Christmas/Hanukkah

Indie Toy Stores: LA's Best Spots To Shop for Toys

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sat, 03/31/2018 - 12:29pm

Toys. Kids love ‘em; parents wish they would put them away. But in this the age of electronics, we can all agree that a good old-fashioned manipulative beats a device with a screen any day. With even big toy store chains like FAO Schwartz and Toys 'R' Us closing shop, it's time for us to rally and support the local toy stores we love if we want them to be here next year—particularly the ones where you find an unusual gift just when you need it.

How To Recycle Your Christmas Tree in LA

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 01/02/2018 - 3:04am

On the 12th day of Christmas my city gave to me - a chance to recycle my Christmas tree!

Whether from a lot at the corner or a cut-your-own farm in LA's outer regions, we lug those lovely-smelling, triangular chunks of evergreen wonder home on top of our cars each December amid singing, warm drinks, and family bonding. Thoughts of what will become of them a few weeks later are pushed to the outer regions of our To Do Lists. Well, the 12th day of Christmas is fast upon us, and our To Do Lists have come home to roost. Exhausting as it may sound after all the revelry, recycling a Christmas tree does not have to be difficult to arrange; all you need is a little information - which we've taken the time to assemble here!

New Year's Day in Los Angeles: 17 Fun Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 12/25/2017 - 9:02pm

The last holiday of winter break or the first holiday of the new year—however you look at it, New Year is a day for family time; and if you opt for a kid-friendly New Year's Eve activity, you could even have the energy for an early start. You might just choose an outing from our list of 47 Things To Do While Everyone Else Is Out of Town, but how to know if it's an option on the holiday? All of the outings below are great choices for a New Year's Day activity—in fact some of them can only be enjoyed on January 1st. Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve Fireworks in NYC and More 2018 Family Celebrations

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 12/25/2017 - 2:15pm

There are plenty of ways to ring in 2018 in New York City. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly options from Brooklyn fireworks and FREE bike rides to swanky (and admittedly expensive) Times Square parties.

However you welcome the New Year, we hope it's a blast. You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide, and more fun activities to do on school break.

New Year's Eve with Kids: Ringing in 2018 as a Family around LA and OC

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 12/24/2017 - 3:32pm

Should old acquaintance be forgot? Maybe they should, when seeing them on New Year's Eve costs $25/hour in babysitting fees. Far better to find some fun that can be shared with the kids, and see those old acquaintances some other night. LA rings in the new year in fine family fashion from noon to midnight and beyond; check out some memorable outings on our radar.

Christmas Light Trail at Dewberry Farm

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Sun, 12/24/2017 - 3:30pm

Dewberry Farm is an easy favorite when it comes to planning fall activities, and once the holiday season hits it becomes a choose-n-cut Christmas tree chopping destination. However, this year the farm has added another layer of holiday cheer to the festivities: the brand new Trail of Lights and Christmas Village, touting it as a "Christmas Adventure as Big as Texas!" Christmas lights become a bigger and bigger deal each year as our kids get older, and when we had the opportunity to check out the Trail of Lights I knew it was a holiday activity we had to add to our list.

Spoiler: it was a BIG hit... dare I say... (drum roll...) as big as Texas?

21 Places for New Year's Eve Fun with Kids in Philadelphia

Submitted by Maureen Rayburn on Sun, 12/24/2017 - 9:00am

While they may not be able to stay awake until midnight, kids still have plenty of opportunities to celebrate New Year's Eve in the Philadelphia area. From museums and zoos, to parks and moon bounces, many venues are hosting afternoon events for the little ones. Several options on our list provide prime seating for the city's early (6 PM) fireworks show over the Delaware River. Children can have their own countdowns, toss confetti, watch a mini ball drop, and, who knows, maybe even get home before bedtime!

See our list of fun places to ring in the New Year with kids. Many of these are ticketed events, so be sure to make plans before they sell out.

If you are looking for something else to do on December 31, there are plenty of other non-New Year's themed events listed on our calendar

What to Do on Christmas Day with Westchester Kids

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Fri, 12/22/2017 - 2:00pm

Looking for some Christmas Day fun? You might find yourself searching for a way to spend the afternoon after the presents have been ripped open—or maybe you don't celebrate Christmas and are looking for some fun activities for your kids. No worries, there are a few things to do in Westchester on Christmas Day.

Read on for some ideas for fun around town, and be sure to sign up for our newsletters to stay in the holiday loop!