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27 Best Holiday Events and Christmas Activities for Preschoolers in NYC

The Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East transforms SIUH Ballpark into a glowing walk-through experience. Photo courtesy of the festival
The Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East transforms SIUH Ballpark into a glowing walk-through experience. Photo courtesy of the festival
12/1/22 - By Rosalind Muggeridge

New York City's annual transformation into a holiday wonderland is pure magic no matter your age, though holiday activities and Christmas events are always more magical with little ones in tow. While NYC's zest for the holidays never gets old, the crowds at Christmas activities can be daunting—and the average toddler or preschooler tends to have limited patience for lines and lots of noise.

To that end, we've rounded up amazing holiday events and Christmas activities for preschoolers in NYC. These picks are just right for the 2-to-5-year-old set and include events that take their limited attention span into account without cutting back on the holiday fun. Our top picks for little kid Christmas activities include our very own FREE Holly Jolly Holiday Party, plus Christmas trains, Santa visits, abridged performances of holiday shows, a little gingerbread mania, and lots of interactive events and workshops.

Find all our top picks for seasonal fun for all ages in our New York City Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

GingerBread Lane brings its confection-filled display back to NYC at the Essex Market. Photo courtesy of Essex Market
GingerBread Lane brings its confection-filled display back to NYC at the Essex Market. Photo courtesy of Essex Market

Season-Long Christmas Events for Preschoolers in NYC

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas

Midtown West
Weekends through Saturday, December 31
What could be fancier than Christmas? Nancy has enough money to buy a brand-new sparkly tree topper, and she can't wait to decorate the Christmas tree. But when things don't turn out the way Nancy planned, will Christmas still be splendiferous? READ MORE

Big Apple Circus

Upper West Side
Daily through Sunday, January 1, 2023
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

Luminaries

Battery Park City–FREE
Daily through Friday, January 6, 2023
Visitors are immersed in a canopy of light emanating from hundreds of suspended lanterns floating above the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place. Touch-free Wishing Stations on the ground allow visitors to “send” a wish to the canopy of lanterns above, translating the wish into a mesmerizing display of lights and colors. READ MORE

Origami Holiday Tree 2022

Upper West Side
Select dates through Saturday, January 7, 2023
An annual American Museum of Natural History tradition, the delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree and two merrily lit 19-foot holiday barosaurs welcome visitors throughout the holiday season. READ MORE

NYC Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East

Richmond, Staten Island
Fridays-Sundays through January 8, 2023
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

Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off

East Harlem
Select dates through Sunday, January 8, 2023
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

GingerBread Lane & Gingerbread House Workshops

Lower East Side
Daily through January 15, 2023
Holidays excepted
Essex Market lays claim to the largest gingerbread village in the entire world, certified by Guinness world records. READ MORE

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Daily through January 22, 2023
Closed Christmas Day
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
Embrace the chill and enjoy a Holiday Creative Break on Little Island. Photo courtesy Little Island
Embrace the chill and enjoy a Holiday Creative Break on Little Island. Photo courtesy Little Island

Holiday Activities for Preschoolers in NYC in December 2022

Holiday Lights Battery Park City

Rockefeller Park–FREE
Thursday, December 1
Kick off the season with a festive evening of lively carols, cozy beverages, and sweet treats with the Battery Park City community! The new BPC Holiday Lights tree in Rockefeller Park starts sparkling with special guest appearances by Sing Harlem Choir, and you-know-who! READ MORE

Dumbo Tree Lighting

Dumbo, Brooklyn–FREE
Thursday, December 1
The Dumbo Improvement District hosts its 16th annual Dumbo Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, with all the trimmings. READ MORE

26th Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting

Harlem–FREE
Thursday, December 1
See the flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer get lit for the season at this annual Christmas tree lighting. Visitors can meet Santa and friends, watch a live ice-carving demonstration, sing carols on the plaza, and warm up with hot cocoa and cookies. READ MORE

Holly Jolly Holiday Party

Midtown East–FREE
Saturday, December 3
Mommy Poppins is partnering with The Hugh for a Holly Jolly Holiday Party! Visit with Santa, pose for a free family portrait with Big Apple Portraits, make seasonal crafts, and share some joy by bringing a toy for our toy drive! READ MORE

21st Annual St. Nicholas Day Celebration

East Flatbush, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, December 3
Families are invited to NYC's oldest house for an outdoor celebration packed with craft activities, a tree lighting, and a special visit from St. Nick. READ MORE

Holiday on the Hudson

Harlem–FREE
Saturday, December 3
Hudson River Park's annual holiday tree lighting party invites families to celebrate the season with winter arts and crafts, hot chocolate, and live music. READ MORE

