Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

Halloween Weekend 2025 in NYC: Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Parades, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:09am

Dumboween is scarily entertaining, beginning with the annual March to the Arch followed by crafts, costume contests, live music, and trick-or-treating, of course! Photo by Hassan Mokaddam

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Halloween weekend.

We're in full fright mode at last, up to our eyeballs in Halloween activities. Our top picks for Halloween proper include the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade and Brooklyn's free fete, BAMBoo! When you're done parading and partying, you'll need this list of NYC's best trick-or-treat neighborhoods, so you know where to source the goodies!

The fun doesn't end on Friday, though. Day of the Dead delights abound. You can squash your squash on Saturday at Pier 84 or the Astoria Park Pumpkin Smash. Pint-sized theater-goers can see a silly musical version of Snow White at the New Victory Theater, which opens its season this weekend.

34 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC November 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 10/30/2025 - 12:57pm

Canstruction is free and open to the public at Brookfield Place through Monday, November 10. Photo by Heidi Lee

We've found 34 free things to do in NYC this November with kids, sparing everyone a bit of that spend-and-splurge trap that comes with the holiday season. Our list of free things to do in November includes annual favorites, like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Canstruction display at Brookfield Place.

Tunes ring out from Symphony Space's Stevie Wonder Wall to Wall jam, the Veterans Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue, The Plaza Hotel celebrates Eloise's 70th anniversary, and holiday trees start sparkling in Park Slope and elsewhere, too.

Read on for all our top free event picks in November 2025, and don't forget to hop over to our best of November list, which includes our top picks all month long.

Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains near NYC in 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 9:46am

Meet Santa aboard The Polar Express chugging along the Morristown and Erie lines. Photo courtesy of the Morristown and Erie Railway

These Polar Express train rides near NYC bring the magic of Chris Van Allsburg’s popular Christmas picture book, The Polar Express, to life each winter. We've found festive Polar Express train rides, Christmas trains, and holiday trolleys all within a whistle's blow of the New York City metro area.

A huge hit with kids and parents alike, these Christmas trains near New York City spark the imagination and holiday spirit with seasonal snacks, stories, and even gifts—not to mention a visit from Santa himself. You can even find a North Pole Express bus right in the heart of Manhattan.

No matter which Polar Express train ride you choose, your family can combine your outing with an annual Santa Claus photo-op and bring home the lasting memories of a holiday adventure.

These Christmas train rides sell out quickly, often months in advance, so book now if you want to go. Find more regional Polar Express and Christmas train rides in our roundup of New Jersey Christmas trains and Philadelphia Polar Express rides, plus plenty more local seasonal offerings in our Christmas Guide.

Best Halloween Parades in New York City for Kids in 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/10/2025 - 7:39am

The Dumboween parade features live music and puppets on Halloween. Photo by Ming Fai Chan

There's nothing quite like a neighborhood Halloween parade in NYC, from the iconic Village Halloween Parade on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan to the smaller, kid-friendly NYC neighborhood Halloween parades, including the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade, the famed Park Slope march, and the Bleecker Playground fest for little ones.

Our list of top NYC Halloween parades even includes pet parades and costume contests that allow dogs to line up in fantastic outfits in Carl Schurz Park and beyond.

If you don't live in a great trick-or-treating neighborhood, these Halloween parades in NYC are a wonderful way to hunt for candy in another neighborhood. Find more 2025 Halloween fun in our New York City Kids Guide to Halloween, which includes our picks for the best FREE Halloween events in NYC.

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in NYC: Harvest Fests, Halloween, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/10/2025 - 7:34am

The Brooklyn Children's Museum and North American Indigenous Center of New York host a two-day celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day. Photo by Winston Williams/courtesy of the museum

It's Indigenous Peoples Day weekend in NYC, and we've found tons of things to do with kids. Here are our top picks for family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this long holiday weekend.

Indigenous Peoples Day falls on Monday, October 13, and families can make corn husk dolls at Wave Hill or head to Randall's Island to celebrate native New Yorkers on Sunday and Monday. The Brooklyn Children's Museum stages a two-day celebration, too. Columbus Day celebrations linger, including the Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. And, if you're ready to flip the page on fall, take note: Rockefeller Center's ice skating rink opens for the season Saturday!

All that, plus the New York Botanical Garden stages a salute to Wicked and the NY Aquarium transforms into Ascarium on Coney Island.

Best 2025 Día de los Muertos and Day of the Dead Celebrations in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/03/2025 - 10:07am

Día de los Muertos in the Flatiron District kicks off Friday, October 10, with interactive activities and events running all month long. Photo courtesy of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership

Día de los Muertos is a vibrant Mexican holiday, and we've rounded up 15 Day of the Dead events in NYC where kids and families can celebrate the holiday while honoring the memories of loved ones.

Families can enjoy a celebration at the Children's Museum of Manhattan, complete with performances, crafts, and storytimes, create nicho boxes at Wave Hill, or spend an entire day in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Read on for all our top picks, and find more seasonal things to do in our NYC Kids Guide to Fall Fun.

62 Top Free Activities in NYC October 2025 for Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 10/02/2025 - 3:56pm

Cirque Kikasse brings its zany show—with a food truck as a stage—to Lincoln Center for one weekend only. Photo by Doug Combe/courtesy of Lincoln Center

October is bubbling over with bushels of free things to do in NYC. In addition to our huge, spooky pile of free Halloween activities, we've found tons more cost-free fun happening in NYC this month, from St. John the Divine's heavenly Blessing of the Animals to Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, a big Diwali celebration in Times Square, Open House New York, and the return of Bryant Park's Winter Village.

Read on for all our picks for free activities in New York City this October, including events in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Find more top events on our best-of-October list. Of course, our Guide to Fall Activities and New York City Kids Guide to Halloween have all the seasonal must-do's.

Halloween and More Things To Do in NYC with Kids October 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 09/28/2025 - 11:41am

The Little Red Lighthouse welcomes fall with an all-ages, waterfront festival on Saturday, October 4. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

In October, New York City is crawling with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and, of course, trick-or-treating—so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes! But Halloween isn't the only game in town.

We're super psyched for all the other glorious shenanigans October has in store, including the 50th annual Atlantic Antic (we'll be there, too!), snooping behind the scenes at Open House NY, and the new Calder's Circus exhibit at the Whitney. Plus, the American Museum of Natural History is bringing back its Night at the Museum sleepovers this month.

Of course, Halloween lurks at month's end, and, never fear, we have you covered when it comes to FREE Halloween fun. Find all our top picks for the spooky season in our New York City Kids' Guide to Halloween.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

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