Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2023 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do

The Wonderland of Lights drive-thru holiday light experience returns to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck this holiday season. Photo courtesy of the event

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

Thanksgiving is upon us, kicking off the holiday season in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. We're anticipating several holiday events that launch this weekend, including the Holiday Bricktacular at Legoland New York. You can also enjoy small-town holiday spirit at events across the region, like Rye's Mistletoe Magic.

Looking for more holiday options? Browse our Westchester Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays, which is full of our top picks for holiday events.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2023 on Long Island: Turkey Trots, Light Shows, and Santa

Trek to The End for the Montauk Lighthouse tree lighting. Photo courtesy of the Montauk Lighthouse.jpg

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

Work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving feast by participating in a family-friendly turkey trot on Thursday morning. Or, get some activity in by driving through the Jones Beach Magic of Lights. Debuting this weekend is the Holiday Illuminations installation at the Smithtown Historical Society. For a throwback feel, check out how Christmas was celebrated in 1863 at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

If you're more interested in indoor activities this holiday weekend, you can view miles of tracks and trains at the West Island Model Railroad Club Open House in Hicksville. Or keep the feast going by booking reservations to grab breakfast with jolly old St. Nick himself.

Check out our picks for the Nutcracker ballet and other holiday shows, and find more seasonal fun in our Long Island Kids Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2023 in New Jersey: Light Shows, Tree Lightings, and Santa's Arrival

This Thanksgiving weekend, take a walk through the light tunnel at Skylands Stadium. Photo courtesy of Skylands Stadium

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

Thanksgiving has arrived, so gobble up all the fun and festivities this long weekend has to offer. Seasonal drive-thru holiday light shows kick off the weekend, including the Skylands Stadium Light Show, and Santa makes his grand arrival at tree-lighting celebrations, including the one in tree lighting in Morristown.

With the holidays just around the corner, the long weekend is the perfect time to venture into NYC to check out the holiday sights, including the enchanting Santa's Winter Wonderland. If you prefer to keep it closer to home, take a drive to see New Jersey's Best Christmas Light Displays. Find more holiday fun in our Guide to the Holidays for NJ Families.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2023 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do

Pier 17 hosts the sparkly, photo-opp, and fun-filled Santa Clauses Winter Wonderland. Photo by Jody Mercier

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

We're sending up a cheer of gratitude for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Macy's Santaland, which all serve as the gateway to the sparkly NYC holiday season. Catch a Christmas tree lighting in Park Slope, roller skate around the Oculus, or scoot out to the opening of the Brooklyn Children's Museum's ArtRink.

The classic New York City Ballet Nutcracker takes the stage at Lincoln Center. PaleyLand opens with Santa and more special guests, and Astra Lumina sets the Queens Botanical Garden aglow.

If you're looking ahead to holiday fun, have we got a deal for you: We're hosting a Gingerbread House Decorating event on Saturday, December 2, and there's a limited number of discounted early bird tickets up for grabs. Our NYC Kids' Guide to Christmas and the Holidays is positively lit with more holiday activities, including our must-do Christmas events.

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Orlando

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens transforms into the Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild at night! Photo courtesy of the zoo

For many Orlando families, local Christmas light shows are a treasured holiday tradition. They're a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, and Orlando has no shortage of options. From dazzling light displays at the theme parks to lighted boat parades, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to see Christmas lights here in Central Florida.

Get an exclusive look at the magic of the holidays at Give Kids the World Village via a Holiday VIP Tour; enjoy one of the many lighted parades, by land and by sea, throughout Central Florida; and awe at the Christmas lights from the comfort of your own car during Magic of Lights. Read on for the very best holiday light displays around Orlando and Central Florida. For more dazzling light shows in local neighborhoods, check out our awesome list of Christmas Light Displays in Orlando Neighborhoods.

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Atlanta

Enjoy the sparkle of the season at the Glow Light Show Festival in Lawrenceville. Photo courtesy of the event

Christmas light shows add another layer of beauty during the holiday season, and we've got our favorite dazzling holiday lights drive-thru events and Christmas light shows in Atlanta. These twinkling displays really encompass the wonder of the season, and kids and adults of all ages will get swept away in the magic of it all. Whether you chooose to walk or drive through these fabulous holiday and Christmas lights, make sure you open your eyes and hearts to the awe of this special time of year!

We have even more amazing holiday content in the Atlanta Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide, including information about Christmas Tree Farms Near Atlanta, Nutcracker Ballet and Holiday Show Performances, and more.

Best New Jersey Christmas Towns that Go All-Out for the Holidays

A visit to downtown Summit puts visitors in the holiday spirit with its shops, restaurants, and hidden elves!

Santa Claus is coming to the Garden State, and we’ve found 11 New Jersey Christmas towns that prove it. We're talking about the places where sleigh bells ring, carolers sing, and thousands of Christmas lights sparkle. These local New Jersey Christmas towns are getting into the holiday spirit with decked-out trees, strolling entertainment, and visits with Santa.

So, pull out the warm clothes, cue the holiday music, and take a drive to one of these charming, Christmas-crazed New Jersey towns. Then check out one of these Polar Express trains in New Jersey, plus plenty more ways to be merry in our New Jersey Holiday Fun Guide.

Rockefeller Center Tree in 2023: Insider Tips for Visiting with Kids

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is an iconic NYC holiday destination.  Photo courtesy of Rockefeller Center

It’s nearly that time of year again: The Rockefeller Center tree is getting spruced up and ready to welcome visitors as one of the most popular attractions of the holiday season in New York City. With its dazzling lights, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree overlooks the ice skating rink, producing a postcard-perfect sight worth seeing at least once. So, don your gloves and holiday spirit because we've done the legwork to provide you with everything you need to know about visiting the Rockefeller Center tree in 2023, from best times to visit to avoid the crowds to the best restaurants near Rockefeller Center.

Find all the seasonal highlights in our Guide to Christmas in NYC, including other Christmas tree lightings and our picks for must-do holiday activities.

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