Elf on the Shelf is back! It's almost the holidays, so it's almost time for Elf on the Shelf. Elves typically arrive sometime after Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole on Christmas Day, giving families about a month to fill with hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Like any good house guest, your elf should be able to keep mischievous acts mostly mess-free and easy to set up. We've put together a list of 50 easy ideas that are also impressive elf antics that delight kids— including funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas for hectic mornings. Did we mention they don't take a lot of time to set up and require very few props?

Find more Christmas activities and crafts for kids, plus other fun things to do this season, in our Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide.

Toys For Tots, USPS Operation Santa, and many other organizations collect new toys every holiday season to deliver to kids in need throughout New Jersey. Read on for ways your family can donate toys in NJ and spread some holiday cheer.

And be sure to check out other feel-good holiday ideas, like our holiday and Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities for families, in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey.

If you're looking for ways to give back this holiday season, consider donating to Toys for Tots or one of these other locations where you can donate toys in NYC. After all, during this jolly season, what brings more joy to children and families than celebrating Christmas morning with presents under the tree? Unfortunately, many local families need support to provide toys for their children.

If you have the means, it's a wonderful gesture to spread cheer by donating new toys to local charities. We’ve found multiple charities that allow families to donate toys in NYC. From the perennially popular Toys for Tots to other local charities, these organizations and their patrons can use your support. If you're struggling to put toys under your own tree, we've also noted how to request toys where possible.

Remember that most of these locations accept new toy donations. If you’re looking for places to donate gently used clothes and other items, we’ve got those, too. Plus find tons more picks to make your holiday season extra merry in our New York City Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays.

Nonprofits like Toys for Tots offer donation spots throughout Long Island where you can lend a hand to families that are struggling to provide toys for their children. Read on for various opportunities to give back by making donations this holiday season. 

 Be sure to also check out our rundown of holiday and Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities on Long Island and many other seasonal ideas in our Holiday Guide. 

The Christmas season is hardly complete without pictures with Santa, and Westchester and the Hudson Valley offer plenty of fun ways to meet the man in red. Our roundup below includes events and opportunities for Santa photos at malls in the area. 

For more holiday fun, check out our Holiday Fun Guide, especially our roundup of must-do holiday experiences for Westchester kids.

Want to take pictures with Santa this holiday season? Check out our roundup of the best spots for your kids to pose for pictures with Santa on Long Island. 

Santa has the magical ability to be in several places at once, so we've rounded up 12 Long Island venues where old St. Nick is holding court regularly and posing for pictures this holiday season. It's time to get out your most festive Christmas sweater and plan a date to share your wish list and snap photos with Santa on Long Island.

For more seasonal adventures, check out our roundup of the top holiday and Christmas events in the region, and bookmark our Holiday Fun Guide for all the can't-miss seasonal happenings.

Editor's note: This post is in the process of being updated for 2024. Please check back soon for full details.
Santa Claus is coming to town and New York City kids have plenty of places to take pictures with Santa this season. From the heartwarming experience at Macy's Santaland to appearances at area malls—Santa is popping up and posing all over town.

Read on for our favorite spots to take pictures with Santa all across the five boroughs, including plenty of venues offering FREE pictures with Santa in NYC. Our rundown of Christmas tree lightings in NYC offers more opportunities to see jolly old St. Nick. We've got even more ways to meet the seasonal celebrity at these brunches, teas, and cruises with Santa, and our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC offers more holiday fun.

Pictures with Santa in Los Angeles aren't your standard snaps: here we have Diving Santa, Shogun Santa, Santa on a train, and so much more.

When it comes to Christmas in Los Angeles, Santa is coming to town in many forms and fashions unique to SoCal. Los Angeles offers some of the best Santas around, including several special versions of Santa you won't find anywhere else. So, snap a few pictures with Santa at one of these fun, funky, and totally LA Santa photo opportunities, from diving Santas to farm Santas, Shogun Santa to the Santa at Disneyland. 

Get our picks for the best holiday activities and Christmas events in Los Angeles, festive Polar Express train rides, and more. Check out tons of festive Christmas fun in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities in Los Angeles.