13 Top Things to Do This Holiday and Christmas Season with LI Kids

Magic of Lights at Jones Beach is one of Long Island's must-see holiday traditions. Photo courtesy of Magic of Lights

The holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s time to start making plans for festive, family-friendly outings. Of course, there’s a list as long as Santa’s of things to do this holiday and Christmas season with LI kids, but we’ve whittled it down to a baker's dozen of the very best for your family to enjoy.

From Thanksgiving runs to Christmas shows and holiday train rides, we’ve got what you need to get your family into the spirit of the season. For more ways to make seasonal memories this holiday season, check out our Holiday Fun Guide and our Event Calendar.

What's New in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lineup for 2019

Snoopy makes his 40th appearance at the  Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as an Apollo astronaut.

With Halloween firmly in the rear-view mirror, the holiday season is officially upon us, and we're gearing up for one of our favorite turkey day traditions: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has just announced the new additions for the 2019 parade.

Read on for the details and new stars of the show, from soaring giants to gliding floats, and then start plotting your Thanksgiving parade viewing strategies, whether you're planning to watch the balloons come to life on the Wednesday night before the parade, or see the main event, which steps off at 9am on Thursday, November 28.

Holiday Craft Fairs and Markets In and Around Houston

Ready to get a jump on all of your holiday shopping, but don't want to frequent the same tired stores you always visit? A holiday craft market and fair is the perfect answer. You'll find an assortment of handmade treasures crafted by local artisans that will make unique gifts for everyone on your list. Check out these markets around town.

40+ Free Things To Do with New Jersey Kids in November

Celebrate Mexico’s El Día de los Muertos with sugar skull decorating, face painting, strolling mariachis, and more. Photo courtesy of The Arts Council of Princeton

November has arrived, and there’s so much to be thankful for—including free events happening throughout NJ! Enjoy some outdoor time early in the month at admission-free festivals like St. Anthony International Festival, Day of the Dead 2019, and the Short Hills-Millburn Street Fair. Get in the Thanksgiving spirit at Early 19th Century Thanksgiving and Alstede Farms' Pie Tasting Event, both free.

Later in the month, Santa Claus is coming to town! Kick off the holiday season at no-cost celebrations in Princeton, Nutley, Blairstown, and Red Bank. Plus, seasonal light shows make their debut, including Smithville's Holiday Light Show, Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights, and Atlantic City's Holiday Musical Light Show.

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar, as well as our Fall Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids.

Sensory-Friendly Hours at Museums, Zoos, and Attractions for Kids with Special Needs around Boston

Discover the Latch Wall in the Brain Building Together space for 0-3 year olds. Photo courtesy of Discovery Museum

While Boston has many kid-friendly museums and attractions, crowds and noises at these busy spots can sometimes overwhelm children with autism and sensory sensitivities. Many museums, zoos, and aquariums are working to change that, and are developing sensory-friendly hours, exhibit adaptations, and programs for these children. Here are places in the Boston area where highly sensitive or special-needs children can better enjoy enriching nature, science, animals, and the arts. For more inclusive fun, check out a list of special needs kids' classes and our favorite accessible playgrounds.

A Child-Focused Lower School Builds a Strong Foundation at Fairfield County’s PreK-12 King School

King School is a top-rated PreK to 12th grade private school that sits on a sprawling 34-acre campus in North Stamford.

Fairfield County’s King School has a big mission: to set better standards for both the experience and outcomes of education. And the top-rated PreK to 12th grade private school is working to embody that mission holistically at its 34-acre North Stamford campus complete with designated Lower School facilities, including visual and performing arts’ rooms, a gym and library, computer and science labs, a sustainable garden, age-appropriate playgrounds, and classrooms designed to encourage opportunities for small group work, student-led learning, and discovery.

I connected with Head of Lower School and elementary expert Amy Vorenberg to learn more about King School’s preschool and elementary programs, along with their other offerings, and to find out how interested families can start the application process.

Indoor Trick-or-Treating in NYC on Halloween

NYC has plenty of indoor options for trick or treating and other Halloween night fun. Photo by Bigstock

When the weather doesn't cooperate on Halloween night in NYC, you have options. You can shrug your hunched-up Frankenstein shoulders and head inside to make your own Halloween treats and watch a spooky movie, brave the elements to trick-or-treat under umbrellas (or winter coats), or—because you're a resourceful New Yorker who never gives up but also hates shivering in wet socks—find a place to trick or treat indoors.

Many buildings large and small have trick-or-treating up and down the hallways for Halloween, of course—it's a true NYC kid rite of passage. But if you live in a smaller building or your neighbors aren't the candy-bowl type, you might need to venture out for treats at one of NYC's many indoor Halloween events. We've rounded up some options for those Halloween nights where the weather is monstrous enough to keep even intrepid little ghouls indoors. 

Things To Do in Connecticut This Weekend: Harvest Festival, Day of the Dead, Colored Turkeys

Stamford Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of Stamford Museum

With trick-or-treating behind them, kids are ready to talk turkey—and the famous colored turkeys at Gozzi's Farm, making their seasonal debut this weekend, are sure to get them excited about Thanksgiving. But before we plunge head-long into the two-month holiday season, why not spend a November weekend participating in some family activities like a fall foliage hike or scarecrow celebration? Or, celebrate multiculturalism with a traditional bilingual Day of the Dead celebration or a Diwali party?

This busy time of year, make sure that you subscribe to our free weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook and Instagram so that you won't miss any of the fun. Have a great weekend!

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