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Make Music, Hanukkah, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Kids can enjoy hands-on Hanukkah fun at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Photo courtesy of CMOM
Kids can enjoy hands-on Hanukkah fun at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Photo courtesy of CMOM
12/19/25 - By Drew Kristofik

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

It's the weekend before Christmas, and NYC is ready to make a joyful noise during Sunday's Make Music New York festivities, which bring a cacophony to city streets, including the Bell by Bell performance at Astor Place, the Flatfoot Flatbush in Brooklyn, and more events citywide.

It's your last chance to see Santa and get those gift requests in, so consider a visit to Passport to Santa, or swing by the Paley Center for a Holiday Paw-ty with Paris and Pups.

Keep reading for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

Looking for even more fun things to do this weekend? Our New York City Events Calendar is packed with great family activities every day of the week—and you can filter by age, location, or even FREE events!

Not receiving our newsletter yet? Subscribe for FREE and get the best local family fun sent straight to your inbox. Already subscribed? Share it with a friend and start planning your weekend together!

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Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Broadway Magic Hour at the Broadway Comedy Club

Midtown West
Select dates through Saturday, March 21, 2026
The Broadway Magic Hour features master magicians Jim Vines and Carl Mercurio in a performance that includes mind-boggling mysteries and hilarious comedy for all ages. Witness magic, mind-reading, comedy, and grand illusions! READ MORE

Amateur Night Holiday Special at the Apollo Stages

Harlem
Friday, December 19-Saturday, December 20
Ring in the holiday season at a family-friendly showcase featuring the talented alumni of the Apollo’s long-running signature series. The program captures the spirit of young performers, all hoping to follow in the footsteps of Apollo legends like Ella Fitzgerald and H.E.R., whose careers were launched on the Apollo stage.   READ MORE

Spin, Sing, and Shine for Hanukkah at CMOM

Upper West Side
Friday, December 19-Sunday, December 21
The Children's Museum of Manhattan brings a weekend full of light in honor of Hanukkah. Hands-on activities include designing dancing dreidels, plus crafting candles, puppets, and holiday cards. On Sunday, enjoy a Hanukkah-inspired folk concert. READ MORE

Paris & Pups Holiday Paw-ty at the Paley

Midtown West
Saturday, December 20
A glitterally glamazing day of fun and festivities with Paris & Pups includes an exclusive screening of an unreleased episode of the show, giveaways, crafts, and more.  READ MORE

PAW Patrol Holidays at the Brooklyn Children's Museum

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Saturday, December 20
PAW Patrol takes over BCM to celebrate the holidays! Take a photo with pups Chase and Skye and enjoy special screenings of the new holiday special, A PAW Patrol Christmas, sing-alongs, art-making activities, and more.   READ MORE

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live at Shapeshifter

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, December 20-Sunday, December 21
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live celebrates the timeless television classic as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts characters gather to uncover the true meaning of Christmas. READ MORE

Hanukkah at the Museum at Eldridge Street

Lower East Side
Sunday, December 21
The Museum at Eldridge Street presents a family-friendly retelling of the Hanukkah story. Explore how Hanukkah changed over the past 150 years, then learn to spin dreidels, play holiday games, and create festive tangram Hanukkah cards to share with loved ones.   READ MORE

Make Music Winter Event: Harmonica Holiday Jam

West Village – FREE
Sunday, December 21
Harmonica virtuoso Jiayi He leads a crash course in how to play the harmonica and then leads participants in a jam session to showcase their new skills with performances of holiday classics such as Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Here Comes Santa Claus, Silent Night, and more.  READ MORE

Make Music Winter Event: Bell by Bell

East Village– FREE
Sunday, December 21
Bell by Bell is a fun Make Music Winter tradition, designed to transform first-time participants and non-musicians into music makers. It's a perfect program for kids and families. READ MORE

Make Music NY: Flatfoot Flatbush

Flatbush, Brooklyn– FREE
Sunday, December 21
Fiddlers and pickers parade down Flatbush Avenue playing old-time tunes while flatfooting, a form of percussive dancing from Appalachia. READ MORE

Outdoor Hanukkah Live Concert in Queens

Sunnyside, Queens – FREE
Sunday, December 21
Close out a full week of Hanukkah celebrations in the heart Sunnyside, Queens as the Shuk Music Group performs under the 7-train platform, and donuts, hot cider, and more Hanukkah favorites are served. Then stick around for a community menorah lighting.  READ MORE

Cocoa and Caroling at St. Marks Church-in-the-Bowery

East Village
Sunday, December 21
Ramp up that holiday spirit with caroling and cocoa on a journey through the village! Meet at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery and then travel to Middle Church, and finish at Trinity Lutheran Church.  READ MORE

The World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah: Manhattan

Midtown
Daily through Monday, December 22
Gather around the 32-foot-high, gold-colored, 4,000-pound steel holiday icon at Grand Army Plaza (Fifth Avenue and West 59th Street, across the street from The Plaza) to celebrate the annual Jewish Festival of Lights. READ MORE

Passport to Santa at Columbus Circle

Midtown West
Daily through Sunday, December 28
Step into the North Pole and decorate cookies in Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, strike toy soldier poses in Nutcracker Kingdom, write wishes with the Christmas Angel, and build sweet creations in Gingerbread Grounds. READ MORE

MOMIX: Alice at the Joyce

Chelsea
Select dates through Saturday, January 3. 2026
MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. Alice encounters the undulating Caterpillar, a lobster quadrille, frenzied White Rabbits, a mad Queen of Hearts, and a variety of other surprises.  READ MORE
Catch a classic iteration of A Christmas Carol on stage at The Perelman this season. Photo by Manuel Harlan/courtesy of the production
Catch a classic iteration of A Christmas Carol on stage at The Perelman this season. Photo by Manuel Harlan/courtesy of the production

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The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is pure holiday magic. Photo courtesy of NYBG
The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is pure holiday magic. Photo courtesy of NYBG

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Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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