Santa Sightings and More Things To Do with Kids in New Jersey this Weekend

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The Nai-Ni Chen Dance company celebrates Lunar New Year in a Jersey City performance this weekend. Photo courtesy of the dance company

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

Santa Claus is coming to town this weekend, dropping by tree lighting ceremonies, holiday markets and train rides. Pose for photos with Santa, plus enjoy crafts, entertainment and more at Wildwood Family Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting Ceremony. Plus, indulge in free s'mores, shopping, selfies and more at Winter Villages of Millburn-Short Hills.

Enchanting Christmas and Holiday-Themed Day Trips from NYC

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Take a magical one-hour trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express in Whippany, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Morristown and Eerie Railway

While New York City is magical during the holiday season, sometimes you're in the mood for a holiday day trip. If you're looking to get away and experience some holiday happenings not too far from home, we've found 15 great holiday day trips near NYC, where kids can see Santa, dazzling Christmas lights, and even a North Pole village.

From right-in-our-backyard picks to rustic Christmas fun in Mystic, Connecticut, and a theme-park pick in the Hudson Valley, here are 15 picture-perfect holiday day trips worth a drive or train trek this season.

Be sure to bookmark our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for more seasonal fun and our Day Trips Guide for more local travel destinations.

Winterfest, PAW Patrol, and More Things to Do in Atlanta This Weekend with Kids

Elsa Simcik's picture Submitted by Elsa Simcik on

Winterfest is bringing the holiday spirit (even with the Grinch's arrival) to Virginia Highland this weekend! Photo courtesy Virginia Highland

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

Get into the seasonal spirit this weekend with the Virginia Highland Winterfest—a FREE festival in one of Atlanta's beloved neighborhoods, featuring a parade, holiday shopping, and kids' activities. OTP families enjoy another fun, free event with Snow Day at Alpharetta City Center. Kids can play in a winter wonderland filled with snow flurries, eat holiday-themed treats, and pose in a festive photo booth. Catch the Nutcracker Ballet and more holiday shows this season, with wonderful productions in Duluth, Roswell, and Atlanta this weekend. 

Beyond holiday fun in Atlanta, there's even more event goodies happening! The PAW Patrol Experience at CAMP Atlanta debuts this weekend, and artsy kids will love painting at the Neon Brush Kids Workshop. Get more details about these Atlanta events and more by continuing below!

First Friday, Three Kings Day, and More Fun Things to Do in Orlando This Weekend With Kids

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The Winter Garden Santa Bike Ride is a casual paced ride that includes caroling and strolling the beautiful Oakland Park, with Santa leading the ride.

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

Kick off the New Year with First Friday street parties happening in Eustis, Lake Mary, and Maitland. Celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men with SeaWorld's weekend-long Three Kings Celebration or join the Three Kings Day Osceola event this Sunday in Kissimmee. And don’t miss the final weekend of exciting holiday events like Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens, Magic of Lights Daytona, Colorful Christmas at Crayola Experience, and Christmas at Gaylord Palms. Keep reading for great things to do this weekend!

Skirball Hanukkah Festival, Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

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The Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade sets sail this weekend. Photo by © Venice Paparazzi for the event.

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this weekend? Here are some of our favorite events and activities to add to your list this weekend

For a weekend that starts with Friday the 13th, this one sure is lucky! We're celebrating all the holidays, with the Farmer's Market Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Holiday Kick-Off, CAAM's Kuumba Kwanzaa Celebration, and the Skirball's Hanukkah Family Festival. 

We've got Christmas parades by land, such as Whittier's 70th Annual Uptown Christmas Parade, and boat parades by sea: Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade starts off with a 15-minute drone show!

The latest Lythgoe Panto comes flyin' in, second star to the right, and straight on to Thousand Oaks: Peter Pan and Tinker Bell - A Pirate Christmas, bringing Broadway-quality production values and gut-busting guffaws to audiences of all ages. And my friends, it is snowing in So Cal, with a Winter Wonderland at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw. All the sledding, no need for snow tires. I call that lucky!

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