Family events in New York City in November 2026

Sunday, November 1, 2026

• Dia de los Muertos at the Queens Zoo

  Queens Zoo, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
  Subway: 7 to 111 St

  A celebration of Latin American cultures and extinct animal species, with animal meet and greets, story time and face painting on Sunday. Organizer

• TCS New York City Marathon

  Fort Wadsworth to Central Park, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island · Free

  Nearly 60,000 runners cover 26.2 miles from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan to Central Park. Families cheer along the route, so pick a spot away from the finish for room. Organizer

• Fall Canoeing

  11am, Wolfe's Pond Park, Prince's Bay, Staten Island · Free

  A calm autumn paddle with the Urban Park Rangers at Wolfe's Pond Park. Check the Parks page for age rules and sign-up. Organizer

• Nature's Workshop: Fall Foliage Leaf Art

  11am, Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park, The Bronx · Free

  Kids collect fallen leaves and turn them into art with the Urban Park Rangers. Organizer

• Dia de los Muertos Parade and Celebration

  1pm, New York Botanical Garden, Bedford Park, The Bronx · Included with All-Garden Pass ($15 children, $35 adults weekdays; $17 and $39 weekends)
  Subway: Metro-North Harlem Line to Botanical Garden, or B/D/4 to Bedford Park Blvd then the Bx26 bus

  Larger-than-life puppets, live dance and crafts. The 2pm parade is cancelled in poor weather. Organizer

Saturday, November 7, 2026

• Christmas Tree Arrives at Rockefeller Center

  Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr

  Rockefeller Center says the 2026 Christmas Tree arrives on November 7. Details on viewing are expected closer to the date. Organizer

• Jazz Age Lawn Party

  Colonels Row Green, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A 1920s themed lawn party with live music, dance lessons, vintage portrait sessions, antique cars and croquet, 11am to 5pm both days. Tickets are sold through the party's own site, and the page does not state a children's policy. Organizer

• Family Art Project: Raptors in Autumn Sky

  10am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to 231 St, then Bx7 or Bx10 bus

  A family art project about migrating hawks over the Hudson at Wave Hill. It repeats on Sunday, November 8. Organizer

• Fly Away Redbirds Nostalgia Ride, Morning

  10am, New York Transit Museum (rides depart from Old South Ferry Station), Financial District, Manhattan · $60 adults, $40 children
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St

  A round-trip ride on the vintage Redbird subway cars, leaving from the old South Ferry station. Tickets are $60 adults and $40 children. Holiday Nostalgia Rides for 2026 are not yet published. Organizer

• Autumn Eco Crafts and Exploration

  1pm, Juniper South Playground, Juniper Valley Park, Middle Village, Queens · Free

  A hands-on craft program from the Urban Park Rangers about fall in the park. Organizer

• Fly Away Redbirds Nostalgia Ride, Afternoon

  2pm, New York Transit Museum (rides depart from Old South Ferry Station), Financial District, Manhattan · $60 adults, $40 children
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St

  A round-trip ride on the vintage Redbird subway cars, leaving from the old South Ferry station. Tickets are $60 adults and $40 children. Holiday Nostalgia Rides for 2026 are not yet published. Organizer

Sunday, November 8, 2026

• Free Second Sunday

  Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: A/C/E to 14 St or L to 8 Av

  Admission to the whole museum is free on the second Sunday of the month, and ages 25 and under are always free. Family programming on these days is not listed on the pages we checked. Organizer

• Fantastic Fungi Mushroom ID Hike

  11am, Audubon Center at the Boathouse, Prospect Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: B/Q to Prospect Park

  A Ranger-led forest hike in Prospect Park to learn how to spot and identify mushrooms. Organizer

• Leaf Peeping in Central Park Hike

  1pm, Central Park, West 100th Street entrance, Central Park, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/C to 103 St

  A hike around the North Woods of Central Park for fall color, led by the Urban Park Rangers. Organizer

Saturday, November 14, 2026

• Best of BAMkids Film Festival, Ages 6 to 8

  BAM Brooklyn Academy of Music, Fort Greene, Brooklyn
  Subway: 2/3/4/5/B/D/N/Q/R/W to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr

  Festival favorites about friendship and adventure for younger school-age kids. Organizer

• Family Art Project: Tiny Terrariums

  10am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to 231 St, then Bx7 or Bx10 bus

