ART

RIDING HIGH The UBS Art Gallery displays classic carousel animals created between 1890 and 1920.The animals on view boast ornate saddles, carved flowers, mirrors, and jewels. Highlights include a horse clad in medieval armor, a growling tiger, and a greyhound standing at attention. The pieces come from the Charlotte Dinger Collection, and the exhibit was organized by the Morris Museum in Morristown, N.J. Reception: Tomorrow, 6-8 p.m. Exhibit: Tomorrow through Monday, January 3, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., UBS Art Gallery, 1285 Sixth Ave., between 51st and 52nd streets, 212-713-2885, free.

BOOKS

SURPRISE PARTY Actress Betsy von Furstenberg reads from and signs her children’s book “Grandmother’s Surprise.” Saturday, 2-4 p.m., Drama Book Shop, 250 W. 40th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-944-0595 ext. 417, free, reservations requested.

DANCE

CRACKED TEAM David Parker’s “Nut/cracked” is an interpretation of the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” that features traditional pointe work, singing, and “booty shaking.” Mr. Parker uses pop versions of Tchaikovsky’s melodies by composers including Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller. Eleven teenaged dancers join professional performers including Mr. Parker himself. Wednesday through Wednesday, December 22, 7:30 p.m., Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-924-0077, $25.

HOLIDAYS

KWANZAA AND BEYOND The World Financial Center Winter Garden celebrates the holidays this weekend. Tammy Hall and Joy Kelly join musician Hasan Bakr to tell the story of an American boy’s discovery of his neighborhood’s various cultures. “Malik’s Journey” includes “travels” to North Africa, Russia, India, and beyond (Saturday, 12:30 p.m.). A Kwanzaa storytelling celebration follows a child who draws on his African-American heritage to celebrate the season (Sunday, 12:30 p.m.). All weekend long, the a capella group the Accidentals perform seasonal songs (Friday, noon, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.) and children can visit with Santa Claus (Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.). All activities: World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey St. at West Side Highway, 212-945-0505, free.

SEASONAL STORIES A program of music and stories from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Bronx features storyteller David Gonzalez and Larry Harlow and the Latin Legends Band. Saturday, 3 p.m., El Museo Del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave. at 104th Street, 212-831-7272, $15 general, $10 members, seniors, and students, $5 children under 10.

MUSIC

AFTERNOON VISITORS The Little Orchestra Society, now in its 25th season, curates interactive concerts for children. Up next is Gian Carlo Menotti’s children’s opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” The Christmas story focuses on one evening during the journey of the three Magi – they stop at the home of a poor woman and her optimistic crippled son. The production includes music, dance, and an animal menagerie. Saturday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, Broadway and West 65th Street, 212-971-9500, $10-$35.

PARENTING

PLAYTIME 101 A-Ha! Learning offers a free trial of its parent-and-child workshops for children ages 6 months to 3 years. The “enriched play” program is led by a child development specialist who helps parents learn to play with their children as they “intrigue, stimulate, and engage.” Thursday-Saturday, various times, A-Ha! Learning Partners, 340 E. 71st St., between First and Second avenues, 212-722-9537, free. See www.ahalearning.com for schedule and registration.

TALKS

WRITING FOR WEE ONES A panel of children’s-book experts discuss writing and publishing books for young people. Participants include the illustrator for Lemony Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events,” Brett Helquist; the author of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Mo Willems; the author of “The Moves Make the Man,” Bruce Brooks, and an executive editor at Hyperion Books, Alessandra Balzer. The class is for adults only. Thursday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. 826NYC, 372 Fifth Ave., between Fifth and Sixth streets, Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718-499-9884, $50, reservations required.

THEATER

GET THE BLUES The popular interactive television show “Blue’s Clues” comes to the stage for a special birthday party show. Children in the audience receive their own “handy-dance” notebooks and crayons so they can follow along with Joe and Blue on their hunt for clues. Thursday, 4 and 7 p.m., Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, between Paul and Goulden avenues, Bronx, 718-960-8833, $10-$25.

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