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Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do

Pier 17 hosts the sparkly, photo-opp, and fun-filled Santa Clauses Winter Wonderland. Photo by Jody Mercier
Pier 17 hosts the sparkly, photo-opp, and fun-filled Santa Clauses Winter Wonderland. Photo by Jody Mercier
11/24/23 - By Drew Kristofik

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

We're super grateful for so much this weekend, including two behind-the-scenes Thanksgiving Day Parade peeks: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation and Marching Bands practice at the Seaport Museum! Then the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Macy's Santaland serve as the gateway to the sparkly NYC holiday season, the classic New York City Ballet Nutcracker takes the stage at Lincoln Center, PaleyLand opens with Santa and more special guests, and Lektrik sets the Queens Botanical Garden aglow.

Our NYC Kids' Guide to Christmas and the Holidays is positively lit with more holiday activities, including our must-do Christmas events.

More Things To Do in New York City This Week With Kids

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Santa rolls into town at the tail end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and starts taking gift requests at Santaland on Friday. Photo by Jody Mercier
Santa rolls into town at the tail end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and starts taking gift requests at Santaland on Friday. Photo by Jody Mercier

Best Things To Do in NYC Thanksgiving Weekend

Roebling Rink Opening Week at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Opens Monday, November 25
Roebling Rink, the beautiful ice rink positioned beneath the historic Brooklyn Bridge, opens for the season with enthralling views of Manhattan, an expansive food and beverage selection, and more.  READ MORE

Origami Holiday Tree 2024 Opening Week at the American Museum of Natural History

Upper West Side
Opens Monday, November 25
An annual American Museum of Natural History tradition, the delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree and two merrily lit 19-foot holiday barosaurs welcome visitors throughout the holiday season. READ MORE

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation

Upper West Side–FREE
Wednesday, November 27
The Macy's balloon inflation returns. Watching the giant balloons expand is a tradition for many NYC families—almost as important as the Thanksgiving Day Parade proper.  READ MORE

Marching Bands at the Seaport Museum

Seaport–FREE
Wednesday, November 27
Get ready for a booming morning at the Seaport Museum—a front-row preview of the iconic New York City Thanksgiving Day Parade, a day early! Marching bands from the University of South Carolina and the University of Massachusetts take over Pier 16 with stationary performances that are sure to get you in the parade spirit. READ MORE

Lektrik at Queens Botanical Garden

Flushing, Queens
Opens Wednesday, November 27
Experience a kaleidoscope of photo-ops, acrobatic shows, tasty food, craft cocktails, live music, and so much more at this captivating light festival. READ MORE

Gobble Gobble Give at the Apollo

Harlem–FREE
Thursday, November 28
Enjoy a heartwarming day of giving back by bringing a dish of Thanksgiving-style food, gently used clothes you’ve been meaning to donate, or an old toy or book your kids have outgrown, and join the most meaningful potluck party you'll ever attend. The whole family can help with meal prep, toy, food and clothing sorting, and the Children’s Holiday Workshop, where kids create holiday crafts for families in need.   READ MORE

98th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Upper West Side to Midtown West–FREE
Thursday, November 28
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marches down the streets of New York City for its 98th annual holiday celebration. READ MORE

Thanksgiving Brunch Cruise

South Street Seaport
Thursday, November 28
Attention hungry pilgrims: this NYC Thanksgiving brunch extravaganza is for you. Take in stunning views of the Big Apple under a crisp autumn sky, a curated brunch Thanksgiving menu at your fingertips and mimosas in hand. READ MORE

Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Prospect Park Waterways

Prospect Park, Brooklyn–FREE
Friday, November 29
Set yourself a post-Thanksgiving challenge as a family, and trek from the south end of Prospect Park all the way up to Grand Army Plaza at the north end. READ MORE

Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Northern Manhattan Parks Super Hike

Inwood–FREE
Friday, November 29
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike through the hills of Inwood Hill and Fort Tryon Parks, ending at the Heather Garden of Fort Tryon Park at Margaret Corbin Circle and Fort Washington Avenue. READ MORE

Macy's Santaland

Midtown West
Opens Friday, November 29
Santa swoops back over to Macy's for visits with his littlest fans! Wander the rainbow road to his workshop, where you'll meet jolly old St. Nick. Share your wishlist before receiving a special gift and posing for a keepsake photo. READ MORE

Sci Skate Opening Weekend

Corona, Queens
Opens Friday, November 29
No need to bundle up for this special indoor skating experience: the SciSkate rink is made of eco-friendly polymer and the snow is beautifully projected. READ MORE

Tianyu Lights Festival

Flushing, Queens
Opens Friday, November 29
Walk through a whimsical wonderland to see 7-year-old Koda’s dreams of a visit to Peru's rainforest through luminous art installations, with live cultural music and dance performances throughout the journey. READ MORE

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Opens Friday, November 29
The New York City Ballet's annual confection returns, complete with the famous one-ton Christmas tree that grows from 12 to 40 feet, an onstage snowstorm, and hundreds of elaborate costumes, including one for Mother Ginger that measures nine feet wide and weighs 85 pounds! READ MORE

Small Business Saturday Tree Lighting in Park Slope

Park Slope, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, November 30
JJ Byrne Park lights up with holiday cheer as Park Slope's Small Business group hosts its annual tree lighting event, complete with hot chocolate from Chela, churros from Simple Loaf Bakehouse, Christmas tunes from Music by Patrick, Bubbledad, and—of course—Santa! READ MORE

PaleyLand Opening Week

Midtown West
Opens Saturday, November 30
PaleyLand returns with the arrival of Santa Claus and a packed schedule of weekend meet and greets, photo ops with beloved holiday characters, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Hermey the Elf, Blizz the Snowman, and a Toy Soldier. READ MORE

Mary Poppins at 92Y

Upper East Side
Opens Saturday, November 30
Discover the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious story of a magical, common-sensical nanny who arrives at one family’s home and opens their eyes to a world of adventure right under their noses. READ MORE

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