Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to spend time with family and loved ones. Check out these family-friendly events around New York City, Long Island, and Westchester to celebrate all month long!
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Psst…Check Out Free Kid and Family Activities in NYC: 10 Free Things to Do This Week
Manhattan
NSRF Manhattan Turkey Trot
Randall’s Island Field #10, 130 Central Road, Randall’s Island
Sunday, Nov. 15, 9:30 am Kiddie Dash; 1 pm 5K
All ages
$38.98
Turkeys on Randall’s Island! Trot down to Randall’s Island for the Manhattan Turkey Trot 5K. Run the scenic out-and-back and unique path along the Island. Enjoy sweet & savory turkey-trot swag and treats from All Round Foods & Waterloo Sparkling Water to commemorate your achievement!
Storytime: Between the Balloons with Artist E.A. KAHANE and Tom Toro
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd St., Upper West Side
Saturday, Nov. 21, 4 pm
Ages 10 and younger
$18
Larger-than-life balloon characters, marching bands, and delightful surprises fill every page of this magical take on the famed Thanksgiving Day Parade. A playful blend of photography and illustration, Between the Balloons reveals that with imagination anything you see can become something extraordinary. Let your imagination fly after the reading with an artmaking activity! Copies of Between the Balloons will be available for purchase at the event and in the museum bookstore.
Little New-Yorkers: Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side
Sunday, Nov. 22, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 3 – 6
$6–$24
Meet Tony Sarg, the expert puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, in Balloons Over Broadway, written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. After the story, create your own paper balloon design!
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Parade Begins at Central Park West & 77th St., Upper West Side
Thursday, Nov. 26, 8:30 am – noon
All ages
Free
A Thanksgiving tradition since 1924, this iconic parade includes magnificent floats, marching bands from across the country, and enormous balloons featuring favorite characters, old and new. Plus, a special appearance by everyone’s favorite man in red! This year, the parade celebrates its 100th anniversary with new floats, including Joe Cool and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Hogwarts’ Great Hall.
Saturday Family Storytime: Thanksgiving
Yorkville Library, 222 East 79th St., Yorkville
Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 am – noon
Ages 5 and younger
Free
Join the library for songs, rhymes, and favorite read-aloud books in this storytime celebrating Thanksgiving.
Bronx
Thanksgiving Story & Craft for Kids #1
Westchester Square Library, 2521 Glebe Ave., Washington Square
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 4 – 4:45 pm
Ages 6 – 12
Free
This special Thanksgiving craft will make you say, “Gobble! Gobble!” Plus, listen to a story in honor of the holiday.
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike
Van Cortlandt Nature Center, 246th St. and Broadway, Van Cortlandt Park
Friday, Nov. 27, 10 am – noon
All ages
Free
Family Art Project: Grateful for Trees Canvas Bags
Wave Hill, 675 W 252nd St., Riverdale
Nov. 28 – 29, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 1 pm
All ages
Included with admission: $4 – $10
Trees give us so much; let’s celebrate the beauty of these important plants by printing their leaves onto reusable bags. Your new, stylish accessory will showcase your appreciation for trees. At 11:30 am families can celebrate Thanksgiving with the book Thanks a Ton! by Sabrina Moyle.
Brooklyn
Thanksgiving Craft – Turkey Suncatchers
Coney Island Library, 1901 Mermaid Ave., Coney Island
Monday, Nov. 9, 4 – 5 pm
Ages 5 and older
Free
Make turkey suncatchers that will be beautiful decorations for Thanksgiving.
Post-Thanksgiving Day Super Hike
Prospect Park Audubon Center, 101 East Drive, Prospect Park
Friday, Nov. 27, noon – 2 pm
All ages
Free
After you’ve packed up the leftovers, enjoy the great outdoors as you scramble your way through autumnal Prospect Park with the rangers.. Witness plants and wildlife preparing for colder temperatures and get to know one of Brooklyn’s flagship parks.
Post Turkey Day Walking Tour
Green-Wood, 500 25th St., Greenwood Heights
Friday, Nov. 27, 1 – 3 pm
All ages
$30; $24 members
After you’ve devoured the turkey and stuffed yourself with pumpkin pie, escape from the house and enjoy a walking tour of Green-Wood. Be sure to dress warmly to enjoy a late autumn stroll in one of New York’s most beautiful and historic greenspaces.
Queens
Celebrate Thanksgiving: Dough Figurine Making
Fresh Meadows Library, 193-20 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows
Friday, Nov. 20, 3:30 – 5:30 pm
All ages
Free
Join award-winning Chinese-born artist Catherine Lau as she instructs and demonstrates the amazing and beautiful Chinese art of figure making with dough.
