States. She ventured into these haunted places with both camera and tape recorder in hand; her photographs, accompanied by first-person narratives, reveal a rare glimpse into American interiors, both physical and psychological.

She says, “The first thing that inspired the project were writers like Edith Wharton, Charlotte Bronte and even Toni Morrison. Often these ghost stories were written by women as a means of articulating domestic discontents. I was interested in the idea of a woman being trapped in the home or by domestic space and how this was expressed in history."

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park)

This year's exhibition features quilts that draw inspiration from the word cool––whether it's a cold, wintery scene, a quilt of cool colors like greens and blues, or another interpretation of the word cool, this year the quilt show faces the cold of fall and winter head-on.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Walk through a scenic area on the western edge of the Park, much of which is off the beaten track for most visitors. See rolling meadows, lake views, bridges of different styles, and a garden with flowers and plants mentioned by Shakespeare.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (in Central Park)

Before video games, movies, and television, indoor games and projects helped pass the long winter days. At Lefferts Historic House, you can also try your hand at needlepoint!

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

On Nature Exploration Hikes we will discover the plants and animals that inhabit the urban forest.

Hiking programs feature intensity levels ranging from light (a leisurely stroll on mostly paved paths), moderate (longer, faster paced hikes on rugged terrain), to vigorous (long distance, with hills and rugged terrain). For all hiking programs we recommend wearing comfortable shoes or boots, and packing water and a light snack.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park)

Whether you are preparing for an extended journey through the woods or just want to be more prepared for any situation, a wilderness survival program is perfect for you.

Wilderness survival programs take place in the fall and winter. All programs are family friendly, but are recommended for ages 8 years and older. Wilderness survival programs feature hands-on activities in an outdoor setting. Please dress appropriately for cold weather.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 846-2731

Location: Fort Totten Visitor's Center (in Fort Totten Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Ice-age glaciers, Native Americans, Dutch traders, British Redcoats, and the Underground Railroad have all left their mark on New York City. Their stories can be found in the names of our streets, our architecture, and our parks. Urban Park Rangers specialize in interpretation of historic turning points, both natural and man-made, in our city’s long history.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 967-3542

Location: Parking Lot (in Clove Lakes Park)

View significant artifacts from 19th-century family life and walk into a fully furnished 1820s bedroom. There will be tours every half hour.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 789-2822

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Play animal charades, pretend to be a bat trying to catch a moth, or join many other fun and active nature games. A Naturalist will lead children and families to areas near the Audubon Center, where you can be active and learn about the nature that is all around us!

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

Come learn about one of our favorite urban animals, squirrels! This children's naturalist program takes place in Fort Tryon Park with educator Julia Attaway. This workshop for kids ages 4-7 will teach park visitors about what makes squirrels unique and why they are so at home in the specific habitat of Fort Tryon Park. Children must be accompanied by adults.

This program is supported by the Greenacre Foundation and the Fort Tryon Park Trust.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park)

It has been said that art takes nature as its model. The beauty of nature has inspired many great Americans to create artistic masterpieces. From the wildlife portraits of John James Audubon to the stunning black and white photography of Ansel Adams, nature has been a muse to artist for centuries. Our Urban Park Ranger Art and Photography programs allow you to interpret the natural would through artistic expression, while learning about nature and the environment.

Art programs may include drawing, painting, poetry and nature art projects. All supplies are provided unless otherwise indicated. All art programs are family friendly, but may be challenging for younger children.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: 212.304.2365

Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park)

Spend time outside enjoying nature while helping to keep Prospect Park clean. Families can take a tour of the Park and its waterways and help keep it clean along the way. Gloves, garbage bags and trash grabbers will be provided.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights.

Photos: Wave Hill

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill)

Take a walk around the lands dominated by Belvedere Castle, situated high on Vista Rock. Visit the 55 acre realm on an eclectic tour of history and nature.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park)

Talk a walk with one of our naturalists to watch for animals, and investigate little-known facts about the park and its animal residents.

Start time: 3:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 43 fine artists, horticulturalists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Materials such as pistachio shells, Legos, bicycle tubes, and Chinese food containers, among others, are used to examine themes as diverse as Victoria hair wreaths to the recent impact of Hurricane Sandy. This exhibition is sure to be one of the most thoughtful, enjoyable experiences of this year's holiday season.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

For more than ten years, the Corinne May Botz searched for ghost stories in buildings across the United States. She ventured into these haunted places with both camera and tape recorder in hand; her photographs, accompanied by first-person narratives, reveal a rare glimpse into American interiors, both physical and psychological.

