Outdoor ice skating rinks in sunny Los Angeles? Oh, I happen to know about a few! One thing Angelenos love doing during the winter months is pretending that it’s winter, and the most fun way to do it is by turning parking lots and other open spaces into outdoor ice skating rinks for the holidays. 

Whether your family is trying ice skating for the first time or you've got budding figure skaters and hockey players looking for a change of scenery, nothing says Southern California quite like the sight of kids and families in tank tops and mittens figure skating in the sunshine. From Downtown Los Angeles to the beaches of Santa Monica, keep reading below for where to find the best cool-yet-sunny ice skating rinks in Los Angeles and Orange County. 

For more holiday fun, from Polar Express train rides to nutcracker performances in LA, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families. 

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrates its 97th anniversary this November, taking over the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, November 23, 2023, exhilarating the city with its boisterous marching bands, extravagant floats, and giant balloon characters. In 2023, the parade steps off at 8:30am—half an hour earlier than usual.

If you're planning to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with kids (and millions of others!), read on for the most up-to-date information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route, best viewing locations, and other highlights. Looking for where to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 on TV instead? Read on for that, too. You'll find more holiday inspiration in our Thanksgiving Fun Guide for NYC Families.

Enthusiastic paradegoers know the family fun actually begins the day before as the trademark giant balloons receive their annual helium injections—in fact, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation is even included in our list of 100 things to do with your kids in NYC before they grow up. Check out our in-depth Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade inflation post for an overview of the Wednesday night festivities.

While the turkey is in the oven, you can set up a few of these easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids, including some place cards that will keep squabbling siblings from sitting too close. We've also got Thanksgiving games for everyone to play together, and Thanksgiving cookies that will tide kids over until the feast is ready. Because while Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family, sometimes you need to channel that togetherness time to keep everyone happy!

From traditional Thanksgiving crafts for kids like handprint turkeys to a Great Yam Race for the whole fam, stuff a little fun into your family dinner this year with these Thanksgiving crafts and games.

For more Thanksgiving fun from Thanksgiving jokes for kids to when and how to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, check out our Thanksgiving Activities Guide for Families.

Cocomelon Party Time is coming to Los Angeles! Young kids can't get enough of Cocomelon, and now they'll have even more reason to celebrate. Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and parents will soon be able to dance and sing with JJ, Cody, and the rest of the Cocomelon gang in real-time. 

This kid-centric experience will bring cherished nursery rhymes to life in Los Angeles. Cocomelon Party Time will delight young kids who can’t get enough of the popular television show. Keep reading below for what to expect at Cocomelon Party Time, from interactive activities, dance parties, and meet and greets. 

For more interactive experiences from favorite characters and shows coming to Los Angeles, enter into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss and step inside Bluey’s house at CAMP. 

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and while the holiday is usually filled with over-the-top spreads and indulgent dinners, we know many local families are struggling and could use the help of one of these local organizations offering a free turkey in NYC. Inflation, job loss, mounting debt, and worse, have left many New Yorkers facing food insecurity. With that in mind, we've rounded up 13 local organizations that are stepping up to make sure all who need help filling their tables or getting a hot meal this Thanksgiving can. From free turkey giveaways to take-out options and low-cost holiday meals, here's where to get help this holiday season.

If you're fortunate enough to have a full pantry and pocketbook, consider donating to one of these exceptional organizations to help others across the city, and put the "thanks" in Thanksgiving by lending a hand at one of these local Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities. You can find more ways to spend the day in our New York City Thanksgiving Guide.

With the holidays right around the corner, many nonprofits are gearing up to ensure that the 2023 holiday season is joyful for all families. If you need a little extra help this season, here is a list of organizations that are distributing free toys to kids in need. Note that deadlines are fast approaching, so be sure to reach out early if you need a little help this year.

If you aren't struggling and want your family to start a tradition of giving back, reach out to one of these groups to see how you can donate free toys or offer other assistance. Not sure what gifts to donate? Our Gift Guide has recommendations for kids of all ages at all price points for toys and gifts that kids adore.

For more ways to save money this holiday season, try giving homemade gifts that kids can make themselves, like bookmarks made from recycled holiday cards or salt dough handprint ornaments. Our Christmas Activities and Hanukkah Guide also includes lots of free ways to have fun with your family this holiday season.

When it comes to Long Island parks and playgrounds, the landscape is ever-changing. A handful of local Long Island parks have recently opened or undergone renovations making them worthy of visiting or re-visiting. Families can do much more than just play at these Long Island parks, too! There are animals to meet, paths to traverse, picnicking spots to enjoy, and more perks at these new and newly renovated Long Island parks. From upgrades to overhauls, we've dug up the details on these latest outdoor play spaces Long Island families will love.

For all our favorite playgrounds and parks on Long Island, be sure to check out our Guide to Long Island Parks and Playgrounds, which includes our picks for everything from the best playgrounds for Long Island kids to our top Long Island parks for a leaf-peeping hike this fall and more.