Things to Do for Kids and Families on Long Island January 28 and 29: Family Adventures and a Chinese New Year Celebration

Science and nature are the name of the game again this weekend, with Science Saturday at the Long Island Science Center, and A Nature Clue for You and Creature Creations at a couple of Long Island state parks. You'll also find a Chinese New Year celebration in Stony Brook, both a chocolate workshop (!) and an activity about eating right for and taking good care of your teeth at the Long Island Children's Museum, and an Alice in Wonderland ballet at the Tilles Center.

Saturday

Family Adventures: A Nature Clue for You!
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
 Smithtown
10–11:30am
$4, children 3-17 $3, children 2 and under free
Enjoy this wild and crazy interactive game that will have you and your family rolling on the floor laughing. Light snacks will be served. Reservations are required.

Family Science
Long Island Science Center
 Riverhead
 11am–4pm
$5 per person
Your family can enjoy science-related crafts and activities and check out the center's ball python and Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

Alice in Wonderland Follies
 Tilles Center
 Greenvale
 2pm
$14–$22
New York Theatre Ballet brings Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the rest of the gang to life through dance.

The Culture of Chocolate
Long Island Children's Museum
Garden City
 3pm
$3 with museum admission (LICM members $2)
The word chocolate is said to be derived from the Mayan word for a popular drink, xocoatl, made with cacao beans. Discover the history of chocolate as we learn about the Mayans by listening to stories of their culture and tasting variations of ancient recipes.

Sunday

Fun for Kids: Creature Creations
 Nissequogue River State Park
Kings Park
1:30–3pm
$4, children 3-17 $3, children 2 and under free
Children will be challenged to create a brand new species of bird that must fit a particular habitat and diet. Then we will go outside for a short walk and search for some of the species that have adapted to Nissequogue River State Park.

Chinese New Year Celebration
Educational & Cultural Center
Stony Brook
1:30–3:30pm
Adults $10, children under 12 $8 (includes a craft activity), seniors $8
Celebrate the year of the dragon and enjoy drummers, dancers, and a nine-foot lion. Advance registration required.

"Sink Your Teeth into This!"
Long Island Children's Museum
Garden City
2:30–4:30pm
Free with museum admission
Stop by the museum's healthy activity station to view its oral hygiene demonstration, and enjoy an apple snack.