Free Activities for Kids in New York City
in November 2025

aa--NYC--NOV--3.png

Free Things To Do in NYC from Saturday, November 1-Sunday, November 9, 2025

Inwood Pumpkin Pageant in Isham Park
Inwood
Saturday, November 1, 2025
The Inwood Pumpkin Pageant returns to Isham Park for another spooky display of Halloween artistry. Local residents bring their carved jack-o'-lanterns to the park the evening after Halloween for a grand community event. Website

Children's Halloween Festival and Parade on Coney Island
Coney Island, Brooklyn
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Head to Maimonides Park for a day of free Halloween activities, from face painting to inflatable mazes, bubble shows, a costume contest, and more. Open to participants 14 and under in costume (an adult must accompany all minors). Website

Hudson River Park's Pumpkin Smash
Midtown West
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Bring your jack-o'-lantern or uncarved pumpkin to Hudson River Park's Pier 84 to squash, smash, and smush it into compost to help keep the park beautiful, green, and growing. The fun-packed afternoon includes free face painting from Silly Cheeks and circus entertainment by Bindlestiff performers. Website

Rockaway Fall Festival
Rockaways, Queens
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Celebrate fall with a pumpkin patch, haunted maze, music, arts and crafts, inflatables, a petting zoo, face painting, and refreshments. Website

Day of the Dead 2025 at the Museum of the Moving Image
Astoria, Queens
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Celebrate a vibrant and authentic Day of the Dead at the Museum of the Moving Image with a performance of Aztec Mexica dance, ofrendas, fun digital media activities for kids and families, music from the Indigenous dance troupe Yayauhki Tezcatlipoka, and the Mexican Folkloric Ballet of New York. Website

Eloise at The Plaza 70th Anniversary Party
Midtown West
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Ages: 0 - 9 years
Celebrate Eloise’s 70th anniversary with an Election Day spin! Children are invited to “vote” for their favorite of Eloise’s beloved companions—from Weenie the pug to Skipperdee the turtle—in a playful nod to Election Day that encourages creativity and participation. Website

Pumpkin Smash at Lehman College
Bedford Park, the Bronx
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Wondering what you should do with your jack-o’-lanterns after Halloween? Head to the Lehman quad and throw your pumpkins off the platform on the upper quad onto the target below, or hurl one across the quad in the giant slingshot! Website

STEM Fest at Bright Horizons
Nationwide
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Join Bright Horizons centers across the country for STEM Fest. This is your chance to see science, technology, engineering, and math in action with fun, hands-on activities for you and your child. Website

Wall-to-Wall Stevie Wonder at Symphony Space
Upper West Side
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Symphony Space’s beloved annual marathon returns with a joyful, all-day tribute to the iconic Stevie Wonder. From chart-topping hits to hidden gems, the event showcases a wide range of artists who reimagine Wonder’s songbook through soul, R&B, hip-hop, world music, and beyond. The party goes on all day—drop in any time. Website

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Arrival 2025
Midtown West
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Welcome the 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree when it arrives at Rockefeller Center with plenty of time for decorating before the lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 3. Plus, kids can celebrate the 60th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas with a Snoopy meet and greet and more. Website

Brooklyn Folk Festival's Banjo Toss Competition at the Gowanus Canal
Gowanus, Brooklyn
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Each year, as part of the Brooklyn Folk Festival, contestants gather on the banks of the fetid Gowanus Canal to see who can throw a banjo the farthest. The special “throwing banjo” is attached to a rope is tossed into the canal, a federally designated Super Fund site. The marked rope pays out, showing how far the banjo has been tossed. It is then hauled back in for the next throw. Website

Community Day at Mark Morris Dance Center
Downtown Brooklyn
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Participants of all ages, abilities and experience levels are invited to step into the Mark Morris Dance studios, explore a range of classes, and end the day together with a joyful intergenerational dance party. Website

19th Annual Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair at the Brooklyn Museum
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, November 9, 2025
The annual Brooklyn Children's Book Fair brings together nearly 50 Brooklyn authors and illustrators to share their latest books. Throughout the day, children and their companions can attend readings and presentations, learn about the creative process, get books signed, and have fun drawing and coloring. Website

LES Pumpkin Smash
Lower East Side
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Don't let your pumpkin haunt a landfill! Join LES Ecology Center at La Plaza Cultural for Pumpkin Smash 2025. Bring your pumpkins, jack-o'-lanterns, and gourds for a smashing good time! Website

WQXR's Classical Kids Fair
Corona, Queens
Sunday, November 9, 2025
WQXR is throwing a Classical Kids Fair at the Queens Theatre and you’re invited! Kids of all ages can try out some real musical instruments, take part in live performances, dance and songwriting workshops, arts and crafts, and more. Website

