Things to Do in NYC with Kids This Weekend Friday Dec 6 - Sunday, Dec. 8

Looking for events to do with your kids in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly activities to add to your list.

Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Sesame Street Learn & Play at American Dream
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daily, ongoing
Sesame Street Learn & Play, the first-of-its kind educational play center in the United States, gives kids and their families a truly immersive experience right alongside their favorite furry friends. Visit the website here.

Gingerbread House Decorating at Taste Buds Kitchen
Chelsea
Select dates through Sunday, December 22
Celebrate the holidays with family bonding and gingerbread fun, designing and decorating a gingerbread house surrounded by twinkling lights and delightful decorations. Taste Buds' experienced instructors guide you through every step, ensuring a fun and memorable experience for all. Visit the website here.

Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off at the Museum of the City of New York
Upper East Side
Select dates through Sunday, January 12, 2025
The Museum of the City of New York has invited bakers from across the five boroughs to create gingerbread displays revolving around the theme of “Iconic New York”—creating distinctive buildings, places, or things that represent their neighborhood, community, or borough. Visit the website here.

Santa Studio at City Point
Downtown Brooklyn – FREE
Weekends from Saturday, December 7-Sunday, December 15
Capture the joy of the season with a free portrait at the Santa Studio, featuring the jolly man himself in a red suit with a holiday-inspired backdrop. Visit the website here.

Annie at Madison Square Garden
Midtown West
Opens Wednesday, December 4
Annie returns to NYC in a new production. Set at Christmastime during the Great Depression, it's about a plucky orphan pining for her missing parents who's picked to spend the holidays with billionaire Daddy Warbucks in his NYC mansion, where she wins hearts, even FDR's. Visit the website here.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Narrows Community Theater
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
Opens Wednesday, December 4
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, based on the beloved book by Barbara Robinson, is a heartwarming and hilarious holiday classic that captures the charm and chaos of the Herdman family as they discover the true meaning of Christmas while hijacking the annual pageant. Visit the website here.

Hasbro Toyland on the High Line
Chelsea – FREE
Friday, December 6-Sunday, December 8
Hasbro invites families to a free holiday pop-up bursting with toys, games, and activities, including photo-ops with Santa and Hasbro characters (Peppa Pig, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and more). Grab a tote bag of goodies, too, while supplies last. Visit the website here.

Parade on Rockaway
Rockaway, Queens – FREE
Friday, December 6-Sunday, December 8
Queens' annual Parade on Rockaway provides three days packed with holiday cheer, from the biggest tree lighting in Queens to a gift giveaway (featuring Santa) and a lovely parade of lights on Rockaway Boulevard. Visit the website here.

23rd Annual St. Nicholas Day Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse
Flatbush, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, December 7
Families are invited to NYC's oldest house for an outdoor celebration packed with craft activities, a tree lighting, and a special visit from St. Nick (who arrives on horseback around 2:45pm). Kids can sip hot cider, try some colonial games, create a holiday pomander, decorate a Dutch clog for Sinterklaas, and dress the tree. Visit the website here.

Bronx Little Italy’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Arthur Avenue, the Bronx – FREE
Saturday, December 7
The beloved annual tree-lighting ceremony is back at Ciccarone Park. Attendees can get into the holiday spirit by meeting Santa and an elf, singing along with holiday carols, and enjoying Italian cookies and hot chocolate from local businesses. Visit the website here.

Cookies with Santa at FourFiveSix
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Saturday, December 7
Santa's coming to Greenpoint for a fun time at FourFiveSix! The program includes delicious hot chocolate, homemade cookies to decorate, music, and, of course, photo-ops with Santa. Visit the website here.

Holiday on the Hudson
Harlem – FREE
Saturday, December 7
Hudson River Park's annual holiday tree lighting party invites families to celebrate the season with winter arts and crafts, hot chocolate, and live music. Visit the website here.

Christmas in Historic Richmond Town
Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, December 7-Sunday, December 8
Historic Richmond Town celebrates the season with a Dickens-style village. Guests can enjoy historical interpreters' presentations, shop for gifts and crafts, enjoy tasty eats, and embark on horse and carriage rides. Visit the website here.

St. Nicholas Day at Onderdonk House
Ridgewood, Queens
Sunday, December 8
This annual St. Nicholas Day celebration features all the trappings of a traditional Dutch Christmas: Visits with St. Nicholas, free goody bag, singing, and a tree lighting. Learn the legend that Clement Moore made famous! Mulled cider and holiday treats available for purchase. Visit the website here.

Ferdinand the Bull and the Velveteen Rabbit at St. John's of Park Slope
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 8
Ferdinand the Bull, by Munro Leaf, and The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams, are set to music by composer Mychal Gendron and narrated by professional voice actors Stina Nielsen and Craig Colfelt. Visit the website here.

Fifth Avenue's 200th Birthday Party

Fifth Avenue

48th Street to 55th Street, New York, NY,

t – FREE
Sunday, December 8
Fifth Avenue, from 48th Street to 55th Street, transforms into a pedestrians-only holiday haven, with live entertainment, shopping fun, and dining experiences. Visitors can enjoy a red carpet welcome, personalized fashion sketches, and a ceremonial cake cutting to honor this historic milestone. Visit the website here.

Young People’s Chorus of New York City Presents A Very Merry New York at Geffen Hall
Upper West Side
Sunday, December 8
This magical winter concert unites 600 award-winning choristers for an unforgettable celebration of music’s ability to spark joy, and inspire hope, featuring a repertoire of beloved carols, reimagined holiday classics, and contemporary works. Visit the website here.

Tianyu Lights Festival
Flushing, Queens
Select dates through Sunday, January 19, 2025
Walk through a whimsical wonderland to see 7-year-old Koda’s dreams of a visit to Peru's rainforest through luminous art installations, with live cultural music and dance performances throughout the journey. Visit the website here.

 

Your second block of text...