'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows. While there are certainly lots of spectacles to splurge on beyond the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and all those Nutcrackers, if you've got young children you may not want to blow all of your bucks on theater tickets. That's why our roundup includes a range of productions, from inexpensive, low-key offerings perfect for fidgety preschoolers, to extravaganzas that are worth the money. Bonus: We've got the scoop on how to save money to a few of the higher-priced offerings.

From live stage adaptations of holiday classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas and Elf to tot-friendly puppet shows to offbeat, eye-popping circus and dance, here are our top 16 holiday shows for NYC families.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's historical hip-hop musical Hamilton needs more publicity about as much as Donald Trump. However, fans of the Broadway juggernaut, which include lots of tweens, teens and parents, can't get enough of the blockbuster that explores the dramatic life of "the ten-dollar Founding Father," from orphaned kid to teenage scholar to Revolutionary War hero to government player to his untimely death.

If you're lucky enough to have seen the show, chances are you're listening to the catchy original cast album on repeat just like I am right now. However, if you haven't been successful at snagging tickets, we've got some tips for getting some (even at a discount!), along with five NYC spots where school-age kids can learn more about Alexander Hamilton's legacy.

The award-winning New Victory Theater in the heart of Times Square has long been a local favorite to catch entertaining and affordable productions for all ages, but it's much more than just a place to go see a show. Through a range of interactive educational activities like performance workshops and camps, the organization is raising the next generation of theatergoers.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary season, the New Victory is bringing back popular past productions, as well as showcasing new works by theater companies behind former favorites. So Mommy Poppins is particularly excited to partner with the New Vic for the third year in a row. Throughout the season, we'll be giving you access to its incredible lineup of shows, ticket discounts and a pair of exclusive events for Mommy Poppins readers. We kick off our partnership with a preview of the New Victory's 2015-2016 season, including show recommendations for every age and stage, tips on how to save on tickets and clips from the upcoming productions.

Autumn marks the start of a new theater season, but you don't need to shell out big bucks on Broadway shows to give your kids a memorable live entertainment experience in NYC. This fall, preschoolers will go gaga for engaging, page-to-stage adaptations of some of their favorite picture books like Goodnight Moon, The Velveteen Rabbit and Click, Clack, Moo, while school-age children can catch a show about the American Revolution, an avant-garde lineup of shorts and kid-friendly Shakespeare. There are even a pair of productions specifically created for children on the autism spectrum. Best of all, 10 of our picks are $20 or less per ticket.

What's the first thing my family does to prepare for Halloween season? No, not make costumes or crafts or plan out our calendar. Our very first activity is to throw out all the stale candy my daughter has been hanging on to since last October 31.

Whatever you do with your child's Halloween haul—donate, repurpose, hoard or eat—there's no question that trick-or-treaters collect way too much candy. And while I'm glad my kid doesn't actually ingest it all, many children do, and the health implications of that are pretty scary.

So this year I'm not going to be part of the candy craze. Instead, I plan to give out small, fun, non-edible treats, like the kinds of tchotchkes you might find in a birthday goody bag. (So if you have any of those lying around the house, start gathering them up now.) Yes, I realize these things may end up sitting around as long as last year's candy, but since they don't go bad I can always hand them out again next Halloween.

Here are some cool things to hand out on Halloween besides candy that won't get you egged.

Back-to-school season isn't just about returning to the classroom. It's also a time we look to enroll our kids in extracurricular activities, and whether you're looking for athletics, arts or academic classes, after-school or on the weekends, New York City offers an overwhelming number of options. The real challenge isn't finding a class, it's finding the right program for your child.

One of the best ways to do that is with a free trial or demo class. Throughout September (and sometimes beyond), many popular NYC children's programs offer no-cost sessions so kids and parents can decide firsthand which classes are worth their time and money. We've rounded up FREE trial classes for a variety of children's programs. Click on the titles for additional details about each class.

You can find even more programs in the Mommy Poppins Classes Guide and our Class Directory, which allows you to sort listings by age, interest and neighborhood.

How are you spending the last few weeks of summer break? My family and I are furiously crossing outings off our seasonal bucket list. We hope to still make it out to the Hamptons, Rye Playland and over to Brooklyn Bridge Park to experience the interactive installation Please Touch the Art before it gets too cold to enjoy those rooms made of water.

Of course, so many new attractions have opened recently, it's hard to keep up! The Battery's SeaGlass Carousel just started spinning, a new indoor play space in Woodside, Queens looks like a great bet for a rainy day and a Thomas the Tank Engine theme park in Massachusetts is weekend-trip-worthy for young train fans. But don't let the kids dictate all your destinations: family-friendly vineyards and wineries in nearby New Jersey offer plenty of activities for children and adults alike.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

New York City has long been home to a dozen carousels, but the brand-new SeaGlass Carousel in downtown Manhattan stands apart. 

More than a decade and $16 million in the making, this custom-designed ride that opens to the public August 20 is part of the Battery's ongoing overhaul (currently it's a bit of a construction zone), and its sea theme is a nod to the site's history as the original location of the New York Aquarium. No horses going round and round here; instead, riders step into 30 tall (some up to 13 feet!), iridescent fish that seem to swim inside a giant nautilus shell thanks to a quartet of rotating turntables. Glowing lights, soothing classical music and aquatic sound effects complete the virtual underwater experience.

While every news outlet has been raving about this just-opened, one-of-a-kind attraction, only Mommy Poppins has the scoop on everything families need to know before planning a trip to the SeaGlass Carousel, including tips on stroller parking and bathrooms, along with video that gives you a sense of just how special it is.