33rd Annual Canstruction Competition at Brookfield Place
Battery Park City
Daily through Monday, November 10, 2025
This extraordinary annual design competition is the most unique food charity in the world, Canstruction challenges teams of architects, engineers, and contractors to build sculptures made entirely out of unopened cans of food. Website

Free Things To Do in NYC from Monday, November 10-Sunday, November 16, 2025

NYC Veterans Day Parade 2025
Midtown East
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
The largest celebration of service in the nation, the annual New York City Veterans Day Parade, steps off at 12:30pm from 26th Street and Fifth Avenue. It then proceeds north up Fifth Avenue to 45th Street. Website

Veterans Day Ceremony at the Intrepid Museum
Midtown West
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
The Intrepid Museum hosts a poignant Veterans Day Ceremony at 3:30pm on Pier 86, which is free and open to the public. Website

Veterans Day in Prospect Park
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Prospect Park hosts a day of kid-friendly programming in honor of Veterans Day. Website

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Citywide
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
On select days throughout the year, all national parks in the United States are open to the public with no admission fee. Website

Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal
Midtown East
Opens Thursday, November 13, 2025
The New York Transit Museum’s Grand Central Gallery plays host to a city within a city with the display of a miniature electric railroad running over, through, and beneath some of New York’s most magnificent landmarks. Website

Skyscraper Monopoly at the Skyscraper Museum
Battery Park
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Play Skyscraper Monopoly and learn about the buildings in the museum's exhibition. Teams of young learners test their knowledge of some of NYC’s most famous skyscrapers and earn points toward building the tallest tower. Website

Michael Hearst and the Unusual Creatures at Lincoln Center
Upper West Side
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Author and composer Michael Hearst and his band present songs about unusual creatures, extraordinary people, curious constructions, and unconventional vehicles—geared toward curious families, extraordinary children, and their unusual friends. Website

Community Day at Studio Museum in Harlem
Jamaica, Queens
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Celebrate the opening of the Studio Museum in Harlem’s brand-new building with performances, games, giveaways, and DJ sets throughout the day. Then, head into the museum to explore the inaugural exhibitions, drop in to art-making workshops, and grab a snack in the café. Website

Candy Corn Christmas at Books of Wonder
Chelsea
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Author-illustrator Jonathan Fenske shares his hilarious new picture book, Candy Corn Christmas. Stop by for a morning of laughs and holiday joy! Website

Sou Sou! Saturdays: Crafting Memory, Building Legacy
East Harlem
Saturday, November 15, 2025
The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute hosts workshops ranging from Archiving 101 to Poster-Making. Families can also bring photos, videos and personal materials to begin the process of digitizing and archiving their own stories and legacies. Website

Free Things To Do in NYC from Monday, November 17-Sunday, November 23, 2025

Family Fridays: Nim and Nibbles at MoMath on 5th
National Museum of Mathematics Pop Up, Gramercy
Friday, November 21, 2025
MoMath hosts a sweet introduction to the world of game theory! With chocolate, cookies, and candy, kids discover the classic strategy game of Nim and other impartial games, learn how to determine a winning strategy, and uncover real-world connections to computer science and AI. Website

Lenfest Kids: Encanto
Lenfest Center For the Arts, Upper West Side
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Disney's 2021 film about a magical family is shown in Spanish, with English subtitles. Stick around after the movie for entertainment and fun hosted by Columbia Artist/Teachers (CA/T)! Activities may include storytelling, poetry, songwriting, and maybe clowning around with Loony Lenny. Website
 

Free Things To Do in NYC from Monday, November 24-Sunday, November 30, 2025

Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Albee Square
Downtown Brooklyn
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
At Albee Square's annual holiday lighting ceremony, DJ Mike Doelo creates the perfect seasonal vibes. Delight in the festive harmonies of Janis Weatherly and members of The Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble, along with entertainers Andrea Flow, Brianna Kalisch, Flow Juggle, and Roller Boogie. Website

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation
Upper West Side
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
The Macy's balloon inflation returns. Watching the giant balloons expand is a tradition for many NYC families—almost as important as the Thanksgiving Day Parade proper. Website

99th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Upper West Side to Midtown West
Thursday, November 27, 2025
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marches down the streets of New York City for its 99th annual holiday celebration. Website

Macy's Santaland
Midtown West
Opens Friday, November 28, 2025
Santa swoops back over to Macy's for visits with his littlest fans! Wander the rainbow road to his workshop, where you'll meet jolly old St. Nick. Share your wishlist before receiving a special gift and posing for a keepsake photo. Website

Small Business Saturday Tree Lighting in Park Slope
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, November 29, 2025
JJ Byrne Park lights up with holiday cheer as Park Slope's Small Business group hosts its annual tree lighting event, complete with hot chocolate, Christmas tunes, and—of course—Santa! Website