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Best of November: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Holiday Lights, and More Things To Do in NYC

The Amaze Light Festival in Queens is geared toward all ages. Photo courtesy of the Amaze Light Festival
The Amaze Light Festival in Queens is geared toward all ages. Photo courtesy of the Amaze Light Festival
10/30/22 - By Drew Kristofik

In November, New York City gears up for holidays from Election Day to Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and then scrambles full steam ahead to Christmas.

November ushers in the holiday season in NYC and the biggest events on our calendar are the Macy's balloon inflation and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at the month's end. But, there's plenty of fun before those giant balloons take flight. Families can enjoy Paul Taylor's Family Menagerie Matinee, the annual Canstruction exhibition, and hit the ice at the Rockefeller Center Rink. We're also jumping for joy because the Big Apple Circus returns to Lincoln Center early this month, too.

Mid-month brings the beloved TILT Kids' Day, a gingerbread competition, and the annual Brooklyn's Children's Book Fair, along with the big Titanic exhibition, and a dazzle of kid-friendly shows, including the Fancy Nancy Christmas show.

Speaking of dazzling, holiday lights are illuminating all five boroughs, including Lightscape in Brooklyn, Illuminate the Farm and Amaze Light Festival in Queens, the NYC Winter Lantern Fest on Staten Island, the Bronx Zoo's Holiday Lights, and NYBG Glow.  

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

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The Bronx Zoo's imaginative Holiday Lights debut before Thanksgiving. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher
The Bronx Zoo's imaginative Holiday Lights debut before Thanksgiving. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher

Top Things To Do in NYC with Kids this November

Inwood Pumpkin Pageant

Inwood–FREE
Tuesday, November 1
The Inwood Pumpkin Pageant returns to Isham Park for another spooky display of Halloween artistry. Local residents bring their carved jack-o'-lanterns to the park the evening after Halloween for a grand community event. READ MORE

Day of the Dead Celebration

Astoria, Queens–FREE
Wednesday, November 2
Museum of the Moving Image hosts a Day of the Dead Celebration featuring live music, dance, and film for families. The Museum’s Kaufman Courtyard resounds with free performances by Mariachi Nuevo Amanecer Academy, followed by a presentation of Aztec Mexica dance, poetry, and music from indigenous dance troupe Yayauhki Tezcatlipoka. READ MORE

31st Annual Canstruction Competition 2023

Battery Park City–FREE
Friday, November 4-Tuesday, November 15
An extraordinary annual design competition, and the most unique food charity in the world, Canstruction challenges teams of architects, engineers, and contractors to build sculptures made entirely out of unopened cans of food.  READ MORE

Paul Taylor Dance Company presents a Family Menagerie Matinee

Upper West Side
Saturday, November 5
The Paul Taylor Dance Company and Orchestra of St. Luke’s celebrate insects and animals during an afternoon of magical storytelling and a peek behind one of New York City’s most iconic curtains. READ MORE

Rockefeller Center Skating Rink Opening Week

Midtown West
Opens Saturday, November 5
The world's most famous ice rink opens for the season. Grab your ice skates and your reservations so you can take a spin on this iconic ice skating rink.  READ MORE

Big Apple Circus

Midtown West/Upper West Side
Opens Wednesday, November 9
The Big Apple Circus returns to Lincoln Center for its 45th anniversary season. Performers include king of the high wire Nik Wallenda, comic daredevil Johnny Rockett, The Kiriku Brothers, aerialist Alan Silva, trapeze artist Elli Huber, juggling master Gena Cristiani, Veranica and Her Talented Dogs, and more! READ MORE

Illuminate the Farm

Glen Oaks, Queens
Opens Friday, November 11
The NYC Winter Lantern Festival transforms the Queens County Farm Museum's grounds into an immersive river of light. Holiday lights and homemade lanterns take the shape of flowers, tractors, farm animals, and more forming a dazzling seasonal display. READ MORE

Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off

Upper East Side
Opens Friday, November 11
Two bakeries from each borough were selected to create a gingerbread display following the theme of Winter in New York and best representing their respective neighborhoods, communities, or boroughs. See the sweet creations on display at the Museum of the City of New York. READ MORE

Titanic: The Exhibition

Chelsea
Opens Friday, November 11
Travel back to 1912 through photographs, handwritten letters, wayward keepsakes, and other personal belongings telling countless stories about the fates and heroic deeds on board. READ MORE

Fall TILT Kids Day

Midtown East
Saturday, November 12
FIAF hosts a day filled with fun activities, including a Drag Queen Story Hour, an arts and crafts session, a musical workshop, and a film screening. Each activity aims to inspire its participants to look at the beauty, variety, and ecological importance of forests. READ MORE

