The best Christmas events for kids in NYC

This holiday season, the eighth floor of Macy’s Herald Square transforms into a 13,000-square-foot winter village that’s decked out with Christmas trees, toys from Santa’s workshop and a light display that’s just the right backdrop for a family selfie. Meet-and-greets with Kris Kringle will commence on Nov 29; starting on Nov 24, visitors can R.S.V.P. online to nab a spot. All ages.

Christmastime in NYC is a glamorous affair, and the Radio City Rockettes certainly make the season sparkle. Catch the performers in the annual Christmas Spectacular, a festive amalgamation of theater and dance that has been a tradition since 1933. It’s the perfect way to gear up for December 25. All ages.

This year, the Bronx Zoo has decided to reinstate its beloved holiday light show, and the grand spectacle promises to be bigger—and greener—than ever. The celebration of Christmastime and conservationism will feature animated lights, Chinese lanterns and LED displays that depict species from around the globe—lions and elephants from Africa and pandas from Asia and more. All ages.  

Each winter, chef Jon Lovitch expertly crafts an adorable (and completely edible) gingerbread village at the New York Hall of Science. It takes the Queens food artist an entire year to whip up the charmingly detailed miniature homes and storefronts. In true New York fashion, Lovitch’s impressive handiwork has held the Guinness World Record title for the largest gingerbread village for four years in a row. On Jan 12 from 2 to 5pm, visitors can snag a piece of the tasty town on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to construct a cookie city of your very own, you and your child (ages 4 and up) can attend the nifty $15 workshop on various days throughout the season. All ages.

There's a lot of holiday happenings going on at the Museum of the City of New York. Santa will stop by for photo ops on Saturdays (this is strictly DIY, so bring a camera if you want a Santa selfie), you can decorate cookies with Amy Scherber of Amy's bread (space is limited; free with full-price admission, which is $20 for adults, free for children ages 19 and under) and you can make your very own snow globe. Celebrate Kwanza on December 26, and celebrate Hanukkah on December 27. All ages.

Grab your holiday wish list and come visit Santa. Fujifilm's Wonder Photo Shop will be providing families with free Instax photos on December 7 with the big man in red. The earlier session (11am to noon) is pet-friendly; the second session (noon to 3pm) is humans-only. All ages.

From the Shops at Columbus Circle, cross the street to Central Park and browse through this adorable outdoor holiday market. You’ll find handmade items for babies by Lil’ New Yorker, punk rock-styled onesies, or “punksies,” by Punkster and cool marionettes from Silly Puppets. All ages.

Neiman Marcus is taking its holiday tradition to its Hudson Yards location. Families are invited to a delicious brunch (lobster eggs benedict for the adults, scrambled eggs or buttermilk pancakes for the kiddos) with Santa. Admission also includes a photo with the man in the red suit and other seasonal suprises! Enter through 375 10th Ave and make your way to the seventh floor of Neiman Marcus. All ages. 

Who doesn't love a LEGO winter wonderland? The Holiday Bricktacular proves just how festive your favorite building blocks can be: Attempt your own ornament during the LEGO builds, see LEGO Santa in his sleigh and catch a look at the (mini) NYC's winterized look in Winter Wonderful MINILAND. All ages. 

Step into a winter wonderland at The Paley Center for Media and indulge in fun activities for the whole family. No worries if you missed your favorite holiday special when it aired on TV— catch screenings of many TV classics, including A Rugrats Chanukah, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and more. Children can check out a holiday-themed VR game, meet FAO toy soliders, enjoy crafts and much more while they await for the man in the big red suit. Santa’s hours are as follows: December 7: 1–6pm, December 8, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22: Noon–6pm. All ages. 

What’s Santa up to in early December? Why, taking a trip to the Queens Botanical Garden, of course. The 39-acre oasis hosts caroling, a tree lighting, crafts, face painting, live music and other wintry staples. For an additional fee, Old Saint Nick will be available for snapshots with your crew. All ages.

Every year,the Morgan Library & Museum rings in the season by displaying the original manuscript of A Christmas Carol. It’s not just an exhibit—it’s also a party: Charles Dickens, Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Present roam the galleries as musicians and magicians stroll alongside them. It’s a wee glimpse of Olde London right here in Manhattan. Ages 3–14.

Every year hundreds of tuba players of all ages descend upon the Rink at Rock Center, where they belt out holiday tunes with a merry oom-pah-pah! The annual tradition started in 1974. All ages.

