Thanksgiving Weekend 2025 kicks off holiday magic and fun things to do all over Connecticut! Photo courtesy of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce
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Find the best things to do in CT this November 2025, like the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular. Photo courtesy of the event.
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All will be merry and bright soon, so get your tickets to these Christmas events in Connecticut! Stamford Holiday Wish photo courtesy of the author
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The kids can hang out and have fun with the top free things to do in Connecticut! Earthplace photo by Zoe Brown, courtesy of the center.
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Our ultimate Connecticut bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut with kids! Mystic Seaport photo by author Kelly Patino
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Roll on in to the top birthday party places in Connecticut for teens and tweens in 2025! Photo courtesy of Bowlero
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By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
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Hop aboard for a trip through Litchfield County and fun things to do with kids! Naugatuck Railroad photo courtesy of the Railroad Museum of New England.
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Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
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Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
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A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
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Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
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Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Canva
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Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
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The festivities get downright magical with Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT! Photo courtesy of Dean Davids Magician
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Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do

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
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
11/25/25 - By Drew Kristofik

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.

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Best Things To Do in NYC Thanksgiving Weekend

Roebling Rink Opening Week in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Opens Monday, November 24
Discover the magic of skating beneath the iconic Brooklyn Bridge this winter and holiday season with the return of the Roebling Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park! READ MORE

Origami Holiday Tree 2025 Opening Week at the American Museum of Natural History

Upper West Side
Debuts Tuesday, November 25
An annual American Museum of Natural History tradition, the delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree and two merrily lit 19-foot holiday barosaurs welcome visitors throughout the holiday season. READ MORE

Show Up, Kids! Adventure! at PlayWell Brooklyn

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Tuesday, November 25 and Friday, November 28
It's a brand new adventure when the main attraction doesn't show up, so Pete gets the kids (and their grownups) to help create an adventure story on the spot—complete with physical activity, curious exploration, outrageous locations, silly costumes, and brave characters.    READ MORE

Thank-FULL for You at CMOM

Upper West Side
Tuesday, November 25-Sunday, November 30
Closed on Thanksgiving Day
Reflect on what fills your heart (and your tummy)! Create art inspired by family, food, and the joy of giving and receiving gratitude with inventive programming all week long at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. READ MORE

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation

Upper West Side – FREE
Wednesday, November 26
The Macy's balloon inflation returns. Watching the giant balloons expand is a tradition for many NYC families—almost as important as the Thanksgiving Day Parade proper.  READ MORE

Marching Bands at the Seaport Museum

South Street Seaport – FREE
Wednesday, November 26
Get ready for a booming afternoon at the Seaport Museum—a front-row preview of the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a day early! Marching bands from Temple University and the Damien Spartan Regiment take over Pier 16 with stationary performances that are sure to get you in the parade spirit. READ MORE

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Upper West Side to Midtown West – FREE
Thursday, November 27
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marches down the streets of New York City for its 99th annual holiday celebration. READ MORE

Gobble Gobble Give at the Apollo

Harlem – FREE
Thursday, November 27
Enjoy a heartwarming day of giving back by bringing a dish of Thanksgiving-style food, gently used clothes you’ve been meaning to donate, or an old toy or book your kids have outgrown, and join the most meaningful potluck party you'll ever attend.  READ MORE

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center

Upper West Side
Opens Friday, November 28
The New York City Ballet's annual confection returns, complete with the famous one-ton Christmas tree that grows from 12 to 40 feet, an onstage snowstorm, and hundreds of elaborate costumes, including one for Mother Ginger that measures nine feet wide and weighs 85 pounds! READ MORE

Macy's Santaland

Midtown West – FREE
Opens Friday, November 28
Santa swoops back over to Macy's for visits with his littlest fans! Wander the rainbow road to his workshop, where you'll meet jolly old St. Nick. Share your wishlist before receiving a special gift and posing for a keepsake photo. READ MORE

A Charlie Brown Christmas at Kings Theatre

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Friday, November 28
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang uncover the true meaning of Christmas and perform songs from the unforgettable musical score of legendary composer Vince Guaraldi.    READ MORE

Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Salt March Nature Trail Super Hike

Marine Park, Brooklyn – FREE
Friday, November 28
Work off your Thanksgiving feast while enjoying the great outdoors on a scenic lengthy walk on the Salt Marsh Nature Trail. READ MORE

Flip Circus in McCarren Park

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Opens Friday, November 28
Flip Circus wraps up its NYC tour by pitching its distinct red-and-white big top in McCarren Park. Leave your cares at the door and enter a world where the laughs are plentiful and the wows only stop when the show ends. READ MORE

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas + Book Signing at Museum of the Moving Image

Astoria, Queens
Saturday, November 29
MoMI continues its celebration of the 70th anniversary of the beginning of Jim Henson’s professional career with a screening of one of Henson’s most beloved television specials, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, written by his longtime collaborator Jerry Juhl with a score by the incomparable Paul Williams. READ MORE

Santa Fun Cruise with Kids Activities

West Village
Debuts Saturday, November 29
Meet Santa and his elves, join in Christmas carol singing, drink cocoa, and eat sweet treats while listening to live holiday storytelling. The kids can create and decorate their own paper gingerbread house and Christmas tree with stickers—and, of course, there are plenty of New York City sights along the way. READ MORE

The Steadfast Tin Soldier & Nutcracker Sweets at Puppetworks

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Saturday, November 29-Tuesday, December 30
Puppetworks presents a double bill, featuring The Steadfast Tin Soldier, from Hans Christian Andersen, and Nutcracker Sweets with Tchaikovsky's music. Both are adapted for the marionette stage by Nicholas Coppola.  READ MORE
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is an event unto itself. Photo by Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is an event unto itself. Photo by Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0

Fun Thanksgiving Things To Do in NYC with Kids

See the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation with Kids

Watching the parade balloons inflate is an only-in-NYC experience: Here's all you need to know. READ MORE

What’s Open on Thanksgiving in NYC? Places Open for Family Fun in 2025

What's open on Thanksgiving Day in New York City? Plenty for kids! READ MORE

25 Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving 2025 in NYC

Skip the cooking and head out for a family-friendly Thanksgiving Day meal. READ MORE

Guide to Thanksgiving in NYC for Kids and Families

Everything you need to have a great Thanksgiving Day parade and long weekend in NYC. READ MORE
It won't be long before the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is switched on for the season. Photo by Jody Mercier
It won't be long before the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is switched on for the season. Photo by Jody Mercier

Holiday Fun in NYC for Families

Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids

Our 2025 holiday bucket list includes a mix of Christmas classics and new seasonal events. READ MORE

Holidays in NYC: Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, & Seasonal Fun

From the Thanksgiving parade to the ball drop, NYC is magical during the holidays. READ MORE

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

Consider this our gift to you: We've rounded up the best FREE holiday events. READ MORE

Christmas Towns and Festive Hotels near NYC that Will Blow Your Mind

If all you want for Christmas is a seasonal getaway, consider this list is our gift to you. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Emily Warren Roebling Plaza
American Museum of Natural History
David Koch Theater at Lincoln Theater
Carmines - Theater District

About the Author

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.
Recent Articles By Drew Kristofik:
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