She says, “The first thing that inspired the project were writers like Edith Wharton, Charlotte Bronte and even Toni Morrison. Often these ghost stories were written by women as a means of articulating domestic discontents. I was interested in the idea of a woman being trapped in the home or by domestic space and how this was expressed in history."

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park)

Before video games, movies, and television, indoor games and projects helped pass the long winter days. At Lefferts Historic House, you can also try your hand at needlepoint!

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Kick off the New Year at the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run! Join the fun and celebrate with dancing (starting at 10:00 p.m.) and a costume parade and contest (starting at 11:00 p.m.) at the Central Park Bandshell, just south of the 72nd Street Transverse. The 4-mile unscored run will begin on the stroke of midnight, and will include a spectacular fireworks display at the stroke of midnight to light up the night.

Start time: 10:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Naumburg Bandshell (in Central Park)

Start the celebrations off around 11 p.m. with entertainment and hot refreshments at Grand Army Plaza. We can’t help you keep your resolutions, but we can get you off to a dazzling start! The best locations for viewing the fireworks (midnight) include: anywhere in Grand Army Plaza, inside the Park on the West Drive, and along Prospect Park West between grand Army Plaza and 9th Street.

New Year’s fireworks and festivities are sponsored by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

Start time: 11:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 965-8999

Location: Grand Army Plaza

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 43 fine artists, horticulturalists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Materials such as pistachio shells, Legos, bicycle tubes, and Chinese food containers, among others, are used to examine themes as diverse as Victoria hair wreaths to the recent impact of Hurricane Sandy. This exhibition is sure to be one of the most thoughtful, enjoyable experiences of this year's holiday season.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

In January, it’s All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Parents: Bring your camera to have a photo op with Thomas and capture the special day! Daily, January 1–27.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Imagine living as a 19th century New Yorker taking a journey through Central Park. Along the way, you will learn about the Park's history and hear how its designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, struggled to turn their visions into our reality.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 794-4064

Location: Outside the Dairy Gift Shop (in Central Park)

Before video games, movies, and television, indoor games and projects helped pass the long winter days. At Lefferts Historic House, you can also try your hand at needlepoint!

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 43 fine artists, horticulturalists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Materials such as pistachio shells, Legos, bicycle tubes, and Chinese food containers, among others, are used to examine themes as diverse as Victoria hair wreaths to the recent impact of Hurricane Sandy. This exhibition is sure to be one of the most thoughtful, enjoyable experiences of this year's holiday season.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Take pride in your community and join the effort to continue the initial park clean-up The South Bronx Over-All Economic Development Corporation( SOBRO)is proposing to continue with the bi-weekly clean-ups starting on October 24,2012. Gloves and Bags will be provided. Volunteer Certificate hours - credits available on request.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: 718.292.3113

Location: Roberto Clemente Plaza

In January, it’s All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Parents: Bring your camera to have a photo op with Thomas and capture the special day! Daily, January 1–27.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Join us for a tour through Central Park in which you will see a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water, and much more!

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:45 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: East 72 Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 43 fine artists, horticulturalists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Materials such as pistachio shells, Legos, bicycle tubes, and Chinese food containers, among others, are used to examine themes as diverse as Victoria hair wreaths to the recent impact of Hurricane Sandy. This exhibition is sure to be one of the most thoughtful, enjoyable experiences of this year's holiday season.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Craniosacral therapy and relaxation is a deeply relaxing technique, somewhat like yoga, that makes you feel as though you are floating on water.

You may experience yourself drifting in and out of sleep during the gentle and quiet sessions. You will gain a deeper sense of well-being and relaxation, with a better understanding of your body and how it feels. If you suffer migraines, back or neck pain, the instructor will advice you on the specific technique to alleviate the area of concern.

Mats and materials are provided. Come in loose and comfortable pants and clothing. Most people remove their shoes.

