Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

Christmas Weekend 2025 in NYC Top Things To Do: Caroling, Kwanzaa, and More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 12/23/2025 - 12:45pm

The eye-popping displays of the Dyker Lights are a holiday must-see in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier

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

You may still have gifts to wrap (or—gulp—shop for) and stockings to hang, but there's festive fun to be had all weekend and beyond. Some of my annual Christmas favorites include singing carols under the Washington Square Arch, catching a holiday show, and checking out the Dyker Lights.

Plus, families can celebrate Kwanzaa at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, have an intergalactic Space Glide at NYSCI, or catch the Nefesh Mountain Family Concert at the Jewish Museum.

No matter how you celebrate, Happy Holidays from the Mommy Poppins team!

Make Music, Hanukkah, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 12/19/2025 - 9:44am

Kids can enjoy hands-on Hanukkah fun at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Photo courtesy of CMOM

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

It's the weekend before Christmas, and NYC is ready to make a joyful noise during Sunday's Make Music New York festivities, which bring a cacophony to city streets, including the Bell by Bell performance at Astor Place, the Flatfoot Flatbush in Brooklyn, and more events citywide.

It's your last chance to see Santa and get those gift requests in, so consider a visit to Passport to Santa, or swing by the Paley Center for a Holiday Paw-ty with Paris and Pups.

Keep reading for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

20 Best Things To Do in NYC with Kids December 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 11/30/2025 - 5:48am

The Met Opera returns to the stage with The Magic Flute this holiday season. Photo by Richard Termine/courtesy of the Met Opera

Holiday lights, sights, and celebrations abound in NYC this December. Read on for our top things to do with kids to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.

We're plowing through the leftover turkey, and prepping for Christmas, Hanukkah, and 2025's final bow. Luckily, there's a spectacular array of kid-friendly things to do in NYC this December.

Families can witness Clara dancing her heart out during The Nutcracker at Lehman College, and MOMIX invites you to fall down the rabbit hole at The Joyce. Plus, you can get in tune for the holidays during the musical madness that is Unsilent Night.

Finally, bid farewell to 2025 during the New Year's Eve Fireworks in Prospect Park! We're channeling the holiday spirit at warp speed: be sure to check our calendar for tons more holiday festivities.

Keep our top picks for holiday must-do's handy all month long, too, and bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for easy access to all the holiday hullabaloo!

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/28/2025 - 10:41am

Santa rolls into town at the tail end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and starts taking gift requests at Santaland on Friday. Photo by Jody Mercier

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

We're grateful for so much this weekend, including two behind-the-scenes Thanksgiving Day Parade peeks: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation and Marching Bands Practice at the Seaport Museum. Then, Thursday brings the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Macy's Santaland opens Friday, serving as the gateway to the sparkly NYC holiday season.

Plus, we're anticipating classic holiday fun, like the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker at Lincoln Center and setting sail with Santa on an activity-packed seasonal cruise. Read on for all our top picks for Thanksgiving Day weekend fun in NYC.

47 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC for Kids in 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 11/23/2025 - 1:14pm

Celebrate the shortest day of the year at Marine Park's Festival of Lights. Photo courtesy of the Marine Park Alliance

When it comes to holiday gifts, we've got the perfect one for you, dear reader: This list of free holiday and Christmas events in NYC. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve are all fast approaching, but between Nutcrackers, family-friendly holiday shows, special meals with Santa, and gift-giving, things can get expensive. So, we've rounded up 47 FREE holiday and Christmas events in NYC to enjoy now through New Year's Eve.

For more things to do in New York City this season, bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday Activities and Christmas Events and our always-up-to-date Family Activity Calendar.

Breakfast with Santa in NYC in 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:40am

Enjoy plenty of sweet treats during breakfast with Santa at Stella 34 Trattoria. Photo courtesy of Stella 34 Trattoria

Breakfast with Santa—or a tasty Santa brunch, tea, or dinner—might be in order if your child wants a hearty visit with the big red guy. We've found the best spots for families to enjoy a special holiday meal with Santa Claus in New York City, ranging from the extravagant Radio City Breakfast Spectacular to a lavish breakfast with Santa at Macy's and sweet treats during Santa brunch at American Girl New York. You can even hop on a cruise with Santa!

Keep in mind that all of these breakfasts with Santa in NYC require reservations and sell out quickly. No matter which one you choose, bring your camera—and your appetite. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we'll be adding more NYC breakfast with Santa options as we find them. You'll find all our seasonal picks for family fun in our Holiday Guide for New York City Families.

Best Nutcracker Ballets in New York City to See with Kids 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 11/13/2025 - 11:34am

The Yorkville Nutcracker stars talented local dancers in an NYC-centric version of the classic tale. Photos by Eduardo Patino

The Nutcracker ballet is a classic holiday experience for kids and parents, but there are now so many versions of The Nutcracker ballet in NYC a parent could go sugar-plum crazy trying to figure out which one is best for their family.

We've found a dozen variations of The Nutcracker ballet playing this season across all five NYC boroughs, from the New York City Ballet's classic iteration at Lincoln Center to a 92Y production complete with a fabulous, family-friendly after party. We've also found a preschool-friendly Nutcracker performance starring stunning marionettes, and three Nutcracker performances at Brookfield Place that are completely FREE.

Read on for our curated recommendations for the best Nutcracker ballets in NYC for families, and find more holiday must-do's and Christmas activities in our NYC Kids' Guide to the Holidays.

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

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/07/2025 - 9:56am

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.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

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