Jan. 1 weekly planner: Top 10 LI events

1. Disney on Ice

Disney spells magic to kids of a certain age. The popular Disney on Ice returns to Long Island this week with a production of "Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey."

The show incorporates well-known characters from Disney classics including "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King," "Peter Pan" and "Lilo and Stitch." You'll see Ariel and Sebastian in their underwater kingdom, Tinker Bell and Peter Pan flying, and Simba and Nala living in the Pride Lands.

2. "Feasts for Beasts" opens

The Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City will open a new permanent exhibit Friday. "Feasts for Beasts" is designed to show kids how all kinds of animals find meat and plants. An interactive "Animal Diner" station will allow children to role-play as they "serve" various animals meals. There will be live habitats for kids to observe insects and reptiles, plus a glass-enclosed working honeybee hive. Additional hands-on activities are planned for the grand opening celebration.

3. Winter Run Series

The popular four-week series begins with a 5k run at Heckscher State Park followed by three others at state parks: Robert Moses State Park on Jan. 15, Caumsett State Park on Jan. 22 and Jones Beach State Park on Jan. 29. You can sign up for all four races in the series for $45, or individual registration will be taken day of races. The series draws more than 1,000 runners per race -- after each, refreshments are served and awards are given out in different categories including for the top three male and female runners.

4. The King's legacy

The King is back in the building -- at least for the weekend. Bay Street Theatre's "Picture Show" weekend brings classic movies back to the big screen. In honor of Elvis' birthday, on Friday you can see "King Creole" the 1958 film about a young delinquent who quits his job in a nightclub as a busboy and then gets a chance to perform onstage. Saturday night, "Jailhouse Rock" -- the title song of the same name that went on to be an Elvis hit -- will be screened.

5. Make a snowglobe

Ever wonder how all that snow and glitter gets inside a snowglobe? The Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum is hosting an Arctic Snowglobes workshop, where you'll get a chance to re-create a little bit of winter inside a personalized homemade globe to take home, you'll also get an insight into the world of ice and about the animals that live in the Arctic region.

6. Local comedy

Three stand-up comedians get their time in the spotlight at the YMCA Boulton Center's "Big Laughs in Bay Shore" series. The evening features Joe Devito who has appeared on "Chelsea Lately," along with entertainer Tina Giorgi , a regular at Gotham Comedy Club and Caroline's in New York City, and Andy Pitz, who has appeared on late-night TV talk shows.

7. 'Live in the Lobby' returns

On Thursday, Patchogue Theatre's "Live in the Lobby" showcase returns for another season -- the series showcases local musicians in an intimate setting. Thursday evening's feature is pop/folk rocker Cassandra House, born and raised in Patchogue. On Friday, West Hempstead resident Katie Pearlman releases her third album, "Girls Like Us." All takes place in the lobby of the historic theater where John Philip Sousa performed in 1923 and 1924.

8. New York Philharmonic at Tilles

Under the baton of music director Alan Gilbert, the New York Philharmonic plays a concert of Mahler's Symphony No. 9 and Thomas Ades' "Polaris" at Tilles Center at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville.

9. 'Family Sundays'

Take the clan to see The Nassau County Museum of Art's latest exhibits: "The Paintings of Louis Comfort Tiffany" and Lego statues created by artist Nathan Sawaya. The museum's "Family Sundays" program includes docent-led walk-throughs of the exhibits followed by supervised family-friendly art activities in the main building.

10. Home for the Holidays

Bob Hope fans: It's last call this week for the "Home for the Holidays" musical theater tribute and high-tea luncheon and dessert organized by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization in Stony Brook. The performance pays tribute to Hope's career in music, radio, television and movies.