Design it, build it, eat it: The Center for Architecture needs your help to create a skyline of gingerbread buildings. The $50 fee accommodates two children and two adults, and covers all the materials you will need to create your towering masterpiece. Ages 5–13.

Kids are welcome at this staging of the Mozart classic. It’s the perfect starter opera: Performed in English, this abridged version clocks in at less than two hours and features delightful costumes and sets,but it’s still a Met production with some of the world’s finest performers. (“The Queen of the Night” aria will give you chills.) Ages 5 and up.

Tchaikovsky’s gorgeous score, Balanchine’s timeless choreography and an impressive set—yes, that Christmas tree really is growing—ensure that this New York City Ballet performance will never go out of style. Ages 5 and up.

This event is a response to consumption and waste during the holiday season: Little scientists will bend, sculpt and animate their own holiday projects with reused and repurposed materials. It's a festive and positive approach that will inspire your family to appraoch things differently, and have fun doing it. All ages.

Fans of locomotives will delight in the New York Botanical Garden’s annual tradition. Take in the model trains as they loop through teensy versions of famous New York landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. This year’s focus is on the abundant greenery and historic locales of NYC’s communal backyard: Central Park (expect a baby Belvedere Castle). Plus, Thomas the Tank Engine is making an appearance, so you know your moppets are onboard! All ages.

After a glowing reception in 2018, the NYC Winter Lantern Festival will return to Snug Harbor Cultural Center with eight acres of LED lights that manifest an Asian flair (thin kpandas, dragons and florals). But the gorgeous showcase is about more than just photo ops: Stick around for a taste of some international fare as well as juggling, Tibetan folk dancing, hoop tumbling and other live performances. All ages. 

The Brooklyn Christmas Lights tour of Dyker Heights is a 3.5 hour bus tour of the most extravagant Christmas light displays in the country which are located in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, aka "Dyker Lights." Over 100,000 people flock to this area every year to see the most over-the-top Christmas decorations. If this tour doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit then your name is Ebeneezer Scrooge! Highlights: Informative, friendly and professional guide Ideal choice for families Seasonal Offer

Every year, Bryant Park transforms into a winter village complete with an outdoor ice skating rink right at the center. Shop from local vendors selling food and drinks and get an early start on those holiday wish lists. Wonderful pop-up shops for kids and families abound, as well as eateries with sweet and savory cusines from around the globe. Holiday festivities are scheduled from the opening day, as Oct 31 will welcome kiddos for Tricks and Treats from 4–6:30pm. Later in the season, little ones can visit Santa from Dec 14–22, so tell your crew to start brainstorming! All ages.

The Hello Panda Festival features more than 120 enormous lanterns that will dazzle the whole family. At this holiday home run at Citi Field, attendees can also take part in various cultural traditions (think paper cutting, dough sculpting and other Chinese crafts), taste-test dishes from 60 international vendors, and pick up trinkets and gifts at the market. All ages. 

Cozy up in a 1920s-style yacht—all varnished wood and comfy banquettes—for a 90-minute cruise that stars cocoa, cookies and caroling. Spruced up for the season, the boat sails through New York Harbor to give you million-dollar viewsoftheStatueofLiberty, Governors Island and the Brooklyn Bridge. This time of year, the Manhattan skyline shimmers just like a Christmas tree. All ages.

Twelve acres of radiant art will take over Randalls Island with three fairy-tale themes: Winter Fantasy, Wild Adventure and Sweet Dream. You can wander through the colorful LED arches of the Donut Tunnel and get lost in the snow-covered trees of the Frosted Forest for an electrifying experience that is the epitome of merry and bright. Be sure to explore the children’s printmaking workshop (various dates, walk-ins available; $29) and other activities,then refuel with snacks from Nathan’s Famous, Baked in Color and other eateries.

The Monarch Rooftop has been transformed into a cozy winter wonderland—it's the perfect setting for competitive cookie decorating and gingerbread house design. On December 14 from noon to 3 pm, the lounge will hold its annual contest and supply participants with all the baked goods and frosting they'll need to create edible masterpieces, and beat the others. Did we mention there are prizes? Tickets are available here. $15, $10 ages 18 and under. All ages. 

The holiday model-train show at the New-York Historical Society is always a stunner, and this year celebrates Richard Scarry’s Busytown to honor the 100th anniversary of the author and illustrator’s birth. You’ll see Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm and other favorite characters, plus trains, trains and more trains. All ages. 

