Are people who FaceTime while walking down the street literally insane?

The annual pageant of giant balloons, floats, cheerleaders, clowns, marching bands, theater and Broadway in New York performances and celebs is a must-see. The parade is on Thanksgiving Day, of course! But we’ll spell it out for you: Thursday, November 27.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes over Manhattan on the holiday with 2.5 miles of public viewing. It kicks off at West 77th Street & Central Park West and flows down Central Park West before winding around Columbus Circle and onto Central Park South and Sixth Avenue. Finally, it files down Sixth Avenue to Macy’s Herald Square. Here’s the full route. 

The Paley Center for Media's annual seasonal spectacular is back for another holiday season: PaleyLand will run through Saturday, January 4 at the midtown museum with jolly joy for revelers young and old.

Along with free hot cocoa and holiday treats, attendees can enjoy five floors of merriment, including photo opportunities with Santa; a magical train display with hot chocolate stations; a stunning menorah display which serves as a perfect background for Hanukkah photos; giveaways, arts and crafts; screenings of holiday classics and family favorite programs; meet-and-greets with classic holiday characters like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hermey the Elf and the Abominable Snow Monster, plus Chase and Sky from PAW Patrol. Other attractions include the PaleyGX Studio featuring popular video games and VR titles available. 

Tickets are now on sale for $21.50. You can view the full schedule and purchase tickets here.

Take a break from Christmas shopping and check out the state-of-the-art holiday light display at The Shops at Columbus Circle. This year, the seasonal spectacle has been pumped up with 300,000 shimmering lights and 44 floating stars illuminating the entire complex in holiday cheer. Holiday Under the Stars runs from November 10 to January 3, 2026.

You’ll be so moved, you won’t even care that you maxed out your MasterCard getting Aunt Judy that back massager she’s been wanting. Color-changing stars will perform choreographed light shows every 30 minutes from 5pm to midnight, casting a kaleidoscope of color across the shopping center. Also look for illuminated stars at the 58th Street and 60th Street entrances and sparkling photo moments throughout the complex.  

It's free to visit, and there are plenty of shops and restaurants to stop by along the way. 

Catch a free Broadway performance under the glittering holiday lights at Columbus Circle during Broadway Under the Stars. This series of free performances inside The Shops at Columbus Circle brings performers from some of the hottest shows right now for music and intimate conversations moderated by Broadway alumnus George Psomas.

Performances happen on Thursday evenings from 5-6pm on the second-floor stage. While you're there, enjoy the seasonal spectacle with 300,000 shimmering lights and 44 floating stars illuminating the entire complex in holiday cheer. 

Here's the full lineup:

• November 20: MAMMA MIA!, The Outsiders, Maybe Happy Ending
• December 4: The Lion King, Aladdin, Hell’s Kitchen
• December 11: SIX The Musical, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), The Queen of Versailles
• December 18: Operation Mincemeat, The Book of Mormon, Chicago

Get out of the house the day after Thanksgiving for some fresh air and a break from your house guests at Green-Wood Cemetery's Post-Turkey Day Walking Tour on Friday, November 28.

Green-Wood Cemetery’s 478 acres of hills, valleys, glacial ponds, and paths make up the permanent residence of more than 570,000 in its 478 acres. The Brooklyn cemetery, established in 1838, is a National Historic Landmark and is recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries. More than half a million visitors explore the cemetery’s grounds, architecture, and history every year.

Be sure to dress warm for this late autum stroll; tickets cost $30/person.

Opt outside to enjoy the great outdoors with free hikes across the five boroughs. The Urban Park Rangers will lead the following outdoor adventures on Friday, November 28:

— Manhattan: Venture through Inwood Hill and Fort Tryon Parks on this Northern Manhattan Parks Super Hike. 

— Brooklyn: Stroll the Salt Marsh Nature Trail for a scenic adventure.

— Queens: On this hike, find the oldest living organism in New York, the “Alley Giant” tulip tree.

— The Bronx: Be guided through you through many of the featured hiking trails in Van Cortlandt Park. 

— Staten Island: Take a lengthy hike in Deere Park.

Two hip-hop legends are coming to you live at Rockefeller Center and bringing the nostalgia. For the first time ever, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh will appear together for an in-store signing at Rough Trade record store on Tuesday, November 25. 

The two icons will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of their groundbreaking debut singles, "La-Di-Da-Di" and "The Show," featuring newly re-released 12" editions from Fat Beats (co-designed by Slick Rick), along with two exclusive versions of each track. Plus, the first 100 attendees will receive limited-edition, official merchandise. 

This year, "La-Di-Da-Di" and "The Show" earned one of America's highest artistic honors with induction into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, recognized for their cultural, historical and aesthetic impact across music globally. 

This landmark event will take place at Rough Trade in Rockefeller Center (30 Rockefeller Plaza) on November 25 starting at 6pm. 

A brand new double-decker carousel is set to spin holiday cheer throughout the season in Greeley Square at 33rd Street and Broadway on November 21, offering rides through January 6, 2026.

The two-story swirl of lights, music and storybook creatures will spin from 10am to 10pm daily, offering plenty of opportunity to catch a ride before, during or after your holiday shopping. Tickets cost $7/person.

Speaking of shopping: the carousel will be in the perfect location. It will sit just steps from Macy’s Herald Square, where the holidays are already in full swing.

Train aficionados of all ages are certain to be transfixed by the scenic components of this show, featuring model trains, toy stations and miniatures from the Jerni Collection at The New York Historical. The dispaly illustrates the design evolution from the early 20th century to the era of World War II. 

Lighting and accompanying music make for an immersive experience on the first floor of the Upper West Side museum. This year, families can explore the objects on view with a special scavenger hunt and train-themed storytimes on select dates. 

The exhibit's on view from November 21 until February 22, 2026.

The Bronx Zoo's sparkling seasonal outdoor celebration featuring animated lights and LED displays of animals from around the world is back. Expect the zoo to dazzle with millions of lights and hundreds wildlife lanterns spread across six lantern trails. 

Beloved favorites return, including the holiday train and Enchanted Sea, plus look for new additions such as snow tube slides, an illuminated ice-themed throne and virtual snowball throwing.

Holiday Lights is now running at Bronx Zoo on select dates through January 4, 2026. Pricing starts at $26.95 for kids under 13 and $41.95 for adults.