20 Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids November 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Ridge Hill's tree lighting ceremony will include live music and entertainment. Photo courtesy of Ridge Hill

November brings loads of things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley as the area gears up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving—and then it's full steam ahead to the holiday season!

November kicks off the season of holiday celebrations with the opening of Christmas exhibitions and light shows, including Holiday Lane at Christmas in America, the Westchester Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru, and a Polar Express-themed train ride through the Catskills. This year's opening weekend of the Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru will be a walkthrough experience featuring a holiday market, Santa fun run, and an all-new mascot dash. 

Other kid favorites this season include the Holiday Train Show at Greenburgh Nature Center as well as the return of Legoland New York's Holiday Bricktacular, featuring festive holiday performances, meet-and-greets with Lego Santa and other characters, an ice skating rink, and more. 

15 Best Things To Do in NJ with Kids November 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Demarest Farms is adorned with holiday lights this season as its popular Orchard of Lights returns for another holiday run. Photo courtesy of the farm

November brings loads of things to do in the Garden State as New Jersey gears up for holidays that include Veterans Day and Thanksgiving—and then it's full steam ahead to the holiday season!

If you're hoping for a mellow month following Halloween's sugar high, that's just not going to happen! Holiday lights illuminate the season at favorite holiday light shows like the PNC Arts Center Magic of LightsOrchard of Lights at Demarest Farms, and the new U-Pick Tulips: Winter Wonderland at Holland Ridge Farms.

Plus, Santa starts making his rounds later in the month at Cape May County Zoo's Santa's Tree Lighting Celebration and the Holiday Tree Lighting at Physick Estate.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  

24 Best Things To Do in NYC with Kids November 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

See your favorite characters come to life at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation. Photo by Eugene Gologursky/courtesy of Macy's.

November brings plenty of things to do in NYC as we gear up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in NYC this month.

November ushers in the holiday season in NYC and now's the time to book tickets to our most anticipated holiday events. We're counting down the days to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon inflation and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at the month's end. But, there's plenty of fun for city kids before those giant balloons take flight.

Families can check out the annual Canstruction exhibition at Brookfield Place or run away to the Big Apple Circus. Sparkling holiday light shows brighten the evening sky, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's enchanting Lightscape. You can even get an early start on Christmas with a Passport to Santa!

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in New York City this November—we're adding more events to the New York City Family Event Calendar every day.

Halloween Weekend 2025 on Long Island: Trick-or-Treat, Parades, and More Things To Do

Enjoy a ghostly walk through town during Raynham Hall's Halloween parade and party. Photo courtesy of the Raynham Hall Museum

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

At the WHMO Annual Halloween Festival, costumed kids can join in parades, crafts, and candy-filled games. Or, step back in time for the Halloween Ghost Walk & Party at Raynham Hall Museum, where colonial-era spirits whisper their stories as families enjoy treats and entertainment. For a free, colorful, and cultural festival, don’t miss the Día de los Muertos Family Celebration at the Heckscher Museum of Art, where families can explore art activities, music, and traditions.

Budding scientists can dive into hands-on experiments during a Spooky Science Weekend at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Ghosts and gadgets come together here for fun learning. Then, put an eco-friendly twist on Halloween cleanup at The Great Pumpkin Smash at the Science Museum of Long Island, where kids can safely smash their jack-o’-lanterns while learning about composting and sustainability.

Bookmark our Long Island Kids' Guide to Halloween Fun for more picks to keep your costumed cuties entertained all weekend, and keep this list of top trick-or-treat neighborhoods on Long Island close at hand for Friday night!

Halloween Weekend 2025 in New Jersey: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids

New Jersey is decked out for Halloween and there are plenty of great events to check out. Photo courtesy of Cape May

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

It's time to scare up some fun this weekend, which kicks off with Halloween festivities! There are plenty of Halloween activities to choose from on Friday, including Howl-O-Ween at Turtle Back Zoo, which has treat stations peppered throughout the grounds. Hoboken hosts its celebrated Ragamuffin Parade and Costume Contest, with music, floats, and creative costumes.

Celebrations continue over the weekend in honor of Day of the Dead, with activities in Princeton featuring strolling mariachis and skull decorating, and in Jersey City, with Mexican artists, dance groups, and more family fun.

We've got more seasonal treats in our New Jersey Halloween Guide, including our picks for the best places to trick-or-treat in New Jersey

Halloween Weekend 2025 in NYC: Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Parades, and More Things To Do

Dumboween is scarily entertaining, beginning with the annual March to the Arch followed by crafts, costume contests, live music, and trick-or-treating, of course! Photo by Hassan Mokaddam

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

We're in full fright mode at last, up to our eyeballs in Halloween activities. Our top picks for Halloween proper include the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade and Brooklyn's free fete, BAMBoo! When you're done parading and partying, you'll need this list of NYC's best trick-or-treat neighborhoods, so you know where to source the goodies!

The fun doesn't end on Friday, though. Day of the Dead delights abound. You can squash your squash on Saturday at Pier 84 or the Astoria Park Pumpkin Smash. Pint-sized theater-goers can see a silly musical version of Snow White at the New Victory Theater, which opens its season this weekend.

12 Meaningful Personalized Clothing Gift Ideas for 2025

Kids' artwork is just one way to create perfectly personalized gifts with Vivid Customs. Photo by Jessica Laird

It’s easy to create custom printed or embroidered t-shirts, gear, and other great gift ideas with no minimums and fast free shipping from Vivid Customs.

Now that anyone can (and does) order just about anything they want off the internet, coming up with a truly meaningful gift has gotten harder and harder. But there’s one hack that’ll keep your presents thoughtful and original: Create a personalized gift—and it’s easier and more affordable than you might think.

Based in Houston but serving families across the country, Vivid Customs specializes in custom embroidery and personalized screen printing on shirts, hats, hoodies–you name it! And with no order minimums, an easy-to-use website, plus fast free shipping or in-shop pickup, you can create fun and memorable gifts and gear for just about any occasion.

I gave Vivid Customs a try and, not only did my 6-year-old’s drawing of an axolotl look amazing embroidered on one of their comfy cotton t-shirts, but the design process was simple and customer support made sure the design came out picture perfect.

Read on for some of our favorite custom printed gear and gift ideas for kids, families, teachers, or whoever you need to impress this year, plus answers to some of the most asked questions about Vivid Customs.

Thanksgiving, Pumpkin Destruction Day, and More Holidays & Activities for November 2025

Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Photo courtesy of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

November means Thanksgiving! But that’s just one day, there are 30 more days to fill with fall activities, indoor play, turkey-basting November fun.

In addition to Thanksgiving, you can also celebrate Pumpkin Destruction Day, Love Your Freckles Day,  Evolution Day, Pickles Day, and more – all this month. Oh, and don’t worry, we’ve also rounded up all the Thanksgiving fun with days set aside for Thanksgiving movies, fall leaf crafts, and kid-friendly pumpkin recipes.

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. For more ideas for Thanksgiving activities, check out our Thanksgiving Activities Guide for Families.

Pages