We've already shared festive ways to celebrate Christmas Eve with kids in New York City with you, but we know many families are looking for a more formal way to celebrate the season while praying for peace on earth and good will toward men.

While lots of NYC churches host kid-friendly religious services and pageants during the afternoon on December 24, you could also consider attending an authentic midnight mass with your family featuring the traditional Christmas Eve liturgy and caroling. We've found five Manhattan churches that welcome visitors to midnight mass with kids in tow—yes, even babies and toddlers (we're sure; we checked!). You don't need to be a regular parishioner to attend and they're not as jam-packed as St. Patrick's Cathedral, although arriving early is still recommended.

However you decide to spend Christmas Eve, we hope you find comfort and joy in the company of family and friends.

There is nothing I enjoy so much as a brilliant display of holiday lights. That said, there were quite a few lighting ceremonies on our calendar in November, yet you didn’t hear about them from me. As far as I’m concerned, the acquisition and lighting of Christmas trees belong firmly in the month of December. Anything before that is just a sneaky way to push the holiday shopping agenda. Well, here we are in December, and I’m happy to report that there are still plenty of chances to celebrate the next four weeks of shopping with a lighting ceremony, whether you head west to Santa Monica , east to Downtown LA, or south towards Hermosa or Long Beach.

It is likely that you are well on your way with the toy shopping, but don’t forget that Tuesday and Wednesday are free LEGO days: a perfect stocking stuffer or spoonful of sugar on sock night. For more grown up gift ideas, Montana Avenue’s annual holiday walk in Santa Monica is this week.

Pershing Square outdoor ice rink welcomes Snoopy and friends for a mini preview of Knott’s Merry Farm’s Merry Christmas Snoopy this week. Those Peanuts never get old, especially when they have a new movie. 'Tis the season for many celebrations; there is much more to do on our Daily Events Calendar and in our Holiday Guide.

December has arrived, and so has the official start of the holiday season. Get in the holiday spirit at sensational, seasonal events that include Christmas Celebration: Scuba Santa, Skylands Stadium Christmas Lights Show and Gingerbread Wonderland. Treat the family to kid-friendly theatrical performances of Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas, A Christmas Story and Peppa Pig’s Big Splash. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

There is plenty of holiday cheer this week. Kids can meet Santa and his reindeer at Hicks, make smiling snowpeople at LICM and enjoy a bevy of holiday-related activities at the Dickens Festival. And for even more, take a look at our Holiday Guide.

For even more activities, check out our Long Island Events Calendar, which is updated daily. You can also get the best events of the week sent directly to your inbox each week if you sign up for our newsletter.

After a lovely (and filling) Thanksgiving, my family is finally ready to prepare for the next round of holidays. We always like to catch one of the local tree lightings, and there are a couple of great ones this week, including the spectacular on the Common. We're also down to the last days before Hanukkah begins, so make sure to check out our rundown of local celebrations, including a special story time this week.

Don't forget that many holiday activities and shows also run during the week with less of a crowd. My girls and I just saw Fiddlehead Theatre's production of The Little Mermaid (pictured), and it absolutely captivated us from the moment Ariel swam onstage (yes, swam!). From eye-popping sets to the familiar Disney songs to fantastic new ones sung by a fabulous cast, this is definitely one you don't want to miss.

As always, keep your eye on the full Event Calendar for more great upcoming events.

As we segue from November to December, the number of events for Westchester families ratchets up a notch. Fun holiday events are piling on, including holiday performances such as David Benoit’s Christmas Tribute to Charlie Brown, Hanukkah celebrations like Chanukah Fun House and Gift Shop and tree-lighting ceremonies like the Bronxville Hometown Holiday Tree Lighting (which includes a caroling procession to the grand opening of Santa’s Workshop).

Read on for our top picks for each weekday and visit our Event Calendar for even more options. In addition to planning the coming week, take a glimpse at our December GoList to get a heads-up on the whole month so you can strategize about how to take in all the holiday grandeur! 

For more options check out our jam-packed Event Calendar and Holiday Guide for all sorts of fun.  Have a great week!

Two of Manhattan's most picturesque communities, Greenwich Village and neighboring West Village are filled with historic houses on quaint and crooked tree-lined streets. This former counterculture epicenter is now home to many of New York's priciest restaurants, retail stores and real estate. But there are still plenty of affordable and even FREE attractions for families to discover as they stroll these labyrinthine sister neighborhoods.

Beautifully renovated playgrounds pepper the area, including two in iconic Washington Square Park. Treat spots like cupcakeries and candy shops abound. And while there are no traditional indoor play spaces or kiddie gyms, a family-friendly pool hall, a board game cafe and the Whitney Museum of American Art offer inside amusements when the weather doesn't cooperate. Situated from 14th to Houston Streets between Fifth Avenue and the Hudson River, this westernmost area may be cozy, but it's also packed with so many things to do and places to see, families can spend many days exploring the neighborhoods.