Dress in white for the throwing of colors at the Holi festival in Hawthorne this May. Photo courtesy of the festival
32 Best Spring Festivals and Fairs in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Families
The weeping cherry blossoms nestled in Boscobel's formal garden are stunning in the spring.
Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Celebrate the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival in Hastings-on-Hudson this April. Photo courtesy of the festival
Best Free and Fun Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids April 2024
Summer camps are a great way to make new friends and develop new skills
GUIDE
Summer Camps Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
Wander one of the many kid-friendly trails in Westchester for a lovely spring break hike.
Spring Break 2024: 25 Fun Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Hop the ferry to Governors Island to explore all the island has to offer. Photo by Diana Kim
33 Spring Staycations and Spring Day Trips from NYC for Families
Take to the skies on Legoland New York's new Minifigure Skyflyer. Rendering courtesy of the resort
From Six Flags' The Flash to Legoland's Minifigure Skyflyer Here Are the Top Attractions Coming to Theme Parks near You
Explore what makes things fly with the Westchester Children's Museum's Wind Tunnel Design Challenge. Photo courtesy of the museum
Visiting the Westchester Children's Museum in Rye: New and Ongoing Exhibits
Aspiring artists love the 3-hour workshops at MADE Art Studio in Mamaroneck,
Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Kids can climb the walls at the Cliffs in Valhalla. Photo courtesy of the Cliffs
29 Things To Do on a Rainy Day Indoors in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
The Play Place in Elmsford is one of Westchester's top indoor play spaces.
Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Westchester
Kids can peek into the marine life in the aquariums at the Marine Education Center in Mamaroneck. Photo by Susan Miele
19 Free Things To Do Indoors in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Indoor Places to Play on Cold and Rainy Days
Roam the the cedar walk and gardens at Caramoor for a free, fun outing. Photo by Gabe Palacio
50 Free Things To Do with Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Tig & Peach offers drop-in, no reservations required, open play 7 days a week.
7 Indoor Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for a Wild Romp
GUIDE
Westchester & Hudson Valley Winter Activities Guide
Big-name Broadway shows like &Juliet come at a premium prices, but there are ways to save on Broadway tickets. Photo by Aka NYC.
Discount Broadway Tickets: Six Ways to Save Big on Broadway Shows
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
Tour the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, an annual rite of fall. Courtesy Historic Hudson Valley
100 Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley Before Kids Grow Up
Kids love a birthday party filled with games and pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. Photo courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Westchester
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Fun for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
Romp through the woods in the beautiful Catskills. Photo by Deborah Dadlani
The Catskills with Kids: 25 Fun Things To Do in New York Catskills
Head to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum from 5-8 pm on the third Saturday of the month to explore the museum for free, Photo by the author
Free Museums and Museum Days in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Kids can run, swing, slide, and even make music at Sally’s Dream Playground. Photo by the author
Top Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
GUIDE
Classes Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
These kids' movies are classic hits!
75 Best Movies for Kids: Top Family Movie Night Ideas
Westchester kids will love a visit during FREE hours at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. Photo by KD
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do with Westchester Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in Westchester & the Hudson Valley
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids
Journey with Simba and Rafiki into the jungle in
Best Things To Do with Kids this Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

20 Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley November 2023 with Kids

Guests will be dazzled and delighted along the 1.2 miles of holiday lights at Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza. Photo courtesy of the event
Guests will be dazzled and delighted along the 1.2 miles of holiday lights at Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza. Photo courtesy of the event
10/29/23 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

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. This year includes the Festival of Lights at Harvest Moon, the Westchester Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru, and the return of the Polar Express-themed train ride through the Catskills. For even more festive fun, don't miss Frosty Day in Armonk, the Holiday Kickoff at the Hudson River Museum, and the opening of the holiday train shows at Greenburgh Nature Center and Lasdon Park. 

Find more top November fun in our Fall Fun Guide, including our roundup of fabulous fall hikes. And, as you get ready for Thanksgiving, make reservations at one of these restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, or get ready for Turkey Day with some of our favorite Thanksgiving crafts, games, and activities.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Celebrate the season at the festively decorated Holiday on the Hill Train Show at Lasdon Park. Photo by the author
Celebrate the season at the festively decorated Holiday on the Hill Train Show at Lasdon Park. Photo by the author

Top Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley With Kids This November

Day of the Dead Celebration

New Rochelle–FREE
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Learn about the cultural history of Dia de Muertos in this program by Calpulli Mexican Dance Company featuring songs, dances, and stories. Selections from the company repertoire include folk, native, and contemporary works developed across the company’s nearly 20 year history. READ MORE

Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift

White Plains
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Enjoy your favorites by Taylor Swift played by the Highline String Quartet under the glow of candlelight.  READ MORE

Diwali: A Celebration of Lights

White Plains–FREE
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Families can enjoy traditional Indian dances performed by children to celebrate Diwali and learn about the history and cultural significance of the holiday. READ MORE

Children & Families at Storm King - Make Kinetic Sculptures

New Windsor
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Explore Storm King Art Center, the gorgeous 500-acre outdoor museum, and build your own sculpture using a variety of everyday objects. Take inspiration from kinetic sculptures at Storm King and work with artist Gerbo to learn techniques to make a work of art that comes alive with movement READ MORE

