The holidays are closing in, and Westchester and Hudson Valley families are scrambling to soak up all the fun! This weekend, the festivities are ratcheted up, so put on your jingle bells, light those lights and don’t miss these highlights!

Adding to the various iterations this month of the Tchaikovsky classic, this weekend showcases The Westchester Ballet Company Presents The Nutcracker and The Colonial Nutcracker. Additional options for holiday entertainment include Westchester Philharmonic's Winter Pops, featuring a Broadway star, and The Laurie Berkner Band's Holiday Celebration. Among the FREE holiday craft workshops is the distinctive Holiday Decorations from Nature.

Read on for just a few of the many happenings we’ve culled from our Event Calendar, and also view the many options in our Holiday Fun Guide we’ve worked hard to identify for you. Enjoy it all!

With just one final weekend until Christmas, it's time to tackle that holiday bucket list. We've rounded up lots of ways for NYC families to enjoy the spirit of this season this weekend.

Go caroling in Greenwich Village or Jackson Heights; celebrate the days of Christmas past with Young Charles Dickens or the reading of Clement Clarke Moore's classic 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Enjoy multicultural celebrations including El Museo del Barrio's Parranda and the East Meets West Christmas Parade in Chinatown; or catch the stage version of A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the New York Pops.

It's also a great weekend to hit all the seasonal sights before the tourists take over next week, so make time to see Santa, gawk at awesome department store windows and experience over-the-top holiday homes. For a more rustic outing, head to a local farm to cut down your Christmas tree like my procrastinating family will be doing this weekend—or order one online from one of these five local companies.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find more options in our Event Calendar and our Holiday Fun Guide.

Manhattan's impressive Christmas trees and department store windows aren't the only things decked out at this time of year. All across New York City, corporate buildings, public parks and outdoor plazas display eye-catching holiday exhibits, offering a perfect family diversion during holiday shopping or even as a fun seasonal destination. 

We've rounded five of the city's best 2015 displays from glowing indoor lanterns in Battery Park to giant, flashing stars on the Upper West Side that you won't want to miss. Even better? These spectacular installations are put on in public spaces, meaning it is FREE holiday fun with the kids.

While the East End of Long Island is known for its summer fun, there's also plenty to do during the holidays. From live theater and crafting to welcoming in the winter solstice and ringing in the New Year, here is a sample of what's going on in this area of the island.

Keep checking out our Long Island Events Calendar, which is being updated daily. And for more seasonal fun, take a look at our Holiday Guide.

Winter break is around the corner and this last weekend before Christmas is the perfect time to get out and make some wonderful memories. There’s no shortage of holiday cheer in NJ whether you take in the impressive Cranbury Christmas Lights, drive through the Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights or enjoy Breakfast with Santa at the lovely Camden Children’s Garden. This is also a great time of year to treat the whole gang to a show – check out performances of NJ Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Paper Mill Playhouse’s Frosty the Snowman and Forces of Nature Dance Theatre’s Kwanzaa Celebration. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For additional activity options, check out our Event Calendar.

While many families spend Christmas Day making obligatory trips to the relatives, plenty of others may not have family nearby, do not celebrate Christmas, or may simply need an escape from crazy Aunt Brenda. If you fall into any of the latter camps, read on for some ideas on ways to spend Christmas day out of your house in the Hartford area.

Go to the Movies

I’ll be the first to admit that big box toy retailers have their place. When my daughter wants something generic like a Dora Play Kitchen, or I get very strict instructions from our 4 year old nephew about which Transformer action figure he wants for his birthday, I can honestly say there’s no better place to shop. But amid the fluorescent lights and impersonal service, there’s a part of me that finds mega toy warehouses just a wee bit depressing. There’s something so old-school and refreshing about walking into a small “mom & pop” toy shop to browse unique gifts and – imagine this - actually receiving genuine help from the staff.

The holidays can be a hectic and joyous time of year. Between live holiday shows, shopping, Breakfast with Santa and more happening around town, it might be easy to lose sight of the fact that Westchester kids will be off of school for nearly two weeks! And though they may be waiting with giddy anticipation for the Christmas morning, how will they spend their time during the rest of their break? How about keeping your kids active with a fitness or sports mini-camp?

Westchester has many fantastic options, including basketball camps, fitness camps, even rock climbing adventures. Read on for details on sports and fitness-related mini-camps happening over the holiday break in Westchester.

For more holiday fun, be sure to check out our Holiday Fun Guide and our December GoList!