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Holiday Lights, Christmas Carousel, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

The Bronx Zoo comes to life after dark during its annual Holiday Lights event. Photo by Terria Clay/courtesy of the Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo comes to life after dark during its annual Holiday Lights event. Photo by Terria Clay/courtesy of the Bronx Zoo
11/21/25 - By Drew Kristofik

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.

If your calendar is anything like ours, your head is spinning from the countless holiday events that make their grand debut this weekend—and we haven't even climbed aboard the glittering, new, double-decker Christmas Carousel outside of Macy's yet—it springs to life on Friday!

We're ready to hit the Bronx Zoo for an after-dark safari when the holiday lights spring to life, and can't wait to catch Impact: The end of the Age of the Dinosaurs, which has just opened at the American Museum of Natural History.

Holiday shows are springing to life on-stage, too, including a beautiful new iteration of A Christmas Carol at The Perelman downtown.

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

Looking for even more fun things to do this weekend? Our New York City Events Calendar is packed with great family activities every day of the week—and you can filter by age, location, or even free events!

Not receiving our newsletter yet? Subscribe for free and get the best local family fun sent straight to your inbox. Already subscribed? Share it with a friend and start planning your weekend together!

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Kids can learn about the dinosaurs' extinction through a variety of hands-on exhibits at AMNH. Photo by Jody Mercier
Kids can learn about the dinosaurs' extinction through a variety of hands-on exhibits at AMNH. Photo by Jody Mercier

Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Tea Around Town + NYBG Holiday Train Show

Midtown
Select dates through Sunday, January 18, 2026
Savor delicious cuisine and a variety of flavorful teas on a scenic ride to the NYBG Holiday Train Show.  READ MORE

Double Decker Christmas Carousel

Midtown West
Opens Friday, November 21
A spectacular double-decker carousel, the only one of its kind in NYC, is coming to 33rd Street and Broadway at Greeley Square for the holidays! Tickets are on sale now for this limited-time experience surrounded by the glittering Herald Square Holiday Market. READ MORE

Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Opens Friday, November 21
Explore the Brooklyn Botanic Garden after dark during the illuminated spectacular, Lightscape, which celebrates the beauty of nature in winter on an enchanting trail animated by dazzling light, color, and sound. READ MORE

Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Opens Friday, November 21
Holiday Lights return to the Bronx Zoo, bigger, brighter, and greener than ever before. The beloved holiday tradition covers acres of the zoo, lighting the grounds with custom Asian lanterns, wildlife-themed LED displays, and animated light shows on the historic Astor Court. READ MORE

Circus Vazquez at Citi Field

Astoria, Queens
Opens Friday, November 21
Circus Vazquez, America’s largest family-owned big top circus, brings its new 2025 production to Queens. Circus Vazquez has entertained generations of families with an awe-inspiring, death-defying, hilarious, authentic, and affordable circus experience. READ MORE

UniverSoul Circus in Coney Island

Coney Island, Boorklyn
Opens Friday, November 21
UniverSoul Circus returns to Brooklyn with a new production, Rhythm of the World. This year’s show features over a dozen new acts from around the world, all showcasing their skills under a state-of-the-art big top tent from Italy. READ MORE

You'll See...at Lincoln Center's Clark Studio Theater

Upper West Side
Friday, November 21-Sunday, November 23
James Joyce’s epic story of one day in one city, Ulysses, is brought to life in this inventive show by Branar, combining live performance, intricate paper design, and an original score. READ MORE

Big Apple Comic Con at The New Yorker Hotel

Midtown West
Saturday, November 22
Collectors of all kinds are invited to this show that's not just comics. Explore original artwork, trading cards, toys, anime, Pokemon, gaming, Ts, posters, sci-fi, and toys from a variety of dealers. The show takes place in the beautiful Art Deco masterpiece New Yorker Hotel, right in the heart of NYC. READ MORE

Living History: Harlem Rent Party at the New-York Historical

Upper West Side
Saturday, November 22
Learn about 1920s Harlem rent parties, gatherings held by tenants to raise money to pay their high NYC rents. The host usually provided live music, dancing, food, and drinks.  READ MORE

Sueñitos: Tiny Dreams at Sugar Hill

Harlem
Saturday, November 22
Jugando N Play presents a multilingual, interactive theater piece for young audiences and their caregivers. Transporting families into a dream world/un mundo de sueños, Sueñitos explores the journey of falling asleep and the magical world of dreams.   READ MORE

Hearth & Harvest Festival in Historic Richmond Town

Richmond, Staten Island
Saturday, November 22
Celebrate Native American culture and traditional 19th-century harvest activities through food, dance, storytelling, and crafts during this special program at Historic Richmond Town. READ MORE

Celebrate the Holidays at PaleyLand!

Midtown West
Opens Saturday, November 22
The Paley Center's must-see holiday extravaganza fills five floors of the Paley with holiday fun and winter wonderland magic. Enjoy free hot chocolate, watch past and present holiday family specials on the big screen, discover the magic of a classic model railroad display, and so much more. READ MORE

La MaMa Kids: You Have Arrived

Lower East Side
Saturday, November 22-Sunday, November 23
This one-person show brings the pressing issues of climate change and climate refugees to life without uttering a single word. Through the mesmerizing medium of a dynamic large-scale pop-up book and simple yet visually captivating puppetry, the show invites us to experience the profound transformation of our landscapes while echoing the silent—yet powerful—stories of displacement and resilience happening across the globe. READ MORE

A Christmas Carol at The Perelman

Financial District
Opens Sunday, November 23
PAC NYC brings the acclaimed production of A Christmas Carol from London’s The Old Vic to New York in a uniquely intimate staging. READ MORE

Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs Opening Week at AMNH

Upper West Side
Ongoing
Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs explores the striking before-and-after story of the asteroid impact 66 million years ago that annihilated non-avian dinosaurs, along with 75 percent of the plant and animal species on the planet, and opened the door for new ecosystems and animals to evolve. READ MORE
Mohonk Mountain House provides a picture-perfect backdrop for a fall getaway. Photo courtesy of the resort
Mohonk Mountain House provides a picture-perfect backdrop for a fall getaway. Photo courtesy of the resort

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It wouldn't be Thanksgiving in NYC without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade—and its cavalcade of clowns. Photo courtesy of Macy's
It wouldn't be Thanksgiving in NYC without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade—and its cavalcade of clowns. Photo courtesy of Macy's

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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.
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