Baby, it’s cold outside! But that doesn’t mean you have to stay home! We’ve rounded up our favorite family-friendly events happening all December long across New York City, including holiday festivities, live stage performances, nature programs, and more.
Psst…Check Out 10 Best Free Kids & Family Activities in NYC This Week
New York Family’s Top Picks for December
Big Apple Circus
Marx Brothers Playground, East 96 St. Bet. 1st and 2nd Ave., Manhattan
Through Jan. 18, 2027, see website for schedule
All ages
Tickets start at $41.87
The magic of the Big Apple Circus is back! Witness the comedic genius of Anton and Frank, the jaw-dropping aerial artistry of the Sky Angels, and the high-energy acrobatics of Bingo Troupe. Feel the thrill as the Cardenas Brothers master the Wheel of Death and Triple Breath executes daring three-person-high formations and spectacular stunts high above the ring. With unforgettable feats of strength and skill, this all-new show brings the magic of the circus to life.
Holiday Train Show
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm, through Jan. 10, 2027
All ages
$27 – $49
The timeless magic of rail travel fills NYBG with seasonal cheer as model trains travel over famous bridges and through familiar City settings, bringing nearly 200 twinkling landmark replicas—including a few surprises—to life under the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Get up close to see these miniature masterpieces, each one meticulously crafted from plant parts like palm fronds, pinecones, and cinnamon sticks. Outside, explore a glowing mountain-scape brimming with even more trains and picture-perfect moments.
Blippi Live – Be Like Blippi Tour!
Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 pm
Ages 6 and younger
Tickets start at $39.50
Get ready to see the world more curiously as you move like, play like, and explore just like Blippi! Join Blippi and Meekah live on stage in a high-energy live show packed with music, laughter, and surprises, featuring fan favorites like “The Excavator Song,” “Monster Truck,” “Dino Dance,” and “Curious Like Me.” This brand-new interactive adventure invites you and your family to put on your orange glasses and unlock the spark of curiosity inside us all.
New York Family’s Top FREE Picks for December
Grand Illumination of the Conference House
Conference House, 7455 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island
Sunday, Dec. 6, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
All ages
Free
Learn about colonial Christmas traditions, enjoy free cookies and cider, and see the Conference House illuminated from within.
Prehistoric New York
Cunningham Park, Union Turnpike and 196th St., Queens
Sunday, Dec. 20, 1 – 2:30 pm
All ages
Free
Travel back thousands of years to uncover the giants that once roamed New York and trace the powerful glacial forces that shaped this rugged landscape. Get ready to explore the park like a true Ice Age explorer!
New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Prospect Park
Grand Army Plaza, Flatbush Ave. and Eastern Pkwy., Brooklyn
Thursday, Dec. 31, 10 pm
All ages
Free
Join tens of thousands of revelers for this free, 46-year tradition, with live entertainment starting at 10 pm and a magnificent fireworks display at midnight lighting up the skies above Prospect Park.
More of New York Family’s Favorite December Events
Lightscape
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., Brooklyn
Through Jan. 3, 2027, see website for schedule
All ages
$15 – $44
Lightscape returns this holiday season with a spectacular new trail—a love letter to the Garden, its four seasons of splendor, and the visitors who bring it to life. Step into a world brimming with beauty, where luminous installations meet light-kissed landscapes, right in the heart of Brooklyn.
Winter Lantern Festival at Queens County Farm
Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Queens
Daily, 5:30 – 10 pm, through Jan. 3, 2027
All ages
Tickets start at $18
Advance reservations are recommended
This outdoor event features hundreds of dazzling handcrafted Chinese lanterns showcasing traditional artistry, cultural legends, and nature-inspired designs. Visitors can explore a colorful wonderland of lights while enjoying live entertainment, food, and shopping.
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
Daily through Jan. 3, 2027; see website for schedule
All ages
$14.95 – $42.95
Holiday Lights is a festive night out celebrating wildlife and enjoying immersive light experiences, hands-on activities, holiday entertainment, and delicious food and drinks. Animals are at the heart of everything we do at the Bronx Zoo! NEW for 2026 is the opening of the Children’s Zoo Farmyard for Holiday Lights, a beloved holiday tradition. Enjoy a festive moment with donkeys, sheep, goats, alpacas, and more in this cozy, picture-perfect backdrop! For more special animal moments and extra warm-up spots, World of Darkness and World of Reptiles will also be open, so you can hang with a sloth and bask with lizards as part of your Bronx Zoo nighttime adventure.
