Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do

Celebrate crossing the finish line of the Westchester Turkey Trot with a fresh Duck Donut! Photo courtesy of Tri-State Runs

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this Thanksgiving Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Families are invited to get a pre-turkey workout at one of the many turkey trots held on Thanksgiving Day throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley, including the Westchester Turkey Trot in Valhalla, which also includes a kids' dash and free donuts at the finish line. 

Other awesome things to do this Thanksgiving weekend include the opening weekend of the Legoland New York Holiday Bricktacular as well as local favorites like Frosty Day in Armonk and Rye's Mistletoe Magic.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 on Long Island: Turkey Trots, Light Shows, and Santa

Trek to The End for the Montauk Lighthouse tree lighting this weekend. Photo courtesy of the Montauk Lighthouse

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

Work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving feast by participating in a family-friendly turkey trot on Thursday morning. Or, get some activity in by driving through the Jones Beach Magic of Lights. For a throwback feel, check out how Christmas was celebrated in 1863 at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

Find more seasonal fun in our Long Island Kids Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events!

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in New Jersey: Light Shows, Tree Lightings, and Santa's Arrival

Spend the day at Van Saun Park and bask in seasonal fun like ice skating. Photo by Kaylen Chiarello Ebner

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

Thanksgiving has arrived, so gobble up all the fun and festivities this long weekend has to offer. Annual winter festivals kick off the weekend, including Bergen County Winter Wonderland, featuring ice skating, train rides, and bumper cars. Santa makes his grand arrival at tree-lighting celebrations in Red Bank and Point Pleasant Beach.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do

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

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 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, Thursday brings the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Macy's Santaland opens Friday, serving as the gateway to the sparkly NYC holiday season.

Plus, we're anticipating classic holiday fun, like the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker at Lincoln Center and setting sail with Santa on an activity-packed seasonal cruise. Read on for all our top picks for Thanksgiving Day weekend fun in NYC.

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Los Angeles

Enchanted: Forest of Light is one of the best holiday light displays in LA. Photo by Kathryn Rapier, courtesy of the event.

Holiday lights twinkle extra brightly in a city known for Hollywood, glitz, and glamour. Holiday light shows and Christmas light displays are all over Los Angeles. These festive light shows dazzle and get you in the holiday spirit. Stroll through immersive light displays, wander through Christmas lights in gardens, zoos, and farms, climb aboard a holiday lights train, or enjoy a Christmas light show by the water. 

If that's not enough holiday lights in Los Angeles for you, festive SoCal neighborhoods go all out with their annual decorating traditions to treat Angelenos to some incredible neighborhood holiday light displays. For even more holiday fun, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Los Angeles.  

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Orlando

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens transforms into the Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild at night! Photo courtesy of the zoo

For many Orlando families, local Christmas light shows are a treasured holiday tradition. These holiday lights are a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, and Orlando has no shortage of options. From dazzling Christmas light displays at the theme parks to lighted boat parades, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to see Christmas lights here in Central Florida.

Get an exclusive look at the magic of the holidays at Give Kids the World Village via a Holiday Nights; enjoy one of the many lighted parades, by land and by sea, throughout Central Florida; and awe at the Christmas lights from the comfort of your own car during Magic of Lights. Read on for the very best holiday light displays around Orlando and Central Florida. For more dazzling light shows in local neighborhoods, check out our awesome list of Christmas Light Displays in Orlando Neighborhoods.

Where to Take Photos with Santa in NYC 2025

Sit on Santa's lap at Historic Richmond Town, which transforms into an old-time Dickens Village for the holidays. Photo courtesy of Historic Richmond Town

Santa Claus is coming to town, and New York City kids have plenty of places to take pictures with Santa this season. From the heartwarming experience at Macy's Santaland to appearances at area malls—Santa is popping up and posing all over town.

Read on for our favorite spots to take pictures with Santa all across the five boroughs, many of which are completely FREE. You can also snap pictures with Santa at these brunches, teas, and cruises. Our NYC Kids' Guide to Christmas and the Holidays offers even more holiday fun.

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