Gilchrist Farm is well-known for its picturesque pumpkin patch and fun-filled Halloween celebration, but many families don't know that the excitement continues well into the Christmas season! Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at the Santa Clarita destination with free general admission and free parking, no less.

On Saturdays and Sundays beginning December 3rd, families can meet Santa (he's photo-ready from 10am to 3pm), watch a pony-filled holiday parade featuring a real fire truck, antique tractors and delivering Santa to the event (the hullabaloo starts at 10am), cheer on the Jingle Pigs during regular hog races (catch 'em at noon and 3pm), and so much more. You can even reserve a seat at a private pancake breakfast with Father Christmas himself for an additional fee.

Whether you're hanging with the Big Guy or exploring the farm festivities, Gilchrist has all the nostalgia you're probably craving at this time of year, plus it makes for some darling photos for the memory book, too. Here's the scoop on what to know before you go.

Toys for Tots and Spark of Love are two great places to donate toys in Los Angeles. Here are our favorite ways to make the holidays merry and bright for a whole bunch of LA kids.

Christmas is a tough time to be in need; donating toys during the holiday season can truly change the lives of kids in need and showing our children how the community rallies to help our own is a lovely illustration of what the holidays are truly about. Volunteering with our kids is a great holiday tradition when we can manage it, but even when we can't, there is joy in passing along some of last year's unused gifts before finding out what Santa delivers this season. Or when we shop for Christmas or Hanukkah, maybe we could add just one extra item for a child in need. It's a great way to teach our kids about the true joys of the season: giving!

Below are some great places to bring both kinds of toy donations—new and even gently used—to spread around some of that holiday joy. For more ways to celebrate this holiday season, check out our Guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Events for Los Angeles Families.

Few things signal the holiday season in NYC like the unveiling of the spectacular Christmas window displays at Midtown Manhattan’s department stores. One of our favorite annual traditions, a holiday windows walk is a rite of the Christmas season in NYC. Below we're offering a sneak peek at the glorious Christmas window displays lighting up the city from Bloomingdale's to Macy’s with Bergdorf and Saks in between. Find more stunning holiday lights displays and seasonal things to do in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC, including a profile of American Christmas, the Westchester workshop that has a hand in mounting many of the stunning holiday decorations along Fifth Avenue.

Looking for the best holiday day trips from Long Island this year? Check out our roundup below. 

While we all have plenty to do this time of year, it's important we remember to schedule some family time to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season.

While there's no shortage of holiday happenings on Long Island, there's also a lot going on nearby that makes for a fantastic day trip or quick weekend getaway. From Manhattan to Mystic and Westchester to Pennsylvania, we've rounded up some perfect holiday trips for your family to consider this year.

For more seasonal entertainment suggestions, check out our guide to holiday fun on Long Island, our roundup of great December things to do, and our events calendar.

We're over-the-top excited that the awe-inspiring Dyker Heights Christmas lights, aka the "Dyker Lights," are already going up. Annually, the Brooklyn neighborhood mounts block-after-block of stunning holiday lights. It's a joyful exercise in holiday excess that lands it on our list of 100 things to do in NYC with kids before they grow up. The Dyker Heights Christmas lights annually draw throngs of visitors to gawk at the nightly displays.

Read on for the details on this festive neighborhood-wide installation of holiday cheer, plus tips on the best ways to get to the Dyker Heights Christmas lights. Find more can't-miss holiday fun in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC for Families.

Connecticut families have holiday volunteering opportunities, where they can brighten the holidays for others. Connecticut kids have a lot of love to give, but finding the right place for them to show it can sometimes be challenging. The holiday season is a great time to give to the community and teach kids priceless life lessons. Get them involved at every stage (from shopping to delivering) so that they can get the most out of it.

Of course, don't forget to check local activities in your town for other opportunities! Local charities are often most flexible in offering space to young volunteers.

Looking for fun and festive holiday events to attend with the family too? Take a peek at these 25 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in New England and around Connecticut.

Looking for volunteering opportunities in Westchester this holiday season? Read on for several options in the area. 

The holiday season is a great time to give your time and talents to worthy causes, and there is no shortage of ways to help out around Westchester. Whether you volunteer regularly or are just looking into it for the first time, we've got lots of ways your family can get involved in the community. All those listed here welcome kids and teens—and could absolutely turn into the start of a new family tradition.

Read on for several ideas, and be sure to check out our Holiday Guide for even more family activities.

If you’re looking for some great winter fun for your family, consider visiting Ice Castles. These amazing structures, made up of over 20 million pounds of ice, are a sparkly, magical experience for both grown-ups and kids. And with Ice Castles in New Hampshire, Minnesota, New York, and Utah—as well as the famous Lake Geneva Ice Castles in Wisconsin—there just may be one near your home or within a short drive for a quick getaway.

From what to wear to what to expect, we have all the details about visiting these magical Ice Castles with kids. For more ideas on what do this winter, check out our favorite outdoor winter activities for kids and our Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snow Sports Guide.

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