Gift givers throughout the Garden State are hitting the stores in preparation for Holiday Season 2016. You already know about the big box stores in your neighborhood, but what about trying a new spot this year?

New Jersey is home to some terrific independent and family-owned toy stores (and book stores) that offer personalized customer service and a great selection of unique toys, games, and gifts. Check out these independent stores (and their e-commerce sites) for the holiday shopping season, starting on Small Business Saturday, or for those many kid birthday parties you attend all year round. 

There are so many wonderful activities to enjoy this time of year in and around Houston. From shopping at holiday markets, checking out the Nutcracker Ballet and other holiday shows to family volunteering, there is no shortage of holiday fun. You can even cut down your own Christmas tree. But if you are looking for an exciting, family-friendly tradition that truly captures the beauty of the holiday season, attending a tree lighting is the way to go. We've rounded up some wonderful tree lighting celebrations and best of all, they are all FREE!

Every year, as the days grow shorter and the holidays approach, Easter Seals Goodwill Industries weaves a little magic at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven. For over twenty years, they have turned this seaside park into a holiday wonderland that is sure to thrill everyone young and old. So load up your family and head to the shore for a festival of holiday cheer. And when your done, check out some more places to have Holiday Fun in our Guide.

You may have heard of that other Thanksgiving Day Parade.  You know, the one that you have to get up at the crack of dawn, wait for hours in the street, and spend your Thanksgiving smooshed against strangers trying to catch a glimpse at floats as they work their way down Broadway.  Lucky for us Nutmeggers, we have the UBS Downtown Parade Spectacular that has all of the fun with none of the hassle.  For as long as I have lived in Fairfield County, the Parade Spectacular marks the beginning of the holiday season. Featuring 16 giant balloons, marching bands, fantastic floats, clowns, and a special visit from Santa, the Stamford parade is recognized as one of the best in the country. 

From where to park, to some insider tips, this guide provides you with all the information you need to make the Parade Spectacular a highlight of your family’s holiday season. For more seasonal activities, check out our November Go List. 

There's a chill in the air, and the trees are growing bare, which can only mean one thing--the holidays are right around the corner. I don't know about your kids, but mine aren't satisfied until they've held court with the man in the red suit each year. Luckily Santa books a full schedule of appearances all over Hartford County so you're sure to catch him before the season ends. Whether you want to skate with him, have your photo taken with him, or sit down to a pancake breakfast with him, we've got you covered. 

There's no doubt about it, the holiday season is one of the most beautiful times of the year. With lights and activities everywhere (and sometimes even snow!), this magical time of year just warms the heart. If you've never been, Bucks County is the perfect place to celebrate the holidays. There's something about this place that makes the season feel a little bit more special. Plus, the area offers so many wonderful activities that are perfect for families looking for some holiday spirit.

They may not understand just who Santa Claus is quite yet, but that doesn’t mean the littlest members of your family can’t enjoy the many fun events that the holiday season has to offer. We’ve rounded up several fun Christmas activities perfect for babies — and that we’re sure will appeal to parents, too.

Are the kids ready for an adventure? Or at least an interactive theater experience that doesn’t require sitting? Enter Pip's Island—a new live theater production for kids that just opened in NYC. You don’t even have to go to Midtown! It’s playing in Chelsea all holiday season long.

Although my NYC family has been to (and even acted in) plenty of children’s theater, I can easily say that this show was truly unlike any previous performance we’ve been to.

There is no stage; there are no seats. Instead, the production is crafted as more of a full-scale game of make-believe. Actors lead the kids on an hourlong quest, literally moving through rooms, and encourage them to help solve a mystery by locating and rescuing Amperes Wattson, leader of this magical, faraway world they are now inhabiting (Pip’s Island), from an ambitious villain, Joules Volter.

Read on for our full review.