Let the spirit of the season illuminate your heart at the new Holiday Light Show at the Long Island Sports Park in Calverton.

Uncrowded and located directly off the Long Island Expressway, the display is sure to enthrall kids and delight adults with its scintillating light creations, inspiring music, and overall holiday exuberance. And for more merriment, check out the Magic of Lights Show at Jones Beach, the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County light show, and these great things to do on Long Island with kids during the holiday season.

Your little ones might also want to visit a Nutcracker or another holiday show or perhaps travel along a nearby Polar Express train while the air is cold and light. 

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and the folks behind Party City are offering tired parents one more shopping outlet in 2018. Toy City, a seasonal pop-up similar to the Halloween City shops also owned by Party City, opened this fall with about 50 locations across the country. Expect to find some of the season's hottest toy items, from LOL dolls to Legos, at Toy City.

A number of the Toy City locations opened within former Halloween City stores and have been busy converting the shelves from spider webs and broomsticks to Play-Doh and Transformers. 

There are very few things that can lure me into Midtown's big department stores during the holiday season. While I do make an annual exception for Macy's Santaland, the real holiday magic lies outside the doors as the holiday windows come alive with spectacular displays.

Always a Mommy Poppins favorite, and certainly a must-do FREE outing, a holiday windows walk in NYC is especially exciting this year, with interactive elements and beloved characters. We spent a good part of our Sunday afternoon checking out the dazzling displays. Read on for a peek at their magic, and relive the fun of NYC holiday windows in years past.

Chelsea Market, an enormous food hall and marketplace located in the former factory that was the birthplace of the Oreo cookie, has a little something for everyone, from fancy chocolates to grilled cheese. The building’s unique architecture and convenient location near the High Line make it a popular NYC shopping and eating spot. But one of the best things about shopping at Chelsea Market is that you don’t have to worry about anyone leaving with an empty stomach. Even the pickiest eaters can find something they love among the bakeries, pizza shops, and burger joints inside.

If want to introduce your kids to a variety of delicious foods from around the world—or you're just looking for an indoor activity (that's not another indoor play zone or museum), there is enough here for a fun afternoon or morning outing. Pro tip: It's best to avoid lunchtime when it is really crowded, or better yet try a weekend morning when the place is a ghost town. Here's what to taste, see, and do at Chelsea Market with kids.

Now that Santa has paraded into our living rooms and shopping malls, the 2018 ho-ho-holiday season is officially underway. And whether you have an infant who can really only look cute in his or her "First Christmas" footie pajamas, a toddler who’s a bit more clued-in to the Santa scene, or a preschooler who’s been on his or her best behavior to impress your Elf on the Shelf, you can rest assured that you’ll have enough fun things to keep your under-5 crew occupied.

We’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of some wonderful holiday must-dos to take you through the New Year—from Christmas light displays to breakfasts with Santa, rides aboard the Polar Express to the merriest musicals—and we’re pretty sure you’ll find them nice!

So, cue up that seasonal soundtrack and make a note of all the local little one–friendly yuletide hangs in our Holiday Guide, plus be sure to check out everything festive flagged in our Event Calendar.

This time of year, kids can find Santa ho-ho-ho-ing it up at most holiday events in the area, like tree lightings, craft fairs, festive breakfasts, and fancy teas. We've rounded up some of our other favorite places where kids can see Santa in and around Boston, especially for a photo op that can make for the perfect Christmas card.

See our list below for more than a dozen places where you can get a photo with Santa near Boston; most visits are free (with photos being available for purchase). All the kids have to do is be sure that they're good, for goodness sake! 

If you are one of the many Angelenos whose paths rarely lead them through La Cañada-Flintridge, then perhaps you've never visited Descanso Gardens. It would be understandable; most of us need to drive a befuddling combination of highway numbers to get there. Well, 'tis the season to download Waze and get there, because Descanso's holiday light display, Enchanted: Forest of Light, is worth the drive and then some. Home holiday lights are lovely and cheery. Boat parades are delightful and so SoCal. But Descanso's holiday woodland light show is an experience unto itself and one to bundle up the kids and make time for.

Attention, Disney fans: Celebrate Mickey’s 90th birthday at at the latest family pop-up to hit New York City. From his humble beginnings in “Steamboat Willie” to the cultural icon that we all know and love today, Mickey Mouse gets the full biographical treatment in a museum experience that offers a little something for everyone.

Located near NYC's High Line, Mickey: The True Original Exhibition celebrates 90 years of Mickey Mouse’s influence on art and pop culture. The 16,000 square-foot exhibition features classic memorabilia for all the nostalgic feels, plus contemporary work from popular artists. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the pop-up, immersive museum celebrating Disney’s most beloved character.