Sesame Street Learn & Play and More Things To Do with Kids in New Jersey this Weekend

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Diggerland shines this holiday season with a drive-thru course covered in twinkling lights. Photo courtesy of Diggerland

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.

Sunny days are ahead this mid-November weekend with the grand opening of Sesame Street Learn & Play, an immersive play experience, at American Dream. Plus, bring on the holiday light spectaculars with the debut of LuminoCity Holiday Lights Festival-Wonder Journey at Freehold Raceway Mall, which boasts an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Holiday Train Shows, Sesame Street, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

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A vist to the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show makes for magical holiday memories. Photo by Jody Mercier

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

This weekend is a train lover's paradise, as Grand Central Terminal's FREE holiday train display makes its debut. Uptown, the New York Botanical Garden's trains chug along a miniature version of NYC. You can also take your tiny theater lovers to see Flutter at the Ailey Studio or catch Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats at the Jewish Museum. If you're up for a day trip, head across the bridge for the grand opening of Sesame Street Learn and Play—complete with a character parade—at American Dream Mall.

Best Spots to Take Pictures with Santa in Orlando

Submitted by Charlotte B on

Kids love meeting Santa at The Santa Workshop Experience, full of holiday magic. Photo by the author

It's time to take pictures with Santa, as old St. Nick is about to make his yearly appearance! Orlando kids have a plethora of options to meet with Santa. Read on to find the best places to get pictures with Santa around Central Florida. Want another holiday experience? Check out our roundup of the best Christmas events in Orlando this year.

For more fun Christmas events in the area, look no further than our Orlando Holiday Guide, complete with an extensive list of The Nutcracker and Other Holiday Shows around Orlando and more!

What's Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles? Places Open for Family Fun

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Stroll through vibrant foliage and gardens. Photo courtesy of Descanso Gardens

Thanksgiving might be known as the holiday where you eat food and watch football all day, but there's much more to do on this holiday in Los Angeles than you might think. Sometimes, you need a change of scenery or a break from the relatives, so knowing what's open on Thanksgiving in LA for family fun is invaluable—for clearing the house to prepare the meal and for walking it off afterward.

Stuff your Thanksgiving with much more than just food. You could spend the whole holiday out and about in Los Angeles by going to one of the places below that you may not have realized welcome visitors, and by eating at one of the many restaurants in LA open on Thanksgiving. 

Gobble up more holiday goodness with Thanksgiving crafts, games, and activities for kids, and see where to kick off the Christmas festivities with the best neighborhood holiday lights in Los Angeles. For more holiday happenings, check out our Events Calendar and peruse our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families. 

Holiday Lights, Dog Show, The Emperor's New Groove, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend

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Get ready to take in more than eighty thousand dazzling lights as Manayunk businesses decorate for the season. Photo courtesy of Manayunk Development Corporation

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

The holidays have arrived in Philadelphia, and families can get a head start on celebrating with some of the first holiday events of the season. From the impressive Holidays in the Village to Manayunk Gets Lit there are holiday festivities kicking off all weekend. If you are not quite ready for the holidays, check out Siege Weekend at Fort Mifflin or the National Dog Show for some cute and cuddly fun. November is in full swing, so grab your family and get out there and enjoy Philly.

All Aboard for These Fun Holiday Train Shows in NYC: NYBG Train Show, Grand Central, and More

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The NYBG Holiday Train Show is a winter wonderland with enchanting trains and twinkling cityscapes. Photo by the author

Trains are a way of life for most New Yorkers, but come Christmastime these holiday train shows in NYC add a little sparkle to New York's favorite form of transportation as little engines and cabooses take center stage during the holiday season.

The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show is always one of our must-do Christmas events in NYC, with electric model trains whizzing by nearly 200 NYC landmarks made out of acorns, twigs, bark, berries, leaves, and other botanical bits and pieces. My family and I make it a point to go every year—it's truly a quintessential New York holiday experience. There's a reason it's No. 43 on our list of the top 100 things to do with kids in NYC.

But, the big NYBG holiday train show isn't the only holiday train show in NYC. Read on for more details on all the Christmas train shows the city has to offer this season, and, for an extra special holiday treat, take the kids on a full-size Christmas train ride with these nearby Polar Express and Santa trains.

43 Holiday and Christmas Party Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on

Festive crafts are an essential part of any holiday party for toddlers and preschoolers! Photo courtesy of Canva

The holiday season is prime time for parties, and we've got a bunch of fun Christmas party ideas for the littlest partygoers. These games, crafts, and finger foods will keep toddlers and preschoolers occupied for hours and are easy for busy families to pull off.

Whether you're organizing a classroom party or entertaining younger guests at home, here are over 40 Christmas party ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. Find more festive fun in our Guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Fun for Kids, including our heaping list of 101 Christmas crafts.

Navigating Tough Times: Expert Tips to Care for Your Child's Mental Health

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We've partnered with Connecticut Children’s to share guidance from their free 2024 Mental Health and Wellness Toolkit.

Parents play a pivotal role in helping their kids feel safe and supported–from comforting their newborn cries to battling teenage bullying. To help caregivers create the kind of stable environment that builds children’s emotional well-being, Mommy Poppins has partnered with Connecticut Children’s to share guidance from their free 2024 Mental Health and Wellness Toolkit. As always, the comprehensive kit provides straight-forward, age-appropriate advice from leading pediatric experts 100% dedicated to kids.

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