Museums have prepared a variety of programs for children and families that you can join in December and during the New Year holidays. In this article I share a selection of programs and give a few recommendations for parents.
New Year's programs are an opportunity to get to know museums in a festive setting. Such programs usually combine interactive and traditional formats for working with children: for example, there may be a guided tour and a hands-on workshop. The theme, of course, is New Year-related: searching for Ded Moroz, helping Snegurochka and other winter characters. Most often the programs are intended for preschoolers and older children, but some museums also offer events for toddlers aged 0–3.
Recommendations for parents
First I’ll share some general tips.
1. Always check schedule, price, and visiting procedures on the museum’s official resources, including by phone. Some programs are available by reservation only, and sometimes only for organized groups.
2. If this is the child’s first visit to a museum, tell them beforehand what the space is like, what features it has, and the rules of conduct. You can look at photos of the halls together.
3. Choose appropriate clothing taking into account the format and venue. Exhibitions have certain temperature and humidity regimes; shoe covers may be required. Prefer comfortable (especially if the program includes a creative workshop), but festive clothing, and bring a change of shoes.
4. Clarify where the parent should be during the program: there are different options. Sometimes you must accompany the child throughout the event, and sometimes you can wait in other museum halls or by the cloakroom (it depends on the specifics of the museum building).
5. Arrive at the museum in a good mood and well fed — that’s already half the success! :) If the museum is far from home, plan the trip so that the child is not too tired by the start of the program.
Museum of the Russian Railways, Saint Petersburg
Features of New Year's programs and events
1. Average duration: 45–90 minutes.
2. Variety of formats: performances, workshops, quests, interactive tours, experiments, creative labs, concerts.
3. Participation of Ded Moroz and Snegurochka; usually you do not need to bring your own gifts (they are either included in the ticket price or not provided at all).
4. The program theme is likely to be related to the museum's subject matter.
5. Schedules may not be very clear; you may need to call by phone.
Museum of Trays at the Zhostovo Factory
A selection of New Year's museum programs
Important: check information about prices, registration procedures and participation on the museum’s official resources (website, social media, by phone).
New Year's program "In the Footsteps of the Magical Carriage" for children 5–7 years old
January 2, 5, 6, 8 and 11, 2026 – 11:00 and 14:00; January 3, 7, 9 – 11:00.
Duration: 90 minutes
Registration by phone +7 (812) 457-23-16
Program cost: child – 800 RUB + museum admission ticket, adult – museum admission ticket
Grandfather Moroz set off on his annual journey by train to congratulate all the people of the Earth, but an evil sorcerer hid the magical carriage with the gifts. The children must find the hidden carriage and save the celebration. To help Grandfather Moroz, participants will go through the museum, uncover the mysteries of the exhibits, play games, solve riddles, and complete tasks. At the end of the session the children will make a handmade gift in the Children's Center.
Program "The Tale of a Pirate, the Sea, and a New Year's Miracle" for children 1.5–5 years
January 10, 2026 at 12:00 and 15:00
Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website
Program cost 1600 RUB; parental accompaniment required.
A gentle winter story about how even a gruff sea wolf can find light inside himself — if there is a little magic and many kind hearts nearby. The program includes an interactive performance, games with the characters, a workshop and a sweet gift.
New Year's program "New Year Among the Flowers", 6+
From December 13 to 29
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Pre-registration by phone +7 903-147-93-27
A festive New Year's tour of the museum with an educational quiz, fun contests and pleasant surprises, a tray-painting workshop in a New Year's style, and gift presentation.
Winter holidays at the museum for children 5–7 and 8–10 years
January 5–8, 2026 from 11:00 to 17:00
Cost 3300 RUB per day
Tickets can be purchased on the website.
Extend the holiday mood during the museum holidays: together we'll watch and discuss cartoons, bring favorite characters to life, experiment with the presentation and form of dishes in culinary workshops, visit exhibitions, hold fashion shows and have lots of fun!
Children's festive program "Cat Asey and the New Year", 6+
January 3 and 6, 2026 at 12:00
Cost 2300 RUB per child (one accompanying adult is free). Tickets available on the website.
Group booking for classes by phone +7 (910) 859-56-75
We invite children and their parents to a cozy old estate where Cat Asey will be the guide into a world of fun adventures, vivid impressions and festive mood! The program includes a New Year's quest around the old estate, a workshop in painting a wooden Christmas tree ornament, games and contests from Ded Moroz and Snegurochka, and Cat Asey’s signature sweet gift.
