Best Holiday Shows for Kids and Families in NYC 2019

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Photo courtesy of Character Arts

'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows. While there are plenty of extravaganzas to splurge on, like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and all those beautiful Nutcrackers, if you've got young children you may not want to blow all of your bucks on theater tickets.

That's why our roundup of Christmas-season family theater includes a range of productions, from inexpensive, low-key offerings perfect for fidgety preschoolers, to over-the-top spectacles that are worth the investment.

From live stage adaptations of classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Christmas Carol, to seasonal musicals based on popular picture books, to amazing circus feats and offbeat experiences, here are our top 18 holiday shows for NYC families for the 2019 holiday season.

Kidmoto Brings Safe, Reliable Airport Car Service with Car Seats to More Areas

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If you haven't obsessed over whether or not to lug your kid's car seat to the airport, are you even a parent?? Getting everyone to and from a flight safely can be a total headache—as if flying with kids isn't already overwhelming enough—but the folks at Kidmoto have made it their mission to make the trip simple. With a fleet of professional drivers and safety-inspected livery vehicles equipped with pre-installed convertible car seats, the family-friendly service provides transportation to and from a number of major airports, and cruise piers, too. Plus, now the stress-saving airport car service has expanded to serve Philadelphia, Orlando, Tampa, and Charlotte, in addition to New York City. Read on to find out how Kidmoto works and why it's one of the safest and most reliable options out there for your whole crew.

Things To Do in Connecticut this Weekend: Stamford Parade, Family Volunteering, Holiday Lights

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Bond with llamas! Photo courtesy of Country Quilt Llama Farm

It's the last weekend before Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the official start of the holiday season. But before you begin your annual gift-shopping in earnest, make sure to take some time out to give back to the community and have a little family fun. This weekend there are several volunteer opportunities in Stamford, Bridgeport, and New Canaan.  If you simply can't wait to start getting into the Christmas spirit, check out the annual Fantasy of Lights, with 60 animated displays containing over 100,000 lights in a mile-long display. Of course, there's the annual Stamford Parade Spectacular, too. 

You'll find all sorts of holiday fun recommendations in our Holiday Fun Guide. For even more ideas, 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!

Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend with Kids: Lights, Frozen 2, Trains, Toy Fair

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The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is packed with holiday-themed activities. Photo courtesy of The Magnificent Mile

Brace yourselves: This weekend brings a veritable blizzard of much-loved holiday events to Chicagoland, from the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, to the opening weekend of Illuminations at the Morton Arboretum, to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair. Holiday train season rolls into town this weekend, too, with the return of the CTA Holiday Trains downtown, the Polar Express Train Ride from Union Station, and the Fox River Trolley Polar Express train ride out in Aurora. And families can get a head start on presents at holiday markets around town: There's the annual Millennium Park Art Market, the seasonal Randolph Street Holiday Market, and the traditional Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza and at Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville.

If you think it feels a little early for all this holiday stuff, there's plenty of Christmas-free activity too. Teens can build their comedy skills at a FREE workshop hosted by Second City, a new exhibit devoted to the Chicago Night Sky opens at the Adler Planetarium, kids can learn about the origins of the written word at the Oriental Institute Museum, and families can drop in for FREE, hands-on activities sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Biennial. 

Meanwhile, Frozen 2 fever reaches its peak this weekend with Snow Queen-inspired events like a meet-and-greet, a Frozen sing-along, and a sensory-friendly screening of the film. 

For even more fun things to do with Chicago kids, check out our highlights below, and keep an eye on the event calendar.

Best Santa Breakfasts, Brunches, Cruises, and More for Chicago Families

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Brunch with Santa courtesy of Drury Lane

Sure, you can snap a picture with Santa in hundreds of spots around Chicagoland at this time of year. But at a few select locations, kids and adults both naughty and nice can dine, cruise, or even bowl with Santa. From a casual Santa sing-a-long to a decked-out Santa suite at the Swissôtel, here are the best Santa breakfasts, brunches, and experiences for Chicago families this holiday season.

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Thanksgiving Parade, Polar Express, Turkey Talk

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Hop aboard the Catskill Mountain Railroad's Polar Express this weekend. Photo courtesy of the railway

Assorted fun is coming up this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley kids, including several ways to get a jumpstart on Thanksgiving festivities.

For starters, there's the Annual Valenti Thanksgiving Day Parade, one of the largest Thanksgiving parades in the state. In a similar vein, celebrate National Native American Heritage Month by creating wampum beads and viewing exhibits, or immerse your family in our early settlers' lifestyle at Living Off the Land. Families can also honor the bird of the month by learning more about it at Turkey Day. For a departure from the holiday, snag a seat at the performance by Arch 8, a multi-genre production with a message.

These are just a few of our top picks for the weekend; the rest can be found below, and there are even more fun and enriching opportunities on our Event Calendar. Consult our November GoList to plan ahead, and sign up for our weekly newsletters to stay current with all our great findings!

Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree Farms in the Hartford Area

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If you usually have an artificial Christmas tree or head off to the nearest mega-store for your pre-cut Christmas tree, why not start a new holiday tradition by going out to one of Connecticut's many cut-your-own farms?  The unmistakable smell of pine, the freshly made treats, and large decorative wreaths these homey places offer will definitely get you in a festive mood.  We've also listed more Christmas Tree Farms in Litchfield County and in Fairfield County.

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