Polar Express Train Ride

Kingston
Opens Friday, November 17, 2023
Set to the sounds of the motion picture, passengers relive the classic story as they are whisked away on The Polar Express for a magical trip to the North Pole. Once on board, the conductor works their way through the coach to punch your golden ticket as you’re served hot chocolate and a cookie by dancing chefs, while passengers read the classic children’s book. READ MORE

Festival of Lights at Harvest Moon

North Salem
Opens Friday, November 17, 2023
Formerly Lumagica, the Festival of Lights is Harvest Moon's new walk-through holiday light experience. More than half a million lights transform the orchard into a magical forest. READ MORE

Holiday Train Show

Greenburgh
Weekends beginning Saturday, November 18, 2023
The Holiday Train Show returns to the Greenburgh Nature Center for four weekends, featuring a special 12-foot-by-18-foot display of model trains traveling through countryside scenes. READ MORE

Annual New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade

New Rochelle–FREE
Saturday, November 18, 2023
The City of New Rochelle hosts its 59th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring bands, assorted marchers, giant balloons, floats, marching bands, vintage cars, the PAW Patrol, clowns, fire trucks, superheroes, and more. The parade is reportedly the largest parade in New York outside of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC.   READ MORE

Stargazing Picnic & Hayride

Katonah
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Families are invited to bring a picnic dinner and take a hayride out to the farm fields to watch the stars and catch a glimpse of the Leonid Meteor Shower! Binoculars are a great tool to bring along, but participants will be able to see many bright objects in the sky without them as well. READ MORE

Camouflaging Creatures - Live Animal Program

Rye–FREE
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Kids learn about animals who camouflage in this fun program including live animals from around the world and a camouflage challenge game.  READ MORE

Children's Art Workshop: Holiday Ornaments

Yonkers–FREE
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Kids can create their own holiday ornaments out of clay in this free art workshop with artist Vicky Youngman. All materials are provided! Children with special needs are always welcome.  READ MORE

Fall Fest Weekend

Rye
Saturday, November 18-Sunday, November 19, 2023
Kids of all ages can enjoy fun fall-themed STEAM activities that celebrate the changing seasons. Hands-on activities include leaf litter microbiomes, pumpkin batteries, DIY corn maze, applesauce cinnamon dough sculptures, seed sorting, and leaf raking.    READ MORE

The Wizard of Oz Musical

Yorktown
Select dates from Saturday, November 18-Sunday, November 26, 2023
Journey to the land of Oz at this professionally produced Broadway musical performed by a professional cast. Join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion as they travel together to the Wizard of Oz in hopes he will help them.  READ MORE

The Wonderland of Lights

Rhinebeck
Opens Wednesday, November 22, 2023
This spectacular drive-thru holiday light experience returns to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. The attraction features dozens of illuminated exhibits along a mile-long route.  READ MORE

Peace, Love & Lights

Bethel
Opens Friday, November 24, 2023
This drive-thru light experience on the site of the Woodstock Festival returns with even more lights, with themed displays depicting New York and holidays around the world plus special rock-n'-roll-themed displays honoring the site's history. After the drive, check out the Holiday Hub, where you can dine by the fire with comfort food, a DIY s’mores kit, holiday drinks, and more. READ MORE

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza

Valhalla
Opens Friday, November 24, 2023
This holiday lights extravaganza returns to Kensico Dam Plaza bigger and better than ever, with thousands more lights, magical holiday animations, and a live Santa. READ MORE

Holiday Kickoff at the Hudson River Museum

Yonkers
Friday, November 24-Sunday, November 26, 2023
Enjoy this weekend-long event at the Hudson River Museum, which celebrates both Thanksgiving and December holidays. View the night sky in a holiday-edition planetarium show, and tour Victorian Glenview, which is decked out in its holiday finery. Plus, don’t miss Stories from the People of the Longhouse with Master Storyteller Perry Ground on Friday afternoon and the Shadow Masks workshop with puppetry and theater artist Sarah Provost on Saturday. READ MORE

Thanksgiving Weekend at the Wildlife Education Center

Cornwall
Friday, November 24-Sunday, November 26, 2023
Spend the post-holiday weekend with the animals at the Wildlife Education Center  and hear about what they had for their Thanksgiving meal. “Meet the Animals” is back for this special weekend, with presentations on the half hour of every session. READ MORE

Frosty Day

Armonk–FREE
Sunday, November 26, 2023
The holiday song "Frosty the Snowman" is reportedly based on Armonk, and the town celebrates its claim to fame in a big way. This year's event features a rousing parade "down to the village," a tree-lighting ceremony, entertainers, train rides, a magician, clowns, crafts, cartoons, and more.  READ MORE

Holiday on the Hill Train Show

Somers
Opens Sunday, November 26, 2023
Celebrate the season at this festively decorated train show at Lasdon Park. Stroll through the outdoor exhibits, then watch the elaborate train show. Afterward, meet with Santa! READ MORE

Places featured in this article: