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Best Things To Do with Kids During Christmas Vacation in NYC

1. Go to Governors Island

See Governors Island in a whole new season and explore the Island's 172-acres, gorgeous views, and cozy food and drink options.

2. Run Away to the Big Apple Circus

Get tickets to the Big Apple Circus to see its beautiful collaboration with the famed Circus Theater Roncalli, which has landed the production on our list of the best holiday shows in NYC for families in 2023. A new block of tickets was just added!

3. Take in a Train Show

Though the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show is the main event; you can also see trains at the New-York Historical Society and the Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal, which is FREE.

RELATED: 14 Inexpensive Winter Weekend Getaways from NYC for Families

Jump into a world of balloons at the Balloon Museum. Photo by author

4. Explore the Balloon Museum

Play, touch, and feel your way through the Balloon Museum, a space filled with hypnotic visual effects and colorful, light-filled worlds created by talented visual artists from across the US.

5. Watch the Animals Shine

Visit the animal-inspired lanterns at the Bronx Zoo. The much-loved holiday tradition returns, lighting the grounds with wildlife-themed LED displays, custom Asian lanterns, and animated light shows.

6. Be Enchanted by The Nutcracker

Catch a live performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Theater.

7. Visit the Harry Potter Exhibition

Stop by the Harry Potter exhibition, sure to delight Harry Potter fans with powerful storytelling and innovative, interactive technology. Original props and costumes from the films are also on display.

8. Play Tourist at the Statue of Liberty

If you haven't been to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island lately, it's time to make the trek. The Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened in 2019, is worth the visit alone. Pro tip: Head there straight from the boat while everyone else beelines for the statue, and you'll have the run of the place.

9. Visit an Observation Deck

Brave the lines at one of the soaring observation decks in NYC to get a new perspective on the city.

10. See A Christmas Carol

Enjoy this captivating one-hour performance created from Dickens’ own script of A Christmas Carol—all while surrounded by 19th-century holiday decorations, flickering candles, and richly appointed period furnishings.

11. Go on a Hot Chocolate Crawl

Warm up with a cup of frothy, chocolatey goodness at one of Manhattan's best hot chocolate spots.

12. Visit NYSCI

There's always something new going on at the New York Hall of Science, where you can enjoy seasonal installations, like SciSkate, plus the new Bubbles Experiment, and plenty of old favorites.

RELATED: Christmas in New York: 49 Holiday Activities To Do in NYC Before Kids Grow Up

Enjoy the illuminated tunnel at Lightscape with hot chocolate in hand. Photo by Ros Muggeridge

13. Be Bright at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Lightscape shines brilliantly for a third consecutive year with the return of dazzling installations like Winter Cathedral along with lots of new visual stunners.

14. Shop and Play at Camp

Explore Camp, which now has four city locations; its flagship Flatiron store is currently hosting an interactive Trolls x Camp experience. Have little ones at home? Bring them to the Paw Patrol Experience at Camp in Columbus Circle.

15. Go Out for High Tea

Dress up and head to one of our top picks for the best places for high tea in NYC.

16. Explore a Tasty Exhibit

Don't miss The Gingerbread City, a delicious new pop-up at the South Street Seaport. A popular annual event in London, 2023 marks the first time the exhibit has made its way overseas. The exhibit includes spicy aromas and candy-coated cityscapes you don’t want to miss.

17. Visit NYC's Only Farm

Visit the Queens County Farm Museum and check out its nature-inspired light display at the NYC Winter Lantern Festival.

18. Day Trip to American Dream Mall

Dedicate a day to exploring the massive American Dream Mall in New Jersey, which is packed with family-friendly destinations like the Nickelodeon Universe theme park and a DreamWorks Water Park.

RELATED: Where To See The Nutcracker in NYC in 2023

Participate in Kwanzaa festivities at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

19. Celebrate Kwanzaa at BCM

Head to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation's annual Kwanzaa celebration. Learn about Kwanzaa’s seven principles with live performances, workshops, art projects, and festive cuisine each day.

20. Hit the Slopes for Winter Sports

Now's the time for a quick snow tubing, snowboarding, skiing, or other winter sports adventure.

21. Ring in the New Year

Celebrate 2024 in style by wearing wacky hats of your own design and making some noise with your own New Year’s noise makers at the Children's Museum of Manhattan's New Year's Eve Extravaganza.

22. Explore Industry City

Browse everything Industry City has to offer, including the alfresco ice skating rink, the curated book collection at Powerhouse@IC, and the indoor games room.

23. Visit the Sloomoo Institute

Get messy during a visit to the Sloomoo Institute in Soho for an over-the-top sensory experience.

24. Check Out a Museum

There are plenty of exhibitions and programs to explore at the American Museum of Natural History, including its new ode to The Secret Life of Elephants. Find even more options on our list of the best museums for kids in NYC.

25. Go Ice Skating

Check out one of NYC's outdoor ice skating spots, including Glide, the new rink in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

26. Make Some Bucket List Memories

Start working through our roundup of 100 things to do in NYC with kids before they grow up.

Fun Free Things To Do on Christmas Vacation in NYC

27. Bronx Children's Museum

Have a been-there, seen-all-the-museums kind of kid? They'll be wowed by the Bronx Children's Museum in the South Bronx.

28. Enjoy Kids Week

The Urban Park Rangers are putting on fun, FREE programming in all five boroughs all week long. So, bundle up and get outside to enjoy everything from seal exploration to campfire chats and more.

29. Be Dazzled in Dyker Heights

Take a trip to the outer boroughs to check out the over-the-top holiday light displays, including Brooklyn's famously decked-out houses in Dyker Heights.

30. Snap a Photo Beneath a Christmas Tree

Rockefeller Center isn't the only go-to spot. You can find a stunning tree in Bryant Park and countless other Christmas trees around town.

31. Sing Your Holiday Heart Out

Go caroling on Christmas Eve in Washington Square Park, where The Rob Susman Brass Quartet leads a traditional sing-along.

32. Stroll the Windows

Take a holiday windows walk and marvel at stunning department store Christmas windows and other awesome seasonal sights in Midtown Manhattan.

33. Breathe the Fresh Air

Bring the whole family to the winter recess program in Prospect Park, which features seasonal discovery stations and nature-themed activities that introduce families to the plants, insects, and animals that call the park home.

34. Catch Some FREE Culture

Reacquaint yourself with a favorite museum or discover somewhere new when you use your library card to get into 66 NYC museums and gardens free of charge.

35. Find More Free Things

We made a list, so you can check it twice: How many of our free holiday events have you checked off?

This article, originally published in December 2012, is updated annually.