Get ready to have an amazing experience. This is a very popular class.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

In January, it’s All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Parents: Bring your camera to have a photo op with Thomas and capture the special day! Daily, January 1–27.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Walk through a scenic area on the western edge of the Park, much of which is off the beaten track for most visitors. See rolling meadows, lake views, bridges of different styles, and a garden with flowers and plants mentioned by Shakespeare.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (in Central Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 43 fine artists, horticulturalists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Materials such as pistachio shells, Legos, bicycle tubes, and Chinese food containers, among others, are used to examine themes as diverse as Victoria hair wreaths to the recent impact of Hurricane Sandy. This exhibition is sure to be one of the most thoughtful, enjoyable experiences of this year's holiday season.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Sponsored by CenterLight Healthcare, seniors can enjoy an afternoon of fun activities, health awareness, free blood pressure screening, music, refreshments & more!

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 520-5919

Location: Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

In January, it’s All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Parents: Bring your camera to have a photo op with Thomas and capture the special day! Daily, January 1–27.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Take a walk around the lands dominated by Belvedere Castle, situated high on Vista Rock. Visit the 55 acre realm on an eclectic tour of history and nature.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park)

Good Morning! Come join the Van Cortlandt Track Club for regular morning group runs through and around the Yonkers-Bronx border in small groups each Saturday morning at 8AM!

We break into various groups based on different paces and distances, starting with a loop of the Parade Grounds, then some peel off through the trails for various length and speed runs in smaller groups.

Be sure to meet back up after the run for breakfast!

Visit www.vctc.org for details & local running tips.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Van Cortlandt Stadium (in Van Cortlandt Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides, or ask a Ranger to borrow a pair.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (212) 628-2345

Location: Inwood Hill Park

The Central Park Conservancy offers weekly moderate to brisk walks led by the NY Walkers Club for people 18+ years of all abilities. This low-impact fitness program is perfect for those who want to get in shape, build muscle tone and strength, and increase cardiovascular health while enjoying Central Park’s beautiful landscapes.

Free and no pre-registration is required.

Start time: 9:30 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: (212) 348-4867

Location: North Meadow Recreation Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Look to the sky’s palette of colors, infused with shades of dusk or dawn, then blend and blur paint and tissue-paper dyes against a silhouette of forest, city skyline, river or bridge to create an inspirational scene.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Ecology Building (in Wave Hill)

New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to deer and seals, wildlife viewing opportunities exist year-round in all of our parks and beaches. Wildlife viewing is a perfect activity for any age. Today wildlife viewing is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing activities. Our Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in New York City.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 548-0912

Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park)

Join us for a tour through Central Park in which you will see a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water, and much more!

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 10:30 am

End time: 11:45 am

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: East 72 Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park)

The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: 718-817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

In January, it’s All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Parents: Bring your camera to have a photo op with Thomas and capture the special day! Daily, January 1–27.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Imagine living as a 19th century New Yorker taking a journey through Central Park. Along the way, you will learn about the Park's history and hear how its designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, struggled to turn their visions into our reality.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 794-4064

Location: Outside the Dairy Gift Shop (in Central Park)

Urban scavengers, commonly found in our city, play a significant role in the local ecosystem. Join Robin Sanchez on this fun "scavenger" hunt to gain an understanding of various urban species and identify their habitats through a Critter Scene Investigation (CSI)! Appropriate for ages 8-12. All participants must be accompanied by adults.

Robin Sanchez’s Youth Naturalist Programs are generously supported by the Greenacre Foundation and Fort Tryon Park.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Broadway and Bennett Avenue (in Fort Tryon Park)

Join award-winning cartoonist Felipe Galindo to make a one-of-a-kind pop up card using paper and cardboard. You will learn the basic techniques of three-dimensional pop up engineering and will design your own card following step-by-step instructions. Have some fun and be creative at this craft workshop for kids and adults alike.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 2:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 923-8008

Location: Morris-Jumel Mansion (in Roger Morris Park)

Holding the Park's northern highlands was key in the American Revolution and the War of 1812 because armies could see their enemies sail down the East River and approach. History buffs will love this tour of the Harlem Meer and its strategic environs.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Hilly, stairs, and a few Park-related obstacles to negotiate - not recommended for people with disabilities.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Look to the sky’s palette of colors, infused with shades of dusk or dawn, then blend and blur paint and tissue-paper dyes against a silhouette of forest, city skyline, river or bridge to create an inspirational scene.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: 718-549-3200

Location: Ecology Building (in Wave Hill)

In January, it’s All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Parents: Bring your camera to have a photo op with Thomas and capture the special day! Daily, January 1–27.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

On Nature Exploration Hikes we will discover the plants and animals that inhabit the urban forest.