All-Russian Historical and Ethnographic Museum (Torzhok)
Interactive program "Winter Holiday" at the Novotorzhsky Kremlin (0+)
January 2 and 8, 2026 at 13:00
Cost 150 RUB/person
Inquiries by phone: +7 (919) 061 18 49.
The Novotorzhsky Kremlin invites you to a winter outdoor celebration: we'll play and joke, compete in strength, agility, speed and endurance! On an overview tour we'll get acquainted with the beauties of the old town from a bird's-eye view and learn all the most interesting things about the weapons of Russian warriors from the 11th–16th centuries from a real medieval warrior or even a prince!
Museum "Kosmos", Yaroslavl Oblast, Tutayevsky District, Nikulskoye settlement, 42 Tsentralnaya St.
New Year's adventure "In Search of the Lost Time" for students in grades 1–4
December 17–20, 24–26
Cost 450 RUB/person, for organized groups.
Registration by phone 8 485 230-38-69
A fascinating journey with riddles about Venus, the Moon and asteroids. Full immersion in the atmosphere of both a space and a New Year's adventure. Each child will receive a souvenir from the museum (note that a sweet gift is not provided).
"Christmas Detective. The Lost Manuscript" for children 6–12 years
From 10.12.2025 to 11.01.2026
Weekday sessions at 11:00; 14:00; 17:00.
Weekend sessions at 11:00, 13:00, 16:00, 18:00
Duration – 90 minutes.
Ticket price with gift 4500 RUB (sweet gift and a board game). Price valid until December 12; from December 13 the price increases.
At the center of the plot is the greatest literary mystery: the mysteriously lost second volume of N.V. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls." Young detectives must solve this mystery by passing tests prepared by the Chief Archivist and the Keeper. They will be aided by AR VR glasses, holograms and 360° video installations, laser mazes and radio-controlled models. At the end each participant will receive a personalized "Detective Passport," and most importantly — a chance to find the lost masterpiece and become part of a literary legend!
New Year's program "Meeting with the Snow Maiden", 3+
January 2–11 with sessions at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00.
Program duration: 1 hour.
Participation cost 400 RUB per person.
On other days the program is available for groups of at least 5 people. Advance application is required and can be left by phone or e-mail +7 494 38 23 245 (Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00)
tour@schelykovo.ru
The estate of playwright Alexander Ostrovsky is considered the birthplace of his fairy tale "The Snow Maiden." In winter at Shchelykovo, the fairy heroine in her Residence, together with her friend Zabavushka, meets guests and leads fun games and round dances. Afterwards guests do handicrafts — creating a bright Christmas tree ornament that everyone can make! Parents can participate in the program with children or wait for them in the Reception Room, where you can take photos dressed as Ded Moroz and Snegurochka.
New Year's quest "Nedouchka and the Secret Incident" for children 7–12 years
Events run from December 15 to December 30.
Duration: 90 minutes.
Cost 500 RUB. Advance booking required: +7 (843) 567-80-43; +7 (927) 410-5861
Children will face intriguing events: the cheerful and curious Nedouchka dreams of winning the New Year's drawing contest, but suddenly encounters a mystery: someone has stolen all the art supplies! Who is to blame? To solve this mystery, children together with the characters will go on an exciting journey where they will meet artists and their tools and learn about the principles of color theory in painting. By participating in the search and completing tasks, young detectives will understand the importance of friendship, honesty and mutual help. The celebration ends with a lively round dance with Grandfather Moroz and the creation of an unusual protective toy made of bast — a New Year's horse.
N.P. Lavërov Geological Museum, Arkhangelsk
Master class "New Year's Mosaic", 6+
The master class is held for groups of 6 or more people, Mon–Sat. Registration via the museum's VK group.
Cost 600 RUB.
Participants will learn about mosaics, stages of production, materials used, and get acquainted with the minerals used to color smalt. They will also take part in a quiz and, of course, make a panel/trivet using the smalt mosaic technique.
Session "New Year's Journey with the Military Medical Museum" for children 7–12 years
From 10.12.2025 to 21.12.2025 and from 03.01.2026 to 11.01.2026.
Duration: 70 minutes
Cost: 2000 RUB + entrance tickets for each participant. For organized children's groups one accompanying adult is free of charge. Maximum number of participants per group: 15. Advance booking required by phone: 8 (812) 952-55-43, 8 (921) 952-55-43.
Children and adults will learn how Christmas was celebrated in St. Petersburg and how New Year was celebrated in besieged Leningrad, visit a cadet corps and play fun winter games. Authentic items and documents from those years will help the children understand how the New Year celebration healed the wounded, lifted the spirits of the exhausted and always gave hope for a better future. During the session everyone will be able to make a New Year's toy and light the lights on the museum Christmas tree!
