27 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Atlanta for Kids

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights returns to Atlanta Botanical Garden for an amazing Christmas lights event. Photo courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Garden

'Tis the season for holiday activities around Atlanta! Families looking for wholesome merriment have plenty of options this holiday season, including Illuminights at Zoo Atlanta and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Center for Puppetry Arts. You can't go wrong with one of Atlanta's biggest holiday mainstays and Christmas events, Stone Mountain Park Christmas or try something new like Elf the Musical at the Fox Theatre. Feeling nostalgic for Atlanta holiday traditions? The Pink Pig will once again be at the Georgia Festival of Trees. We've included even more great ideas to have an amazing Atlanta Christmas with kids!

33 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Orlando for Kids

Dazzling Nights is back at Leu Gardens with its dazzling winter wonderland of lights. Photo by Creative City Project

Get ready for Orlando Christmas events that are fun and family-friendly this holiday season, including theme park holiday lights, holiday parades, Christmas tree ceremonies, and more! The theme parks offer major fun, like more than 3 million lights on display at SeaWorld Orlando or a magical Harry Potter Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort. Families can visit the charming town of Mount Dora for a lighted boat parade, experience ICE! at Gaylord Palms, enjoy a Florida "snowfall" at Celebration Town Center, and more.

15 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Westchester for Kids 2025

Untermyer Gardens Conservancy's Grand Holiday Illumination has become a Yonkers tradition. Photo courtesy of the conservancy

This year's must-do Christmas events and holiday activities in Westchester include a wintry mix of spectacles, tree-lighting ceremonies, Santa sightings, and other fun. We’ve got the lowdown on top holiday attractions to keep your family’s spirits high.

Westchester's many festive holiday displays include Holiday Lane at American Christmas, a walk-through Christmas wonderland featuring more than 100,000 twinkling lights, friendly animatronic characters, and nine enchanting themed areas.

Families can also drive through 100-foot light tunnels and meet Santa and other characters at the Westchester Winter Wonderland's Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza.

Find even more ways to celebrate the season in our curated Christmas and Holiday Guide for Westchester Families. We're busy populating our Family Activity Calendar with loads of fun throughout the holidays, so keep close tabs to stay informed.

20 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities on Long Island in 2025

LuminoCity returns to Long Island with another stunning installation at Eisenhower Park. Photo courtesy of LuminoCity

Looking for the best holiday activities and Christmas events on Long Island for kids? Read on for our top picks.  

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Long Island! We’ve rounded up the most magical family-friendly holiday events, from dazzling lantern festivals and drive-thru light shows to free favorites like the Animated Story at Hicks Nurseries and Huntington Holiday Spectacular.

Plus, don’t miss must-do classics like LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park and the Jones Beach Light Show, because nothing says holiday cheer like twinkling lights and smiling kids.

We've got plenty more ways to make seasonal memories in our Long Island Guide to Holiday Fun

21 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New Jersey for Kids in 2025

The Turtle Back Zoo holiday lights show in West Orange is one of our top picks for family fun this Christmas. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner

Looking for the best holiday activities and Christmas events in New Jersey? Read on for our top picks in the Garden State in 2025. 

Make your list—and check it twice—because we've got all the details you need for annual must-do holiday experiences and top Christmas events in New Jersey. These Christmas events and holiday activities, including annual favorites like PNC Arts Center Magic of Lights, and newcomer Winter Wonderland at Holland Ridge Farms, are sure to get everyone in the seasonal spirit over the next few weeks. 

You can also stay up to date with family-friendly holiday fun in our Family Activity Calendar and find more Christmas events and holiday hoopla in our seasonal Holiday Guide for New Jersey Families.

Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is a must-see holiday destination in NYC. Photo courtesy of the New York Botanical Gardens

When it comes to holiday activities in NYC, locals know that even though there's a week of Kwanzaa, eight nights of Hanukkah, and 12 days of Christmas, the holiday season in NYC really lasts from early November through New Year's Eve. That's almost two months of only-in-NY holiday activities and special Christmas events.

Of course, not all Christmas events and holiday activities are created equal. That's why we've rounded up the absolute best ways to get into the spirit of the season. Here is our curated list of must-do holiday activities and Christmas events in NYC in 2025. Consider this seasonal bucket list our gift to you. Below, we're detailing a dozen NYC Christmas events and holiday activities sure to give your family a season of happy memories.

Our picks for New York City's top holiday activities are a mix of classic favorites, like the star-studded Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and new classics, like the return of the beloved Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. You'll find plenty more family-friendly seasonal celebrations in our NYC Kids' Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Holiday Fun, which includes picks for everything from Christmas towns near NYC to the best Nutcracker ballets for kids, and more sweet seasonal treats.

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