Volunteering is a great way to teach children about the importance of helping others and a nice way to give back to your community and those who need it. There are many family-friendly volunteering opportunities in NYC, and many can be performed year-round.

We've compiled some of these family volunteer activities in NYC below, including ways to give back with a local community org or from the comfort of your own home. We've got picks for families who want to fight food insecurity, help beautify the city, and even make some new furry friends. In addition to the information below, we also have an entire post on Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities that you can explore this holiday season.

When it comes to holiday activities in NYC, locals know that even though there's a week of Kwanzaa, eight nights of Hanukkah, and 12 days of Christmas, the holiday season in NYC really lasts from early November through New Year's Eve. That's almost two months of only-in-NY holiday activities and special Christmas events.

Of course, not all Christmas events and holiday activities are created equal. That's why we've rounded up the absolute best ways to get into the spirit of the season. Here is our curated list of must-do holiday activities and Christmas events in NYC in 2025. Consider this seasonal bucket list our gift to you. Below, we're detailing a dozen NYC Christmas events and holiday activities sure to give your family a season of happy memories.

Our picks for New York City's top holiday activities are a mix of classic favorites, like the star-studded Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and new classics, like the return of the beloved Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. You'll find plenty more family-friendly seasonal celebrations in our NYC Kids' Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Holiday Fun, which includes picks for everything from Christmas towns near NYC to the best Nutcracker ballets for kids, and more sweet seasonal treats.

These restaurants open on Thanksgiving in NYC let New Yorkers of small-space kitchens who prefer rapid-fire take-out options leave the Thanksgiving cooking to someone else. Our picks for restaurants open on Thanksgiving 2025 include family-friendly spots in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island sure to make this Thanksgiving—which falls on Thursday, November 27, 2025—as easy and delicious as possible. Be sure to book your reservations soon.

Now, instead of deep-cleaning your apartment to host those far-flung relatives (and their expectations), you can spend Thanksgiving morning at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What's more NYC than that?

Be sure to bookmark our Guide to Thanksgiving in NYC for more family-friendly holiday happenings. If you're visiting NYC this Thanksgiving and still looking for a place to stay, check out these family-friendly NYC hotels, or these Midtown hotels with views of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and we know many local families are struggling and could use the help of one of these local organizations offering a free turkey in NYC.

Inflation, job loss, and the extended government shutdown have left many New Yorkers facing food insecurity. With that in mind, we've rounded up 13 local organizations that are stepping up to ensure all who need help filling their tables or getting a hot meal this Thanksgiving can. From free turkey giveaways to take-out options and free holiday meals, here's a helpful guide to where to get help this holiday season.

If you're fortunate enough to have a full pantry and pocketbook, consider donating to one of these exceptional organizations to help others across the city, and put the "thanks" in Thanksgiving by lending a hand at one of these local Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities. You can find more ways to spend the day in our New York City Kids' Guide to Thanksgiving.

My 3-year-old daughter and I have recently become NYC play space connoisseurs. Our colorful collection of branded grippy socks is evidence of a winter spent hopping from one new play space to another. So, you can take me at my word when I say Space Club Fort Greene offers out-of-this-world fun.

Read on to find out why this sprawling, artsy space is worth a visit, and find dozens of other cool indoor playgrounds on our list of Brooklyn's best indoor play spaces. For more family fun across the city, check out our NYC Kids Guide to Indoor Play Spaces.

The Jewish Museum is one of the premier centers to learn about Jewish history, culture, art, and storytelling in New York City. Following a significant expansion, the Jewish Museum recently debuted a new learning center with a robust slate of family-friendly programs, events, and classes.

We recently visited the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side to check out the new space and get all the details on its offerings. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the new learning center at the Jewish Museum, and bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC to find all our picks for family-friendly museums in NYC.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrates its 99th anniversary this November, taking over the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, November 27, 2025, exhilarating the city with its boisterous marching bands, extravagant floats, and giant balloon characters.

If you're planning to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with kids (and millions of others!), read on for the most up-to-date information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route, best viewing locations, and other highlights. Looking for where to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 on TV instead? Read on for that, too. You'll find more holiday inspiration in our Thanksgiving Fun Guide for NYC Families.

Enthusiastic paradegoers know the family fun actually begins the day before as the trademark giant balloons receive their annual helium injections—in fact, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation is even included in our list of 100 things to do with your kids in NYC before they grow up. Check out our in-depth Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade inflation post for an overview of the Wednesday night festivities.