22 Dec Things to Do With Kids in NYC This Weekend

If you are looking for things to do with kids in NYC this weekend, then we’ve got the perfect round-up of activities and events taking place. Explore the best of what the city has to offer and create family-friendly memories that will last a lifetime.

December 27

Show Up, Kids! Interactive Family Comedy
The Rat NYC, 68-117 Jay Street, Brooklyn 11201
$18

Following capacity crowds, the hit family comedy “Show Up, Kids!” returns to The Rat NYC in DUMBO at 2:00 p.m. This interactive musical show for kids 3-10 years old puts a wildly comedic twist on the traditional kids’ show. When the main attraction doesn’t show up, the host enlists the help of the kids (and their grownups) to control everything from plot to props, characters to costumes, and settings to sound in a one-of-a-kind, 45-minute laughfest.

December 27

Family Workshop: Gingerbread Cookie Decorating with Pastry Chef Angela Carlucci
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029
Members: $10 per family | Non-Members: $15 per family | For groups larger than 3 people, add $5 per extra guest

This interactive workshop invites children and their caregivers to explore holiday traditions through hands-on gingerbread decorating and sensory discovery. Participants will design two themed cookies: a whimsical melting snowman and a cute gingerbread house cut-out, after observing a live demonstration by Pastry Chef Angela Carlucci. The session blends creative expression, fine motor skill development, and family collaboration, making it ideal for both educational and social fun!

Ages 6-12 with an adult

December 27 & 28

Celebrate Kwanzaa
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
$15 per person / free for BCM members

NYC’s largest Kwanzaa festival returns for its 18th year—a week-long celebration of African heritage and culture. Join daily candle lightings, watch youth performances, and take part in dance, drumming, and art workshops inspired by Kwanzaa’s seven principles.

Friday, December 26 – Tuesday, December 30

December 27 & 28

Holiday Train Show at NYBG
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10458
$27-$39

After more than three decades, the Holiday Train Show continues to delight as New York City’s favorite winter tradition and a can’t-miss adventure. 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 new surprises for 2025/2026—to life under the glass of the warm and welcoming Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Now through Jan. 11, 2026 (Tuesday through Sunday)

December 27 & 28

Holiday Under The Stars at The Shops at Columbus Circle
The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
Free

The iconic Holiday Under The Stars returns bringing festive brilliance to the Upper West Side. Featuring 300,000 twinkling lights and 44 illuminated stars, the display transforms the center into a dazzling kaleidoscope of color. In the Great Room, color-changing stars perform choreographed light shows every 30 minutes from 5PM to midnight, set against a backdrop of shimmering garlands.

Dazzling Star Shows Nightly at 5pm
November 10 – January 4

For more things to do with kids in NYC this weekend and beyond, please check out other events by visiting our calendar >>

Please always check ahead with the venue/organizer for each event to make sure there are no cancelations.

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(Updated December 22, 2025)