Veterans Day Weekend 2023 in Orlando: Holiday Lights, Parades, and More Things To Do With Kids

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the most magical holiday tradition, returns to Magic Kingdom on select nights beginning November 9.

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

Honor veterans and military personnel this Veterans Day weekend at Celebration's Founders and Veterans ParadeCity of Orlando Veterans Day Parade, and more dignified events. Get into the seasonal spirit early with several holiday and Christmas events kicking off this weekend! Step into a winter wonderland of lights at Island H2O's Holiday Nights. Visit the theme parks as holiday festivities return with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration. Plus more fun events to fill up your long weekend!

As we get deeper into November, we've got all your needs covered! Skip the Thanksgiving cooking and cleaning this year and use our article about Orlando restaurants open on Thanksgiving for assistance! And get a jump on holiday fun by checking out the top holiday and Christmas events coming to Orlando this year. If you haven't already, subscribe to our email list to receive updates about everything happening around Orlando. 

Veterans Day Weekend 2023 on Long Island: Best Things To Do with Kids

The Masters of Illusion brings a night of magic to the stage at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury. Photo courtesy of NYCB Theatre at Westbury

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

Veterans Day falls on Saturday this year, and there are plenty of things to do on Long Island with kids that day, including a visit to the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.

Other top things to do this weekend include celebrating the season at LuminoCity, which has returned to Long Island in a new location at Eisenhower Park. Or, kick off your shoes for some Snowflake Sock Skating at the Long Island Children's Museum.

Of course, it's not too early to start plotting your holiday outings with this list of 25 must-do Christmas and holiday activities on Long Island.

Veterans Day Weekend 2023 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do

See dazzling displays and sparkling lights at the American Christmas walk-through display in Mount Vernon. Photo courtesy of American Christmas

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

Families can get a head start on the holiday festivities this Veterans Day at the opening weekend of Legoland New York's Holiday Bricktacular and also at American Christmas's Holiday Lane. Veterans Day 2023 also means the return of many tributes in local towns, including Veterans Day parades in Somers and Yorktown. Other fun family events this weekend include pumpkin smashing and a skating party with the Snow Sisters.   

Don't miss our review of the best museums for kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, which are also great options for weekend fun. Get a jump-start on the holidays by shopping at these local holiday fairs and craft markets or booking a Polar Express train ride. If that's not enough, bookmark our list of the best things to do this November and our Family Activity Calendar, which is constantly updated with new things to do as we find them.

Veterans Day Weekend 2023 in San Francisco: 11 Best Things To Do With Kids

Honor our veterans. Veteran's Day photo courtesy of  the Presidio of Monterrey, via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area this Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this long weekend!

Saturday is Veterans Day, and some honorable events are happening all over the Bay Area. Celebrate the holiday at the USS Hornet Museum, or enjoy free admission at the Peanuts Museum for the Veteran's Day Dedication. Then, jam out at a family Golden Gate Bandshell Concert with Charity and the JAMband. 

You could also take advantage of Free National Park Day with a day trip to Yosemite or Muir Woods. Or, head over to the Oakland Zoo for the opening weekend of Glowfari

Soak up some local fall fun with fabulous family road trips, and discover more autumn adventures in our Fall Fun Guide for San Francisco Bay Area Families.

Best Indoor and Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Houston for Kids and Families

Ice at the Galleria provides year-round ice skating in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Galleria

Can you go ice skating in Houston? Yes, there are even some outdoor ice skating rinks. For some frosty festivity this winter (yes, even in Texas), don your ice skates and head out to one of these great ice skating rinks near Houston for some fun on your feet. Whether you're looking for ice skating lessons or some holiday activities the whole family can enjoy, these six ice skating rinks near Houston offer everything from indoor shopping breaks at the mall to Christmas events under the stars. While some of these are open year-round, others are seasonal set-ups that generally start in November and run through January. For even more family-friendly winter merriment, check out our holiday train ride or Christmas village outing ideas. 

See the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation with Kids

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is an event unto itself. See the larger-than-life balloons come to life the night before the parade. Photo by Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0

Thanksgiving in New York City wouldn’t be what it is without the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you're eager to take your kids to glimpse those giant balloons and don’t want to rise before dawn, visit the area near the American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, to watch the giants come to life during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation.

While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is far from crowd-free, it’s an only-in-New York event all its own—and one of our must-do holiday events for families. Read on for tips on when to go and where to eat. In need of more holiday inspiration? Visit our NYC Kids Thanksgiving Fun Guide.

Best Kids' Ride On Toys for Kids of All Ages for a Gift That Will WOW

The Licensed Land Rover Ride On Car Toy is one of the coolest ride on toys for kids.

Ride on toys are the perfect gift to give a child if you really want to "wow" them. After all, what's more fun than zooming around town—or the house—on two, three, or four wheels? Plus, many kids' ride on toys have the added benefit of building balance, coordination, muscle strength, and fine motor schools.

We've rounded up 21 of the best ride on toys for kids of all ages, from toddlers all the way through teens (and even adults). These kids' ride on toys run the gamut from ride on horse toys to scooters to tricked-out electric cars for kids. With these ride on toys, your kiddo will surely be cruising the neighborhood in style.

Find more awesome gifts for kids, from the best first birthday gifts to the best gifts for tweens and teens, in our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide.

Free Turkeys in New Jersey for Thanksgiving 2023

A number of New Jersey organizations offer free turkey giveaways this holiday season. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Free turkey meals in New Jersey offer help to families who may not have the financial means to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal they deserve. Many churches, soup kitchens, and charities throughout New Jersey offer free turkey giveaways or full, hot Thanksgiving dinners this season.

Read on for details on where to find these services, and if you're fortunate enough to have a full pantry and pocketbook, keep in mind that many of these nonprofits need help now more than ever, so consider reaching out to donate.

In addition to helping families fill their Thanksgiving table, we've also rounded up a collection of resources and organizations ready to supply free toys for the upcoming holiday season.

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