All aboard! Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends chug into town at the New York Botanical Garden this weekend for a limited run—and don't miss the Holiday Train Show while you're there. This year all the buildings and decorations are up (it's usually just a fraction of the massive collection).

Ponder the current value of gold, frankincense, and myrrh at Three Kings Day celebrations: WhileTeatroSEA's big Three Kings bash and the annual parade on the Upper East Side aren't until Monday the 6th, The Paley Center hosts its own salute to the distinguished guests with a Three Kings Day party this weekend, or check out the Camels and Kings workshop at St. John the Divine on Saturday.

This weekend also features some very cool performances for kids. Top of the list is New Victory's 42FT, Cirque Mechanics' latest confection. Bust a beat at Symphony Space with the Manzana City Crew, or groove to the music of The Who at Brooklyn's Rock and Roll Playhouse. For something completely different, take little cowpokes to Madison Square Garden to watch professional bull riders bounce around the arena.

Meanwhile, if you've got a Christmas tree or holiday vegetation that needs to make a quick exit, you're in luck. Mulchfest is back! In Brooklyn, you can drop off your tree in Prospect Park.

And don't forget to check out our just-released January GoList and Winter Fun Guide, both filled with must-do winter events. Meanwhile, our Event Calendar is always at your service.

Turkey might be the main course, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade the centerpiece, but the final weekend of November is when New York City families shift into holiday hyperdrive, thanks to all the kid-friendly seasonal events.

Macy's Santaland opens, and the Dyker Heights Christmas lights begin to twinkle. Catch the opening days of the annual holiday train show at the New York Botanical Garden. On Saturday, you can attend tree lightings in Park Slope, the Upper East Side, and Glendale, Queens, and, on Sunday, kids can meet Santa on a Flatbush Farm or take a ride on a throwback subway train.

For stuff to do on Thanksgiving Day itself, look no further than our guides to 10 things to do on Thanksgiving with NYC kids and 22 Things to Do Thanksgiving Weekend to keep those visitors entertained. And of course, we also have the full 411 on Santa Claus brunches, teas, and cruises, plus neighborhood Christmas Tree lightings. This is also the weekend that cut your own Christmas tree farms traditionally open, and of course holiday shows are popping up all over, including George Balanchine's The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol.

For more Christmas-season fun in New York City, see our guides to holiday train shows, Nutcracker performances, and 21 holiday activities every NYC kid should experience once. And get a head start on your holiday planning with the Mommy Poppins event calendar, and our action-packed holiday fun guide.

From all of us at Mommy Poppins, have a happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving trots into town a bit later than usual this year—which means those other holidays, you know, the ones with all the gifts and sparkle—are relegated to the back stage area a tiny bit longer, pacing and practicing their lines. For parents, that means a short window to catch our breath and enjoy some of the non-holiday-themed family fun that abounds in NYC, from slime museums to a brand-new MoMA, from hands-on Lego art to a high-concept infinity room.

Also for your consideration, this weekend's top picks include a re-enactment of the Battle of Fort Washington, CMOM's Apple Fest, New Victory's fab Re:Play production by the geniuses also known as Mummenschanz, and a hike through the autumn leaves on Staten Island.

Of course, holiday fun is pretty easy to find, too. Try Native storytelling at Wyckoff House, Thanksgiving with the Beasts, or even a production of A Charlie Brown Christmas (some holiday fun just can't wait!)

Meanwhile, take a deep breath and start making your plans for the Thanksgiving Parade, or buy tickets for one of this year's bumper crop of NYC Nutcracker shows. There's no denying it: the holidays are almost here (hooray!). As always, consult our November GoList and our Event Calendar for a dazzling array of events and activities.