Christmas Weekend 2023 in NYC: Top Things To Do with Kids

Meet Santa, see holiday classics, and explore the winter wonderland that is PaleyLand this Christmas weekend in NYC. Photo by Jess Laird

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

You may still have gifts to wrap (or—gulp—shop for) and stockings to hang, but there's festive fun to be had all weekend. Our annual favorites include singing carols under the Washington Square Arch, catching a classic holiday show, and checking out the Dyker Lights.

On Christmas Day, families can catch the Nefesh Mountain concert at the Jewish Museum or celebrate Jewish and Chinese music on the Lower East Side.

No matter how you celebrate, Happy Holidays from the Mommy Poppins team!

New Year's Eve: First Night, Noon Year's, and Other Boston Celebrations for Kids

New Year's Eve in Boston brings some magical and fun celebrations for kids, in the day and at night. Copley Square Ice sculpture photo by Bob P.B. via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Looking for New Year's celebrations for Boston kids that don't go until midnight? New Year's Eve with kids is a time for festivities. Do you like your new year celebration to be rockin' in the noon year, marveling at ice sculptures, or experiencing spectacular light displays? There are lots of things to do on New Year's Eve that will make the day or night festive for your family. Enjoy the New Year's celebrations in Boston with your kids!

There are also virtual events for those that want to ring in the new year at home. Check out our 15 Ideas for Celebrating New Year's at Home with Kids. Happy 2024!

13 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other Atlanta Celebrations for Kids

Watch "Spencer" the stuffed animal possum drop from the sky in Tallapoosa, an hour's drive from Atlanta. Photo courtesy of event

Usher in New Year's Eve as a family with kid-friendly Atlanta New Year's Eve events! We've got the details on New Year’s Eve and Noon Year’s Eve activities happening around Atlanta—many Atlanta events end early (since the kids usually can't last until midnight), so you can still book a babysitter for an adults' New Year's Eve celebration.

For more inspiration over New Year's weekend, read our Fun Things to Do Over the Christmas Vacation with Atlanta Kids, as well as our Winter Activities Guide in Atlanta. And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletters to stay in the know of all the 2024 kid-friendly events and activities in Atlanta.

25 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other Chicago Celebrations for Kids

Make memories at the DuPage Children's Museum's Bubble Bash. Photo courtesy of the museum

Looking for New Year's Eve celebrations in Chicago minus the late night? Most kids, and even some adults, can't make it until midnight for a typical New Year's Eve celebration. That's why plenty of Chicago area kids' venues have put together events to celebrate Noon Year's on the last midday of the year. 

Celebrate with bubbles at the always-popular DuPage Children's Museum, enjoy roller skating in Mundelein or on the South Side, or bowl or play bocce to end 2023 at Pinstripes locations in Streeterville, Oak Brook, South Barrington, or Northbrook. Or play whirlyball in Naperville or Lincoln Park or see a performance of the Blue Man Group in Lakeview.

29 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Noon Year's Eve, and Other Los Angeles Celebrations for Kids

The New Year's fun starts at noon! Photo courtesy of the La Habra Children's Museum.

It’s almost New Year’s Eve—and Los Angeles has loads of New Year's Eve celebrations for kids. Ring in 2024 with a balloon drop (at noon or midnight, depending on your household bedtime!), giggling through a family-friendly comedy show, catching some fireworks, or even roller skating your way into the new year. There are also plenty of innovative ways to party at home as a family or learn some New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world.

Find more events and activities on our Los Angeles event calendar and check out the best activities of the weekend

That's a wrap for 2023! Happy New Year from all of us at Mommy Poppins. Thank you, reader, for making it such a great one. We're looking forward to all the fun coming our way in 2024. 

21 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other Orlando Celebrations for Kids

Celebrate New Year's Eve at the ever magical Walt Disney World. Photo courtesy of Disney

New Year's Eve is almost here and that means 2024, and Orlando New Year's Eve fireworks, are just around the corner! While several Orlando New Year's Eve events are geared toward adults, there are many fun, family-friendly parties to celebrate with kids. Many of these events count down at a kid-friendly hour, so you can still follow normal bedtime routines. If you have older kids that can make it to midnight, some Orlando evening events even include fireworks at the turn of the year. Read on for all the details of what's happening for Orlando New Year's Eve!

25 Winter Day Trips near NYC for Families

Hit the ice at the scenic Mohonk Mountan House, which offers winter day passes to enjoy its spectacular resort amenities. Photo courtesy of the venue

Winter is officially here, and this list of winter day trips from New York City will undoubtedly come in handy. Whether you prefer spending the winter months snuggling on the couch or frolicking in the snow, sometimes you just need to get out of town for a change of pace.

We've pulled together this list of family-friendly, fun-filled winter day trips near NYC that appeal to all sorts of interests, from budding artists to full-fledged ski bunnies. Best of all, these destinations are all two hours or less from New York City by car, and we think they're all worth the trip.

Find more winter day trips from NYC in our Day Trip and Weekend Getaways Guide and our Guide to Winter Fun, which is filled with more fun ways to embrace the season, like snow tubing day trips, our favorite ski slopes, and more.

Santa Trackers: How to Find Santa on Christmas Eve with NORAD, Google, and More

As Santa flies around the world, kids can track where he is and get to bed before he arrives at their house! Photo courtesy of Bigstock

Santa Trackers are the best way to see where Santa is and what he's up to on Christmas Eve!

Open the Santa Tracker of your choice early in the evening and keep watch on the Santa Tracker map to follow his magical journey. Each of our favorite Santa trackers have different ways to watch Santa's progress, plus fun games and activities to keep kids interested! Best of all, they're all FREE.

For more ways to bring a little extra magic to your Christmas this year, check out our list of 101 Christmas crafts and activities. If you’re still looking for last-minute gifts, our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide is here for you!

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