Veterans Day Weekend 2025 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do with Kids

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The Yorktown Veterans Day Parade offers plenty of pageantry and community spirit on Sunday, November 9. Photo courtesy of Troop 173 via Facebook

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 holiday festivities this Veterans Day weekend when the Holiday Experience at Christmas in America opens for the season, and it's now completely free! Santa visits during Saturday's opening festivities. For outdoor fun, families can head to the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum's Hawk Walk, where kids can even hold a hawk.

Veterans Day 2025 also means the return of many tributes in local towns, including the Yorktown Veterans Day Parade on Sunday, and a Veterans Day Commemoration at St. Paul's Church in Mount Vernon on Tuesday's holiday. Kids can also listen to stories from local veterans at the Westchester Children's Museum's special Veterans Day Celebration.

Veterans Day Weekend 2025 on Long Island: Best Things To Do with Kids

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Photo courtesy of Circus Vasquez

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.

There are plenty of things to do on Long Island with kids this Veterans Day weekend, including kicking off the holiday season at the Jingle Bell Bash and Annual Tree Lighting at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, where you can take pics with Santa and hang out with some live reindeer. Check out our calendar for more things to do on Veterans Day itself, Tuesday, November 11, 2025. 

Other top things to do this weekend include enjoying a holiday lights experience at LuminoCity, which returns to Long Island's Eisenhower Park with a new luminescent theme, and getting cozy with some furry farm animals during Patchogue's annual free Walk-Through Zoo.

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

Veterans Day Weekend 2025 in New Jersey: Best Things To Do with Kids

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The Bergen County Zoo's holiday lantern show, "Let It Glow," opens this week. Photo courtesy of the zoo

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

Many New Jersey students are looking forward to a 4-day NJEA Convention, pre-Veterans Day weekend, and we've got plenty of ideas for how to keep kids busy.  

The holiday season is off to a bright and early start with the kickoff of Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular, with larger-than-life glowing animals throughout the Bergen County Zoo. The malls are also gearing up for the holidays, with Westfield Garden State Plaza hosting the Big Santa Lighting and Drone Show.

For more school break fun, check out 25 Things to Do in New Jersey During November 2025 School Holidays, and with the holiday season starting to rev up, check our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events. 

Veterans Day Weekend 2025 in NYC: Best Things To Do with Kids

Drew Kristofik's picture Submitted by Drew Kristofik on

The Big Apple Circus puts up its big top in Damrosch Park for a seasonal run beginning Friday night. Photo courtesy of Big Apple Circus

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

Tuesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and that means it's time for the biggest celebration of service in the United States: the NYC Veterans Day Parade. You can also salute our military at the Intrepid Museum's wreath ceremony.

More weekend fun includes catching up with the zany troupe of the Big Apple Circus when it opens at Lincoln Center on Friday, and welcoming the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree with a day-long festival of fun on Saturday. You can also celebrate reading at the Brooklyn Children's Book Fair.

Philadelphia Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

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Treat the family to Thanksgiving buffet at Bank and Bourbon. Photo courtesy of the restaurant

The meal takes center stage on Thanksgiving Day, but if you'd rather forget the dirty dishes, grocery shopping, and hours of cooking, there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Philly for a hassle-free holiday. Catch the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning, then relax the rest of the day knowing that the family meal is being handled by the professionals. If you want to enjoy fine dining but don't want to change out of sweatpants, plenty of establishments also offer convenient pickup options.

Reservations are required or strongly encouraged for all of the following restaurants as many fill up in advance. Pre-orders for pickup are also required. Gear up for the rest of the holiday season with our Holiday and Christmas Activity Guide. 

Where To Find Free Turkey in NYC for Thanksgiving Dinner 2025

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Many organizations throughout New York City are offering free turkey giveaways, plus full, hot Thanksgiving dinners this season. Photo by John McCarten for the New York City Council

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and we know many local families are struggling and could use the help of one of these local organizations offering a free turkey in NYC.

Inflation, job loss, and the extended government shutdown have left many New Yorkers facing food insecurity. With that in mind, we've rounded up 13 local organizations that are stepping up to ensure all who need help filling their tables or getting a hot meal this Thanksgiving can. From free turkey giveaways to take-out options and free holiday meals, here's a helpful guide to where to get help this holiday season.

If you're fortunate enough to have a full pantry and pocketbook, consider donating to one of these exceptional organizations to help others across the city, and put the "thanks" in Thanksgiving by lending a hand at one of these local Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities. You can find more ways to spend the day in our New York City Kids' Guide to Thanksgiving.

Kids Can Find Confidence and Calm with the Help of Horses at these New Jersey Stables

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Sensory Staples lets kids get close to a variety of farm animals, including its friendly horses. Photo courtesy of Sensory Stables

The bond between humans and horses has lasted thousands of years. There’s something so powerful and unspoken in the relationship that it seems natural to look to our companions to help enrich our children’s education. Equine-assisted learning programs have been on the rise at New Jersey stables. Interested in learning more and how to introduce your kids to this activity? I was, too, so I decided to visit a local program in Sussex County to find out more.

Read on to learn about where your kids can enjoy some equine-assisted learning at New Jersey stables and find more kid-friendly classes in our New Jersey Kids Guide to Classes.

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