Events: Top Kid-Friendly Activities For The Week

Snoopy and Woodstock will float down the Upper West Side this Thursday during the 89th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Photo via social.macys.com — Snoopy and Woodstock will float down the Upper West Side this Thursday during the 89th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Photo via social.macys.com

While the days leading up to Turkey Day can be hectic (to say the least), this year, they’re also chock-full of family fun. Check out a cool dance performance, get in the holiday spirit with a musical for little ones, snag your tickets to a beloved ballet classic, and, of course, don’t miss the most iconic of NYC parades. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

Through Sunday, December 6

Pilobolus: “Shadowland”
NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
Various times
Pilobolus, a non-profit performing arts organization and dance company, will premier its new show “Shadowland” for the first time in North America at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts! The show blends shadow theater, circus artistry, dance, and more to create 75 spellbinding minutes of performance. The projection of images on several moving screens combined with the live dance creates a visual effect unlike anything you’ve witnessed before. Tickets start at $45. Please note: While this show is appropriate for all ages, the 8pm shows include a brief moment of toplessness.

Wednesday, November 25

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation
Between 77th & 81st Streets from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue
3pm-10pm
Busy on Thanksgiving but still want to see the Macy’s balloons in person? Gather near the American Museum of Natural History, and watch the parade balloons being inflated on Wednesday afternoon. A few words of advice: The balloons usually take shape around 4:30pm, so be sure to arrive early to guarantee a prime viewing spot. Also, as with any event that brings large crowds, be sure to keep a close eye on the kiddies! This event is free.

Thursday, November 26

89th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Begins at 77th Street and Central Park West; ends at Macy’s Herald Square
9am-12pm
This year’s parade will feature 17 giant character balloons! Favorites such as Hello Kitty, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Spongebob Squarepants, Pikachu, Snoopy and Woodstock, and Thomas the Tank Engine are back. Making his parade debut is Scrat and his acorn from the “Ice Age” films! There are also seven novelty balloons, including Harold the Fireman and Wiggleworm, plus Macy’s ornament balloons like the world’s largest baseball signed by R.H. Macy, the Nutcracker, and the Macy’s Candy Cane. Plus, there are two balloonicles—a combination of a cold-air balloon and a vehicle—the Kool Aid Man and the Aflac Duck. Performers include Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Mariah Carey, Daughtry, Andy Grammer, Panic! At the Disco, the Plain White Ts, Train, Prince Royce, Trey Songz, Jordin Sparks, and more! This event is free. For our annual parade viewing tips, click here.

Beginning Friday, November 27

George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”
Lincoln Center
Various times
Families with children of all ages shouldn’t miss the New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and Rouben Ter-Arutunian’s sets imbue E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story with holiday enchantment. Featuring a cast of more than 200 dancers, the classic tale of Clara’s journey to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy will feature a spectacular growing Christmas tree, toy soldiers, snow, and much more. Tickets start at $75. Runs through Sunday, January 3.

Beginning Saturday, November 28

“Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas”
The Theater at St. Jean
1pm
This holiday season, watch as Nancy makes her Christmas as splendiferous as possible during “Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas” at The Theater at St. Jean! Based on the book by Jane O’Connor, this musical theater production by the Vital Theatre Company is perfect for ages 2 through 7. Tickets start at $49.50. Runs Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, December 27.

Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND® New York Resort

Monstrous Family fun returns with Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND&reg; New York Resort! &nbsp; The signature children&rsquo;s Halloween event kicks off October 3rd&nbsp;when the Park transforms into a bewitching party filled with candy, seasonal shows, and Halloween themed LEGO characters. The event runs on all operating dates in October, with all festivities included in general admission. Meet LEGO Monster characters like Spider Lady and Wacky Witch and make your way to the treat stations around the Park. Don&rsquo;t forget your costumes! &nbsp; New for 2024: Monster Party Nights at LEGOLAND New York Hotel! Book a Brick-or-Treat overnight package in October to enjoy extra sweet Halloween-themed fun after a day in the Park. Hotel guests will have the opportunity to eat breakfast with a Monster, participate in themed crafts and LEGO builds, rock out at the Monster Dance Party each night, and more! &nbsp; AWESOME AWAITS at LEGOLAND&reg; New York Resort, the ultimate LEGO&reg; theme park destination, for kids ages two through twelve and their families. Ride, climb, and build your way through seven LEGO themed lands. &nbsp;

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.

Super Soccer Stars

Soccer Stars is New York&rsquo;s most popular youth educational soccer program! With 24 years of experience under our cleats, we have positively impacted over one million kids in our local community by putting the FUN in FUNdamentals in our weekly classes and camps. At Soccer Stars, we use the soccer ball as a vehicle to help children not only improve their soccer skills, but develop self-confidence and physical literacy, improve gross motor skills, build teamwork, and hone socialization skills. Our highly trained coaches and early childhood experts lead an age-specific curriculum with a low kid-to-coach ratio so every child gets individual attention and can grow at their own pace. Kids ages 1-12+ can join our seasonal programs, including Parent &amp; Me, FUNdamentals, Development Training, and Travel Soccer. Join us at one of over 80 locations in neighborhoods across across Westchester County, Connecticut and New York, available 7 days-a-week: Connecticut: <ul> <li>Cos Cob</li> <li>Greenwich</li> <li>Port Chester</li> </ul> &nbsp; Westchester: <ul> <li>Briarcliff</li> <li>Eastchester</li> <li>Mt. Kisco</li> <li>New Rochelle</li> <li>Ridgefield</li> <li>Scarsdale</li> <li>White Plains</li> </ul> &nbsp; New York City: <ul> <li>Bronx</li> <li>Inwood</li> <li>Upper West Side</li> <li>Upper East Side</li> </ul> &nbsp; Can&rsquo;t find a class or location that fits your schedule? Soccer Stars also offers private classes for small groups or individual training. Let our coaches come to you with a completely customizable program, anytime, anywhere. Birthday parties are also available!&nbsp;