The Three Musketeers

Midtown West
Opens Saturday, November 12
Serving swagger, style, and swordplay, The Acting Company mashes up waltz with spoken word and high court drama with high-fashion hip-hop to reclaim the swashbuckling classic for today. READ MORE

16th Annual Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair

Prospect Park, Brooklyn–FREE
Sunday, November 13
The annual Brooklyn Children's Book Fair brings together 40 Brooklyn authors and illustrators to share their latest books. Throughout the day, children and their companions can attend readings and presentations, learn about the creative process, get books signed, and have fun drawing and coloring. READ MORE

Divi Roxx Family Concert

Upper East Side
Sunday, November 13
Grammy-nominated musician, recording artist, and composer Divinity Roxx combines virtuosic bass playing with an eclectic mash-up of hip-hop, rock, and funk that she calls Alternative Soul. READ MORE

Lightscape

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Opens Wednesday, November 16
Explore the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's after-dark, illuminated spectacular Lightscape, and celebrate the beauty of nature in winter on an enchanting trail animated by dazzling light, color, and sound. READ MORE

Bluey's Big Play

Midtown West
Friday, November 18-Sunday, November 20
Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chill​i embark on their first live US tour. Featuring puppetry, live actors, and iconic sets, Bluey's Big Play is based on an original story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm and also contains new music by series composer, Joff Bush. READ MORE

Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Opens Friday, November 18
Holiday Lights return to the Bronx Zoo, bigger, brighter, and greener than ever before. The beloved holiday tradition covers acres of the zoo, lighting the grounds with custom Asian lanterns, wildlife-themed LED displays, and animated light shows on the historic Astor Court. READ MORE

NYBG Glow

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Opens Friday, November 18
Visitors can explore a glowing world of color and light at the New York Botanical Garden's outdoor light show. Washes of brilliant colors, thousands of dazzling, energy-efficient LED lights, and picture-perfect installations enliven the gardens and collections. READ MORE

Artechouse: Spectacular Factory – The Holiday Multiverse

Chelsea
Opens Saturday, November 19
Enter a wintry multiverse filled with magic, joy, and wonder and immerse yourself in an interactive winter wonderland where you can float among giant swinging bells, crash a party of a thousand nutcrackers, take a joyride through giant wreaths, and more. READ MORE

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Opens Saturday, November 19
The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show returns for its 32nd year! Model trains zip through a miniature wonderland of nearly 200 New York landmark replicas, each re-created from natural materials such as leaves, seeds, twigs, bark, acorns, and cinnamon sticks. READ MORE

Amaze Light Festival

Corona, Queens
Opens Saturday, November 19
Stroll inside larger-than-life themed worlds and meet Zing and Sparky, characters from the Amaze storybook, who bring stage dancers, singers, and a light show to life with their magic powers. Visit the holiday market and then stop in and grab a treat at Sparky’s Sweet Spot. READ MORE

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation

Upper West Side–FREE
Wednesday, November 23
The Macy's Balloon Inflation returns! Watching the giant balloons expand is a tradition for many NYC families—almost as important as the Thanksgiving Day Parade proper.  READ MORE

96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Midtown West–FREE
Thursday, November 24
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to once again march down the streets of New York City for its 96th annual holiday celebration. READ MORE

Small Business Saturday Tree Lighting in Park Slope

Park Slope, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, November 26
JJ Byrne Park lights up with holiday cheer as Park Slope's Small Business group hosts its annual tree lighting event, complete with Bubbledad, touch-a-truck, carol singing with the Park Slope Conservancy, wrapped treats, and—of course—Santa! READ MORE

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting 2023

Midtown West–FREE
Wednesday, November 30
The 91st Rockefeller Center Christmas tree illuminates for a national close-up. Families across the US can view the Christmas tree lighting from home, live on the national broadcast “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on NBC. READ MORE

NYC Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East

St. George, Staten Island
Weekends through Sunday, January 8
The Winter Lantern Festival returns for a fourth run in a new venue, transforming SIUH Community Park into an immersive world of light. The Journey to the East features more than 1,000 Chinese lanterns; all handmade by artisans with decades of dedication to their craft. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center
Museum of the City of New York
Titanic | The Exhibition
FIAF - French Institute Alliance Française
Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
The New York Botanical Garden

About the Author

Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik's early career editing teen magazines somehow morphed into a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a very long sojourn at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick online and then Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com local. She was a founding member of the WebbyAward winning GoCityKids, has written for Family Fun Magazine, Vanity Fair, and New York, and her novel for middle schoolers, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. She strives to keep the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar packed and accurate, and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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