Hiking and Orienteering programs feature intensity levels ranging from light (a leisurely stroll on mostly paved paths), moderate (longer, faster paced hikes on rugged terrain), to vigorous (long distance, with hills and rugged terrain). For all hiking programs we recommend wearing comfortable shoes or boots, and packing water and a light snack.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 548-0972

Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park)

Imagine living as a 19th century New Yorker taking a journey through Central Park. Along the way, you will learn about the Park's history and hear how its designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, struggled to turn their visions into our reality.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 794-4064

Location: Outside the Dairy Gift Shop (in Central Park)

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights.

Photos: Wave Hill

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill)

Join us for a tour through Central Park in which you will see a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water, and much more!

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:45 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: East 72 Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 43 fine artists, horticulturalists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Materials such as pistachio shells, Legos, bicycle tubes, and Chinese food containers, among others, are used to examine themes as diverse as Victoria hair wreaths to the recent impact of Hurricane Sandy. This exhibition is sure to be one of the most thoughtful, enjoyable experiences of this year's holiday season.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Take a walk around the lands dominated by Belvedere Castle, situated high on Vista Rock. Visit the 55 acre realm on an eclectic tour of history and nature.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park)

Poe Park Visitor Center is pleased to host Swamp, an exhibition that explores our shifting relationship with the natural world. The swamp as a bipolar space—half earth, half water—hints at complex connections between the real and fantastic, renewal and abandonment. Fourteen artists explore the delicate balance between visual imagination, illusion and actual environment. Swamp, curated by Kari Adelaide, is on view from December 19, 2012 - January 18, 2013.

In addition to drawing upon environmental sources, the artists also include ideas of embodiment and themes of fluidity, memory and consciousness. The exhibition conjures New York City’s bygone swamps, such as the Bronx’s former Bear Swamp, as well as Central Park’s present-day bodies of water that were created by damming the natural seepage of a swamp. Swamp acknowledges Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of "undignified tricks of disguise" in his Greensward Plan (the original map for Central Park), which emphasized the illusion of extended space—seemingly natural but completely man-made. Olmsted's vision of land rearrangement led to significant changes in the park’s structure and natural conditions: swamps were drained, ten million carts of soil were brought in and 20,800 barrels of gunpowder were used to loosen rock, for example.

The strikingly diverse and visually rich range of artwork negotiates boundaries between physical landscape and human consciousness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Shadows in still water, and the like, if too eagerly hunted, become shows merely, and mock us with their unreality.”

Artists exhibited include Bhakti Baxter, Jesse Bransford, Benjamin Butler, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Tamara Gonzales, Scott Hug, Juliet Jacobson, Jose Lerma, Lauren Luloff, David Matorin, Max Razdow, Sigga Björg Sigurðardóttir, Ryan Wallace, Max Warsh.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 43 fine artists, horticulturalists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Materials such as pistachio shells, Legos, bicycle tubes, and Chinese food containers, among others, are used to examine themes as diverse as Victoria hair wreaths to the recent impact of Hurricane Sandy. This exhibition is sure to be one of the most thoughtful, enjoyable experiences of this year's holiday season.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

In January, it’s All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Parents: Bring your camera to have a photo op with Thomas and capture the special day! Daily, January 1–27.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Walk through a scenic area on the western edge of the Park, much of which is off the beaten track for most visitors. See rolling meadows, lake views, bridges of different styles, and a garden with flowers and plants mentioned by Shakespeare.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (in Central Park)

Volunteer to help distribute mulch and teach your neighbors about the benefits of tree care during NYC Parks' MulchFest!

MulchFest, an annual event held by NYC Parks, provides New Yorkers with the opportunity to bring their holiday trees to designated sites across the five boroughs where city equipment, along with donated forestry equipment, is used to turn dead trees into wood chips. The chips can then be placed in tree pits and horticultural areas, helping to conserve warmth and soil moisture throughout the winter as well as inhibiting the growth of weeds.

This orientation session serves to train civic-minded volunteers as Mulchfest ambassadors:

• Help to prep holiday trees for chipping
• Distribute bags of mulch to local tree stewards
• Educate folks about the many benefits of mulching trees!

During the orientation you will be able to select one of several tree chipping sites at which to participate.

Please email RSVP@milliontreesnyc.org to register for the orientation!

Start time: 6:00 pm

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: The Arsenal (in Central Park)