Veterans Day Weekend 2025 in Orlando: 24 Best Things To Do With Kids

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Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the most magical holiday tradition, returns to Magic Kingdom on select nights beginning this weekend! Photo courtesy Disney

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list. 

Honor our nation’s heroes during Veterans Day weekend at meaningful tributes across Central Florida, including the Ocoee Veterans Day Ceremony, City of Orlando Veterans Day Parade, and other commemorative events. Then, get into the seasonal spirit early with several holiday and Christmas events kicking off this weekend! Head to the Mall at Millenia on Friday for Santa's Magical Arrival. Visit the theme parks as holiday festivities return with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios, and SeaWorld Orlando's Christmas Celebration. Plus, other exciting events to fill up your long weekend!

Veterans Day Weekend 2025 in Los Angeles: 16 Best Things To Do With Kids

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Veterans Day celebrations take place across LA. Photo courtesy of Canva

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this long weekend!

We owe so much to our veterans—those who have put themselves in harm's way to defend the liberties we hold dear.  Families can thank local veterans in person at  Torrance Visit with a Veteran, one of several Veterans Day observances that are held this weekend in advance of the Tuesday holiday.

This weekend also marks the opening of several seasonal-favorite events, such as Ice at Santa Monica, Kidspace Winter Frolic, and Astra Lumina.

Families can add their light to a communal glow at the Los Angeles Water Lantern Festival in Irwindale, as their own personally-designed lanterns become part of a luminous fleet at Santa Fe Dam.

As we prepare for Veterans Day, more upcoming holidays are top of mind, like restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, and holiday and Christmas events in Los Angeles to book now. Plan for more holiday fun in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families. 

Culture Meets Creativity Inside the Jewish Museum’s New Space for Kids and Families

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The Jewish Museum is an Upper East Side institution dedicated to exploring Jewish life, culture, and history. Photo by the author

The Jewish Museum is one of the premier centers to learn about Jewish history, culture, art, and storytelling in New York City. Following a significant expansion, the Jewish Museum recently debuted a new learning center with a robust slate of family-friendly programs, events, and classes.

We recently visited the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side to check out the new space and get all the details on its offerings. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the new learning center at the Jewish Museum, and bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC to find all our picks for family-friendly museums in NYC.

How To Find Free Toys for Kids this Christmas and Holiday Season—Apply Soon!

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Sometimes you can lend a helping hand, sometimes you need a helping hand. Because every kid deserves presents on Christmas. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

With the holidays right around the corner, many nonprofits are gearing up to ensure that the 2025 holiday season is joyful for all families. Luckily, there are loads of organizations, churches, and communities all over the country that run free toy drives and holiday gift programs to make sure every child has a toy or gift this holiday season.

Here’s a guide to help you find free toys for kids this Christmas, including national programs and ways to search for local help right in your city.

If you aren't struggling and want your family to start a tradition of giving back, reach out to one of these groups to see how you can donate free toys or offer other assistance. Not sure what gifts to donate? Our Gift Guide has recommendations for kids of all ages at all price points for toys and gifts that kids adore.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: Where to Watch, What's New

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Classics, like Tom Turkey, and newbies alike take flight in the 99th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrates its 99th anniversary this November, taking over the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, November 27, 2025, exhilarating the city with its boisterous marching bands, extravagant floats, and giant balloon characters.

If you're planning to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with kids (and millions of others!), read on for the most up-to-date information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route, best viewing locations, and other highlights. Looking for where to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 on TV instead? Read on for that, too. You'll find more holiday inspiration in our Thanksgiving Fun Guide for NYC Families.

Enthusiastic paradegoers know the family fun actually begins the day before as the trademark giant balloons receive their annual helium injections—in fact, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation is even included in our list of 100 things to do with your kids in NYC before they grow up. Check out our in-depth Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade inflation post for an overview of the Wednesday night festivities.

Best Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near DC (2025 Guide for Families)

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Enjoy milk and cookies and meet Santa aboard the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad's North Pole Express. Photo by Kimberly Byard

Nothing adds magic to the holiday season quite like Polar Express train rides and festive Christmas trains. To help your family experience that magic, we've rounded up a variety of holiday train rides near DC for 2025, including several options for where to ride the Polar Express near DC.

With twinkling lights, holiday music, delicious hot cocoa, and visits from Santa himself, these festive train rides will make even your Grinchiest family member's heart grow three sizes. And all of them are within a three-hour drive from DC!

Check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids to find more of the best local family Christmas activities, including our list of must-do Christmas events with kids. Santa will be here before you know it!

The Nutcracker Ballet and Other 2025 Holiday Shows for Kids on Long Island

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Eglevsky Ballet presents special performances of the timeless holiday classic "The Nutcracker." Photo courtesy of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts

If your child is nuts about The Nutcracker, you’re in luck–several top-notch dance companies are performing this holiday favorite right here on Long Island. From classic full-length productions to shorter, kid-friendly versions, there’s a performance perfect for every family’s holiday calendar.  

Standouts this season include the New York Dance Theatre’s show at Hofstra University and Ballet Long Island’s production, which offers select performances of only Act II. This is ideal for younger audiences who might get a little wiggly in their seats.

And if your family can’t get enough holiday magic, we've highlighted other festive shows lighting up local stages this winter, including Frosty and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Read on for amazing holiday show options for families on Long Island in 2025. And be sure to check out our events calendar and Holiday Guide for more seasonal family fun.

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