Start by getting the obvious must-see event out of the way: in Times Square, the ball drops, the clock strikes midnight and a million pairs of lips meet in unison on New Year’s Eve. The confetti-covered memory of this globally-celebrated tradition will last you a lifetime! After you’ve rung in the New Year, there are still plenty of fun things to do on the New York event schedule.

On January 8th you’ll have one last chance to see “Billy Eliot” the musical, which has run since November of 2008. The musical’s final show will pull out all the stops, pushing barriers with a most heartened performance. For many of the cast, this long-term engagement was their fulltime job for the length of a presidential term.

If you’d like to mix things up with a fresh cast instead of a seasoned one and have a mind to see Carnegie Hall, you might want to schedule your trip for February 8th. Fretwork makes its debut at the venue, performing the work of 17th century viol composers. The group has worked together for twenty-five years and they are making their first appearance at the renowned Hall. It is sure to be unrestrained and full of feeling. Fewer events could fill Carnegie with more gusto.

At the Museum of Natural History, “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors” will light up your eyes. This event is especially engaging for children, but is educational and fun for people of all ages. From poison dart frogs to wrestling frogs, you’ll see more than just Kermit in these features.

For a final visit to a limited performance, you might take inspiration from Kermit. Jim Henson’s Fantastic World ends after almost one full year on the January 16th, 2012. The traveling Smithsonian exhibit has more than 120 artifacts from the popular puppet antics of Jim Henson. Though Yoda is not on display, many of the most popular puppets for Sesame Street and the Muppet Show are. Other upcoming events in New York City not mentioned here might also appeal to your entertainment tastes, so be sure to look at an events calendar before you go.