Family Paint Night Thanksgiving Edition
My Gym Fresh Meadows, 187-08 Union Tnpk., Fresh Meadows
Sunday, Nov. 22, 3:45 – 5 pm
Ages 1 – 8
$30; $4 for required socks
Advanced registration required
Families will create their very own Thanksgiving Hand Turkey Canvas — a festive keepsake you’ll be proud to take home! While your canvas dries, kids can enjoy gymnastics, games, and other fun activities!
Thanksgiving/Native American Heritage Month Storytime
Queens Public Library- Rosedale, 144-20 243 St., Rosedale
Monday, Nov. 23, 3:30 – 4 pm
All ages
Free
Join the Friends of Rosedale to celebrate Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month with the reading of Squanto’s “Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving.” Limited quantities of the book will be available for giveaway after the storytime on a first-come, first-served basis.
Crafternoon: Thanksgiving Turkey Painting
Queens Public Library- Howard Beach, 92-06 156 Ave., Howard Beach
Monday, Nov. 23, 4 – 5 pm
All ages
Free
The turkeys are ready for their portraits! Use your artist’s eye to create something special.
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: The Alley Giant
Alley Pond Adventure Course, Springfield Blvd., Oakland Gardens
Friday, Nov. 27, 10 am – noon
All ages
Free
Join the Urban Park Rangers for this post-holiday hike taking you to the oldest living organism in New York, the Alley Giant.
Staten Island
Fall Foodscapes
Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Randall Manor
Nov. 4 – 27, Wednesdays – Fridays, 1 – 4 pm; except Nov. 26
Ages 8 and younger
Included with admission: $10
Create a colorful plate of your favorite fall foods! In this hands-on art activity, children will use cardboard, paper, scissors, and glue to design their own fall foodscape. From pumpkins and apples to pies and other seasonal favorites, kids can get creative and make a plate that’s uniquely their own.
Thanksgiving Storytime + Craft
St. George Library Center, 5 Central Ave., St. George
Thursday, Nov. 19, 4 – 5 pm
Ages 3 – 12
Free
Children and their families are invited to enjoy a fun, heartwarming story filled with themes of gratitude, kindness, family, and togetherness. After the story, children will have the opportunity to get creative with a hands-on craft inspired by the Thanksgiving season.
Family Storytime: Thanksgiving
New Dorp Library, 309 New Dorp Lane, New Dorp
Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Ages 5 and younger
Free
Join the library for songs, rhymes, and favorite read-aloud books in this storytime that’s fun for young children.
Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike
Nevada Avenue Parking Lot in High Rock Park, 200 Nevada Ave. Staten Island
Friday, Nov. 27, 10 am – noon
All ages
Free
Walk off all of that holiday food and join the Rangers on this hike, where you will walk the woodland trails of High Rock Park.
Long Island
Turkey Time: Tiny Tots
Nissequogue River State Park Main Office, 4 Cliff Drive, Kings Park
Thursday, Nov. 19, 10:30 – 11:30 am
Ages 3 – 5
$4
Advanced registration required
Children and their parents will connect with nature through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts inspired by Thanksgiving.
Long Island Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk
Eisenhower Park Field 2, Parking Lot 2, East Meadow
Saturday, Nov. 21, 8:30 am Kiddie Dash; 9 am 5K
Ages 5 and older
$38.98; Free Kiddie Dash
Get a Head Start On Turkey Trots! Flock on down to Eisenhower Park to kick off turkey trot season with this fun Fall 5K. Walk away with some turkey swag to commemorate your achievement and some yummy treats from All Round Foods & Waterloo Sparkling Water!
1863 Thanksgiving Day Celebration
Old Bethpage Restoration Village, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage
Nov. 21 – 22, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm
All ages
$15; $12 for ages 60 and older and children 5-12; free for children 4 and younger
Experience a Civil War–era Thanksgiving with cooking demonstrations, customs, historic reenactments and more.
Turkey Talk
Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 – 3 pm
Ages 10 and younger
Included with admission: $20
Create your own turkey craft complete with colorful, vocabulary-building feathers. Use your imagination to tell a silly story one feather at a time!
Westchester
The 62nd Annual Thanksgiving Parade
Parade Takes Place on North Ave from Eastchester Road to Bonnefoy
Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 am – 2 pm
All ages
Free
This annual celebration features giant parade balloons, marching bands, floats, vintage cars, dancers, singers, and marchers from local colleges, schools, businesses, and community organizations, along with City Police, Fire, DPW, and Parks & Rec Vehicles and employees.
Thanksgiving at WCM
Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Parkway, Rye
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Ages 10 and younger
$16
Prepare for the holiday by making your own gratitude turkey with thank-you feathers and festive paper wreaths.
Westchester Knicks Give Thanks Game
Cross County Center, 8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers
Friday, Nov. 27, 1 pm
All ages
Tickets start at $21
The Westchester Knicks invite friends and families following the holiday to join the team for an afternoon of basketball and appreciation. Enjoy exciting on-court action, special surprises, family-friendly entertainment, and create memorable experiences as the game celebrates fans and community members.
Psst… Check Out Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park Is Back!
