Thanksgiving Weekend Things to Do in Chicago with Kids: Parades, Trees, Trolleys

On the day after Thanksgiving, the Art Institute's famous lions put on their holiday outfits as crews place wreaths around their necks. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Art Institute

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! This weekend is the official kickoff of the holiday season in Chicago, with Christmas tree lightings, parades galore, and plenty of seasonal fun. The big, booming Chicago Thanksgiving Parade steps off down the Mag Mile on Thursday, followed on Friday with neighborhood Christmas parades in Naperville and Joliet. On Friday, the lions at the Art Institute get their annual glow-up, followed by the weekly Friday night caroling party at Cloud Gate.

The FREE ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo light up on Friday night, and Holiday Magic at the Brookfield Zoo blazes to life on Saturday. Also on Saturday, the month-long Wheaton Christmas Festival kicks off, Naperville's Santa House opens for the season, and families can catch a FREE showing of Elf in Glen Ellyn.

Ready for some decked-out holiday trains and trolleys? The CTA runs its holiday trains and buses on Friday and Saturday on the Green Line, the Orange Line, and the #22 Clark and #97 Skokie bus routes—see the schedule for full details. The FREE Elmhurst Holly Trolley rolls through on Saturday with caroling all the way. Or book a ride on the Chicago Trolley Holiday Lights Tour for a dazzling highlight reel of downtown Chicago's prettiest holiday displays.

And believe it or not, that's just the tip of the frosty festive iceberg—see our roundup below for even more weekend events for families, and keep an eye on our event calendar. Enjoy that turkey!

Where To Enjoy High Tea in New Jersey with Kids

Take your pretend tea party to the next level at one of NJ's charming tea houses. Photo courtesy of Teaberry's Tea Room

If your little sweetie loves the finer things in life—and has the patience to make it through a sit-down meal—he or she may be ready to enjoy an afternoon at one of NJ's many local tea houses. From the fine china and finger sandwiches to the tempting sweets, your little one will be enchanted during this special one-on-one mommy time. Many host sweet birthday parties, and several offer special holiday events.

The Kent Raises the Bar for Real Estate Envy in Manhattan

“Camp Kent” is an interactive indoor/outdoor play experience for kids.

If you want to actually like where you currently live, just stop reading now. Because once you see the lavish condominiums and equally extravagant amenities being offered at The Kent, a new luxury building on Manhattan's Upper East Side, you may not be able to survive without over-the-top amenities like a 24-hour stroller valet, Lenny Kravitz-designed music studio, dog spa, and glamping-inspired play space again.

Located at the corner of East 95th Street and Third Avenue in a neighborhood packed with premium prams, swanky boutiques, cushy cafes, and some of the city’s best schools, the decadent Art Deco-inspired building not only features 83 sleek and stylish residences with the finest finishes, but a host of amenities that read like the ultimate wish list written up by kids and parents across the city. Read on to see the envy-inducing features our sponsor, The Kent, is bringing to lucky NYC families.

Social Play Haus Opens Family Space and Cafe

At picnic tables drawing on the furniture is encouraged.

Social Play Haus, a large, open concept, play space and cafe opened in Plainview this November. No matter the ages in your squad, there's plenty to keep everyone in the family happy and entertained at this unique whole-family focused play space, so head over for some quality family time and socializing.

Christmas Tree Farms in Fairfield County, CT

Picking your own tree straight from the field is even more fun in the snow. Photo courtesy of Maple Row Farm

As a child, I went every year with my family to a local Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree.  It was inevitably freezing cold, someone had forgotten their mittens, and epic arguments over tree size and shape would ensue. In short, it was magical!  It’s time to introduce my own kids to that wonderful holiday tradition, and there are plenty of places in Fairfield County where you can cut your own tree or find a freshly cut fir, pine, or balsam beauty straight from the farm.

If you live to the northwest or central part of Connecticut, see our posts on Christmas tree farms in the Litchfield area and Christmas tree farms around Hartford. There are more yuletide celebrations at these Connecticut's tree lighting and holiday light ceremonies

Where To Take Pictures with Santa in New Jersey

Bring your camera for a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Abma's Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he's ready for his close-up. From simple setups to elaborate events, there's no shortage of opportunities for your little elves to pose for pictures with Santa this Christmas season throughout New Jersey. We've rounded up our favorites, and there's something for every budget.

Want more QT with jolly St. Nick? Book a breakfast with Santa. And for even more seasonal activities, check out our Holiday Fun Guide.

Stockholm in 48 Hours: Best Things to Do in Stockholm with Kids

Stroll along the canal in Stockholm's Norrmalm neighborhood.

The beautiful Nordic city of Stockholm makes a wonderful family travel destination even if you can't spend the week. For those traveling through Europe with the kids, and taking advantage of high-speed train travel and plentiful flights for a multi-city tour, a stop in the capital city of Sweden is a must-do in our opinion.

Stockholm offers an amazing blend of historic and modern things to do for all ages. Surrounded by water and made up of more than a dozen islands, Stockholm's buildings sit in a row, symmetrically together, offering up stunning views. The streets are impeccably clean, and many (especially in the neighborhood of Norrmalm) are blocked off to cars and restricted to foot traffic only. You're also likely to meet local families at the many playgrounds that dot this kid-friendly and outdoors-loving city.

Read on for our favorite things to do in Stockholm. Find more nearby cities in our Family Travel Guide to Europe.

25+ Awesome Santa Activities for Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Santa greets visitors at Holiday on Huguenot Street in New Paltz. Courtesy of the event

For those who celebrate Christmas, the holiday season is hardly complete without a trip to visit Santa—so we've rounded up more than 25 Santa activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. From traditional mall photo ops to meals with Santa, train rides with Santa, painting with Santa—even skydiving Santa—we've got the goods on where to see the man with the bag. Incredibly, most of these events are FREE.

As a reminder, any event that requires or recommends advance reservations (especially if it's FREE!) should be pounced on, as these often sell out weeks in advance. Some might be gone by the time you finish reading this sentence.

But there's more! Also refer to our list of Santa breakfaststree lightings, and other holiday activities for even more opportunities for Santa encounters. And to optimize the season, check out our Must-Do Holiday Experiences for Westchester Kids and where to see performances of The Nutcracker and other holiday shows. Our Event Calendar is also loaded with events—many of which are FREE—and more are being added daily!

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