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Holiday Light Shows, Luna Luna, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

The Bronx Zoo lights up at night during the 2024 holiday season. Photo by Ally Noel
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11/22/24 - 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.

NYC is lighting up for the holidays already, as the Bronx Zoo flips the switch on its traditional, gorgeous Holiday Lights show filled with custom, animal-shaped Asian lanterns. Across town, Lightscape shimmers at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Kids can scale some scaffolding at the Brooklyn Children's Museum's new exhibit, In the Works, or take in fantastical, large-scale, interactive art at Luna Luna. The New Victory is holiday-ready as the circus-inspired Yuletide Factory takes over its stage.

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Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy at The Shed

Hudson Yards
Opens Wednesday, November 20
Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy unravels the tale of the world's first art amusement park. The immersive experience allows viewers to roam among original, artist-created rides and engage in the history of Luna Luna and the process of rediscovering and reassembling the works.    READ MORE

Dorrance Dance's Nutcracker Suite at NY City Center

Midtown West
Friday, November 22-Sunday, November 24
Part seasonal concert, part tap ballet, The Nutcracker Suite is a toe-tapping, hand-clapping revelation set to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s extraordinary arrangement of the Tchaikovsky classic. READ MORE

Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Opens Friday, November 22
Explore the Brooklyn Botanic Garden after dark during the illuminated spectacular, Lightscape, which celebrates the beauty of nature in winter on an enchanting trail animated by dazzling light, color, and sound. READ MORE

Jingle Jangle at Pier 17

South Street Seaport
Opens Friday, November 22
The Seaport’s Pier 17 is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, featuring holiday decor, cozy seating, and warming, seasonal dishes served alongside themed cocktails. Family-friendly activities include a rooftop ice skating rink accompanied by a soundtrack of favorite Christmas hits. READ MORE

Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Opens Friday, November 22
Holiday Lights return to the Bronx Zoo, bigger, brighter, and greener than ever before. The beloved holiday tradition covers acres of the zoo, lighting the grounds with custom Asian lanterns, wildlife-themed LED displays, and animated light shows on the historic Astor Court. READ MORE

Mexico Now Festival at Chelsea Factory

Chelsea – FREE
Friday, November 22
Fandango Jarocho Newyorkino is a family-friendly community celebration filled with music and dance, inspired by the living cultural tradition that's more than 400 years old from the coastal region of southern México. Its roots are in the spontaneous jams that arose when neighboring rural townships gathered at local festivals and markets in México. Expect this rendition to be infused with distinctive New York influences. READ MORE

Yuletide Factory at the New Victory Theater

Midtown West
Opens Saturday, November 23
The merry daredevils of Cirque Mechanics (Zephyr, 2023) are back with an industrial-strength spectacular, transforming a drab assembly plant into a holly jolly Yuletide Factory! From the wonder of the German wheel to festive flips from the trampoline wall, they dash and dance through a pageant of powerhouse stunts with grins and goodwill. READ MORE

Mr. Clown Live at the Paley Museum

Midtown West
Saturday, November 23
Mr. Clown, the beloved entertainer and educator from YouTube, takes center stage at The Paley Museum to celebrate his new PBS series Hello! Hi! How are You? Mr. Clown is joined by his friend and colleague, Tom Caltabiano, Emmy-winning writer and producer of Everybody Loves Raymond. READ MORE

Hearth & Harvest Festival

Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, November 23
Celebrate Native American culture and traditional 19th-century harvest activities through food, dance, storytelling, and crafts during this special program at Historic Richmond Town. READ MORE

In the Works Opening Weekend at Brooklyn Children's Museum

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Opens Saturday, November 23
Ever wondered what it would be like to step inside the scaffolding you see all over New York City? In the Works, BCM’s newest exhibit, transforms these ever-present urban structures into an exciting, multi-story space that invites children to explore, climb, slide, and interact with their city in entirely new ways!   READ MORE

Frost Fest at Luna Park

Coney Island, Brooklyn
Opens Saturday, November 23
Luna Park whips up winter fun with a skating rink, select rides and attractions, holiday lights and décor, photos with Santa, holiday shopping, and festive food options. READ MORE

Family Art Project: Whimsical Windchimes at Wave Hill

Riverdale, the Bronx
Saturday, November 23-Sunday, November 24
Harness the power of wind with your very own windchime. Learn about their importance in gardens and their rich history in different cultures, then use upcycled materials to create your own windchime and listen to its unique music float on the autumn breeze.   READ MORE

Tween Primes Book Club: Investing for Teens at the Museum of Mathematics

Gramercy
Sunday, November 24
Visiting Professor David Reimann leads a book club discussion of Investing for Teens: How to Save, Invest, and Grow Money. Gain a better understanding of money matters ranging from understanding the difference between stocks and bonds to finding potential investments.   READ MORE

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