Gazillion Bubble Show’s Holiday Spectacular
New World Stages, 340 W 50th St., Manhattan
Through Jan. 18, 2027, see website for complete schedule
All ages
Tickets start at $59
Gazillion Bubble Show’s Holiday Spectacular adds a festive twist to the show’s signature bubble artistry, dazzling lights, lasers, and interactive magic with seasonal music, holiday-themed surprises, and plenty of Christmas magic. Families can celebrate the season together and capture a one-of-a-kind holiday photo with Santa inside a giant bubble.
Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah Lighting
Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Dec. 4 – 11, see website for schedule
All ages
Free
The Largest Menorah in Brooklyn has been towering over New York since 1985! Every night of Chanukah, thousands celebrate with the accompaniment of live music and hot latkes for all. Plus, special gifts for children. There will be a live concert on Sunday, the 3rd Night of Chanukah, right before lighting!
Breakfast with Santa 2026
Dave & Buster’s, 2655 Richmond Ave., Staten Island
Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 – 11 am
All ages
Tickets start at $31.57
This magical morning is filled with fun and festivities for the whole family to enjoy, featuring a festive breakfast banquet, photos with Santa, holiday crafts, gaming, and more.
Winter Haven Opening Weekend
Wave Hill, 675 W 252nd St., Bronx
Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 am – 7:30 pm; Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 am – 4:30 pm
All ages
$4 – $10 admission plus additional fee for some programming
Visit on Opening Weekend and shop at the annual Artisan Market for thoughtful gifts from local artisans and makers! Craft a stunning, one-of-a-kind wreath in artist-led workshops. Enjoy music, ice carving demonstrations, and the Family Art Project. Self-guided amenities will be available all month, including blankets and binoculars for loan from the Perkins Visitor Center and educational materials on the Lower Lawn.
Hanukkah Family Day Drop-In Art-Making Activities + Concerts
The Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Ave., Manhattan
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 am – 3:30 pm
All ages
$24; free for ages 18 and younger
Enjoy the festival of lights through art and live music! Dance to the original pop tunes of Grammy winner Joanie Leeds. See a dazzling display of more than 130 Hanukkah menorahs from around the world and sketch unique details. Create light-themed works of art inspired by the holiday through collage, sculpture, and more. The PJ Library New York Book Nook offers families a quiet space to relax in between activities and read holiday stories together.
Winter Wonder at Queens Botanical Garden
Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Queens
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 – 5 pm
All ages
$6
Celebrate the season with live music, crafts, and festive shopping. Snap photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, take selfies among the beautiful evergreen displays in the Garden, and enjoy seasonal drinks from the Holiday Bar. The night concludes with a lantern walk to the tree-lighting.
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West, Bronx
Sunday, Dec. 13, 3 pm
All ages
Tickets start at $29; $10 for ages 10 and younger
Families will love watching their favorite characters from the classic book & TV series explore the atmosphere on Mercury, Venus, and Mars on an epic interplanetary field trip. Guided by Ms. Frizzle, the class must pull together to find their way across the galaxy while learning as much about teamwork as they do about the solar system.
The Nutcracker & Visit to Santa’s Toyland
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, 45-50 Van Dam St., Queens
Sunday, Dec. 13, 4 pm
All ages
$30
This beloved tradition returns to LPAC, performed by Joffrey Ballet School! Afterward, head to the Little Theater for A Visit to Toyland! Enjoy a holiday-themed display that includes a photo op with the jolly man himself, Santa Claus. And each child leaves with a soft, cuddly toy!
Weaving my Mkeka
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd St., Manhattan
Dec. 27 – 28, Sunday and Monday, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 – 3:45 pm
Ages 8 and younger
$18
Weave strips of foam paper together to create a special mat, known as a Mkeka, traditionally used to display symbolic items during Kwanzaa celebrations.
Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse Movie Screening & Sing-Along
St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 4 pm
All ages
$20
Watch the animated film Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse, then meet Mickey and Princess Belle in the lobby, followed by a sing-along and costume parade with Tina Kenny Jones!
Caribbean Vibe
Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Staten Island
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 4 – 4:45 pm
All ages
$10
The Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band’s performers provide fun, festive music while sharing and elevating the joy of an instrument whose origins are rooted in the history of the Afro-Trinidadian struggle for freedom. Also known as the steel pan, the steel drum is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. It exemplifies resilience and resistance against oppression and is a remarkable example of human ingenuity.
Psst…Check Out New Elf Experience Brings Buddy’s World to NYC’s Rockefeller Center