  Families make jar habitats and learn about soil and decomposers at Wave Hill. Jars are provided. It repeats on Sunday, November 15. Organizer

• Governors Island Tree Tour

  11:45am, Soissons Landing, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free guided outdoor tour from the Governors Island nature team about the island's nearly 3,500 trees. It meets at Soissons Landing on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Register through the event page. Organizer

• Fall Foliage Hike

  1pm, Picnic House, Prospect Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free

  A Ranger hike on the ecology of a fall forest and the science behind the changing colors. Organizer

Sunday, November 15, 2026

• Nature Detective Mystery Adventure

  11am, Brower Park Lawn, Crown Heights, Brooklyn · Free

  Kids learn the basics of animal tracking and help the Rangers solve some critter crime scenes. Organizer

Saturday, November 21, 2026

• Family Art Project: Papery Partners

  10am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to 231 St, then Bx7 or Bx10 bus

  A craft about plant and animal partnerships at Wave Hill. It repeats on Sunday, November 22. Organizer

• Birding: Owls

  11am, Orchard Beach Pavilion, Pelham Bay, The Bronx · Free

  Rangers explain the behavior and diet of New York City's owls, with a look for them at Orchard Beach. Organizer

• Falling for Nature Hike

  1pm, Central Park, West 81st Street and Central Park West, Central Park, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History

  A guided late autumn nature walk through Central Park with the Urban Park Rangers. Organizer

• Intrepid Sleepover

  6pm, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
  Subway: A/C/E to 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, then the M42 bus west

  An overnight sleepover aboard the Intrepid, 6pm to 8am the next morning. Paid, and the museum's calendar lists it as a ticketed program. Organizer

Sunday, November 22, 2026

• Seal Exploration

  2:30pm, Orchard Beach Nature Center, Pelham Bay, The Bronx · Free

  Rangers help families watch the harbor seals off Orchard Beach and learn about them. Dress for wind off the water. Organizer

Thursday, November 26, 2026

• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

  Central Park West to Herald Square, Upper West Side, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W to 34 St-Herald Sq

  The 100th Macy's parade runs from Central Park West at West 77th Street down to Herald Square, with a record 100 inflatables, floats and performers. It is free to watch from the sidewalk; check Macy's for the start time and street closures. Organizer

Friday, November 27, 2026

• Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike

  10am, Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St

  Work off the Thanksgiving dinner with a Ranger-led hike at Van Cortlandt Park on the Friday after the holiday. Organizer

• Post-Thanksgiving Day Super Hike

  noon, Audubon Center at the Boathouse, Prospect Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free
  Subway: B/Q to Prospect Park

  A longer Ranger-led hike through Prospect Park on the Friday after Thanksgiving, two hours long. Organizer

• Post-Thanksgiving Day Hike: Northern Manhattan Parks Super Hike

  1pm, Inwood Hill Park, Inwood, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to 215 St or A to Inwood-207 St

  A Ranger-led hike across northern Manhattan parks on the Friday after Thanksgiving, starting from Inwood Hill Park. Organizer

Saturday, November 28, 2026

• Family Art Project: Grateful for Trees Canvas Bags

  10am, Wave Hill, Riverdale, The Bronx
  Subway: 1 to 231 St, then Bx7 or Bx10 bus

  Families decorate canvas bags to celebrate trees at Wave Hill, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. NYC Parks lists it as a Must See event. Organizer

• Nature Detective Trees Mystery Adventure

  11am, Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx · Free
  Subway: 1 to Van Cortlandt Park-242 St

  Kids become tree detectives with the Urban Park Rangers and learn to tell different trees apart. Organizer

• Governors Island Tree Tour

  11:45am, Soissons Landing, Governors Island, Governors Island, Manhattan · Free
  Subway: 1 to South Ferry, then the ferry

  A free guided outdoor tour from the Governors Island nature team about the island's nearly 3,500 trees. It meets at Soissons Landing on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Register through the event page. Organizer

• Gather Around the Campfire

  1pm, Hunter's Point South Park, Long Island City, Queens · Free
  Subway: 7 to Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av

  An Urban Park Ranger tells tales of the city's wildlife around a campfire on the Long Island City waterfront. Organizer

Sunday, November 29, 2026

• Nature Puppet Show

  11am, Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park, The Bronx · Free

  Kids write their own puppet show about the animals that live in city parks, with the Urban Park Rangers. Organizer