Holiday Tinker Festival and Tree Lighting

Flushing, Queens-FREE
Saturday, December 3
Celebrate the holidays with tinkering, tree lighting, hot cocoa and music. Test out mini winter experiments at the North Pole, build an edible snowman at the Elf Tinker Shop, or enjoy gingerbread arts and crafts with Mrs. Claus. READ MORE

Winter Wonder at the Queens Botanical Garden

Flushing, Queens–FREE
Saturday, December 3-Sunday, December 4
Celebrate the best of December with free live musical performances, a tree and menorah lighting, holiday crafts, a tree tour, and selfies with Santa (donations welcome). READ MORE

Holiday Creative Break on Little Island

Chelsea–FREE
Thursdays and Saturdays from Saturday, December 3-Saturday, December 17
Make a holiday-themed postcard on Little Island to spread some joy by mailing your postcard to family, friends, or neighbors. READ MORE

The Steadfast Tin Soldier & Nutcracker Sweets

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Weekends from Saturday, December 3-Sunday, December 25
Puppetworks presents a double bill, featuring The Steadfast Tin Soldier, from Hans Christian Andersen, and Nutcracker Sweets with Tchaikovsky's music. Both are adapted for the marionette stage by Nicholas Coppola.  READ MORE

Fort Greene Park Holiday Tree Lighting

Fort Greene, Brooklyn–FREE
Sunday, December 4
Join the Fort Greene Park Conservancy (FGPC) and for its annual holiday tree lighting. Stop by for free warm cocoa, cider, and cookies provided by local businesses. Snap a selfie with Santa and enjoy plenty of holiday cheer. READ MORE

NYPD 84th Precinct: Visits from Santa

Multiple Brooklyn Locations–FREE
Select dates from Sunday, December 4-Sunday, December 11
Kids can take free pictures with Santa when he arrives in a NYPD car! The 84th Precinct chauffeurs the man in red, with stops in various Brooklyn neighborhoods. READ MORE

Christmas in Historic Richmond Town

Richmond, Staten Island
Weekends from Saturday, December 10-Sunday, December 18
Historic Richmond Town celebrates the season with a Dickens-style village. Guests can enjoy historical interpreters' presentations, shop for gifts and crafts, enjoy tasty eats, and embark on horse and carriage rides.  READ MORE

WeBop Family Jazz Party - Holiday Jazz Jam

Upper West Side
Saturday, December 17
The annual Holiday Jazz Jam is back! Join Ms. Goussy, Ms. Sofia, and the WeBop Family Jazz Band for a multicultural celebration to ring in the holidays. Sing and swing into the holiday season with this fun and interactive show. READ MORE

Holiday Nostalgia Rides

Multiple Manhattan Locations
Sundays through Sunday, December 18
Celebrate the magic of New York City during the holidays with a ride back in time on a vintage fleet of subway trains! The train of Many Colors operates along the 1 line, making all local stops between the Chambers Street and 137th Street-City College St stations. READ MORE

My First Nutcracker

Midtown West
Wednesdays through Sundays from Saturday, December 3-Thursday, December 22
Clara and the Prince travel to a magical kingdom filled with delicious treats, dancing flowers and a pesky mouse king in this holiday classic re-imagined for little theatergoers by New York City Children's Theater. READ MORE

CMOM December

Upper West Side
Select dates through Saturday, December 31
Grab a cup of cheer at CMOM with traditions old and new, from exploring slime, frost, and snow to celebrating Hanukkah with dreidels and holiday storytelling, and welcoming Kwanzaa with drumming. Don't forget to prep for 2023 with a noon year's eve ball drop! READ MORE
Thomas the Tank Engine returns to NYBG to star in a mini-performance on weekends in January. Photo courtesy of NYBG
Thomas the Tank Engine returns to NYBG to star in a mini-performance on weekends in January. Photo courtesy of NYBG

Holiday Activities for Preschoolers in NYC in January 2023

46th Annual Three Kings Parade

East Harlem–FREE
Friday, January 6
Line up with live camels, colorful puppets, parrandas, music, and dancing on this magical day! After the parade, hit La Marqueta for traditional Puerto Rican music and food, and then return to El Museo del Barrio for live music. READ MORE

All Aboard with Thomas & Friends at the New York Botanical Garden

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Saturday, January 7-Sunday, January 22
Thomas and Driver Sam are on board for All Aboard with Thomas & Friends at the New York Botanical Garden, a fun-filled sing-along and performance.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Brookfield Place
American Museum of Natural History
Museum of the City of New York
Borough-Wide