The Greenwich Village Orchestra is a community organization with world-class performers and concerts geared for kids: Your budding musicians will get to try their hands at a musical instrument during the orchestra's instrumental "petting zoo." The orchestra's annual family-friendly holiday concert will include Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto featuring teenage soloist Ben Lerman, and students from the Third Street Music School Settlement will play with the orchestra. All ages.

The magical Winter Wonderland punctuates the end of the year with an immersive performance at La MaMa Kids that weaves together puppetry, storytelling, dance, music and theater. The celebration includes a "Ginger House Building Extravaganza" with Vendy-winning Kim Ima. Ages 4 and up.

The R1-9 train cars from the 1930s are rolling again: The MTA's "Holiday Nostalgia Ride" will take place every Sunday between Thanksgiving and New Year's from 10am-5pm. Board a vintage train for a rattling ride under the streets of Manhattan—the trains will run between Second Ave and 145th St on the Sixth Avenue line. (See a detailed schedule and other information here.) This is seasonal favorite is a literal nostalgia trip, but remember that the trains were at the cutting edge for their time, and so well-constructed that they remained in use until the 1970s. Best of all, there's no additional cost to ride the train: Pay your fare and you're good to go. All ages.

While you grab a bite to eat at Time Out Market New York, your little ones will be fully engrossed in Sunday Morning Artmaking Classes with Private Picassos. These creative workshops let youngsters put their imaginations to work with a variety of themes. Ages 3 and up. Nov 17: Leaf Exploration allows participants to work with leaf tracing oil pastel and watercolor resists; a leaf faux stained glass creation will follow. Dec 1: Gingerbread House Creations gets youngsters in the holiday spirit! Attendees will decorate pre-made gingerbread walls with frosting, candy and other sweets.  Dec 15: DIY Ornament Creations is the perfect workshop if the kiddos want to decorate the tree with something new. They'll receive clear plastic ornaments that they can decorate with pom poms, tinsel, feathers and other objects.

For a creative take on holiday decorations, look no further than the American Museum of Natural History. To celebrate this year’s theme—“T.rex and Friends: History in the Making”— the museum decks a 13-foot tree with origami ornaments made by artists from around the world. If you’re curious about how to fold a piece of paper into a mini masterpiece, the institution’s experts will be on hand throughout the season to give you tips! All ages.

Give back this season by participating in the 37th annual Daily New Food Drive. Non-perishable food donations are needed to keep NYC food pantries and programs across the city well stocked. Drop off goods from Oct 31–Jan 17 at City Harvest’s Manhattan office (6 E 32nd St, fifth floor), any FDNY or NYPD station and Apple Bank locations throughout the five boroughs. Learn more about donations and how to participate on the City Harvest website. All ages. 

Grab a cup of hot cocoa or cider to beat the chill as you navigate this holiday market, a favorite among shoppers looking to support local businesses. Foodies can grab a taste from  a variety of vendors here before browsing through kiosks featuring jewelry, artwork, candles, home goods, beauty products and gifts for kids. Here, you’ll find many artisanal products that are NYC-made, USA-made, Fairtrade/Organic Certified and made from recycled, reused or vintage items. All ages.

Forty unique vendors come together in one of NYC's most gorgeous architectural attractions to provide a can't-miss holiday experience. If your daily commute's got you down, the Grand Central Holiday Fair is surely one way to make you feel merry and bright. Explore the wide array of handmade goods—toys, games, accessories and more—before boarding your train home. Chances are, you're bound to find some great gifts for loved ones in this set up in Vanderbilt Hall. Note that the market won't be open on Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve, so plan your shopping ahead of time. All ages.

The Holiday Market at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is a two-day affair with more than 40 vendors. It's a chance to browse the goods produced by some of the best artisans in Brooklyn, and it's a good excuse to explore the vast complex of new and ancient buildings in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. All ages.

Join the Friends of Morningside Park as they light the park's giant sequoia for the holidays. The lighting will take place on the Winter Solstice, December 21, at 5pm. All ages.

Give back this season by participating in the 37th annual Daily New Food Drive. Non-perishable food donations are needed to keep NYC food pantries and programs across the city well stocked. Drop off goods from Oct 31–Jan 17 at City Harvest’s Manhattan office (6 E 32nd St, fifth floor), any FDNY or NYPD station and Apple Bank locations throughout the five boroughs. Learn more about donations and how to participate on the City Harvest website. All ages.