November starts with pumpkins still on the stoop and ends with giant balloons overhead. In between, there are paper puppets, live jazz, hands-on museum mornings, and a few lovely free ways to ease into the holidays. These are my picks for family events on the Upper West Side and in Midtown this month, with options for babies through bigger kids.
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Happening Throughout November
A few repeaters for weekends when you want a plan without building the whole day around it:
November 7, 14, 21 & 28 — Family Art Making: Exquisite Books MoMA, Education Center, Mezzanine A drop-in studio where families turn paper into unexpected little books. Teaching artists lead a book-making lesson every half hour, with projects available if you arrive between sessions. Check the event page for entry details.
Weekends in November — Little Red's Hood Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, Central Park Ticketed. A modern marionette take on Little Red Riding Hood, with a misunderstood wolf and a Little Red who needs a break from her screens. Pair it with a park walk while the leaves are still putting on a show.
November 7, 14, 21 & 28 — Family Storytime: Stories, Songs and Rhymes for Little Ones Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library FREE. A Saturday morning option for the youngest readers, with stories and songs before the rest of your day begins.
Week 1
November 6 — Diwali Storytime and Puppet Show 53rd Street Library FREE. The Culture Tree Collective brings a Diwali-themed storytime and puppet show to the library. A festive after-school pick to start the weekend.
November 6–8 — De Papel (Of Paper) Lincoln Center, Clark Studio Theater Choose-What-You-Pay; reserve tickets. Silencio Blanco turns simple paper into an expressive puppet, with the audience helping bring the story to life. The show runs about 30 minutes; both Sunday performances are Relaxed Performances.
November 7 — Meet the Tree Day with the Care Bears Rockefeller Center FREE; first come, first served. Welcome the Christmas tree as it arrives, meet Care Bears characters, write a holiday letter, and make a keepsake. This is tree-arrival day, so save the lighting celebration for another outing.
November 7 — Pumpkin Smash Pier 84, Hudson River Park FREE. Give that leftover Halloween pumpkin a very satisfying send-off. Bring your own pumpkin; the park provides the smashing tools and turns the pieces into compost. Expect a little mess and a lot of enthusiasm.
November 7 — Family Studio: Making Crankies! Museum of Arts and Design Workshop tickets: $25 general, $20 members, free for ages 12 and under; museum admission is separate. Families build a hand-cranked paper storytelling machine with moving scenery and puppet sneakers. Materials are included, and advance registration is required.
November 7 — Family Concert: Who Is Duke Ellington? Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rose Theater Ticketed. A relaxed family concert with the Future of Jazz Orchestra, hosted by trombonist Vincent Gardner. A good pick for hearing a big band together without needing to know anything about jazz beforehand.
November 8 — Flutter: A Discovery Play for Babies Ailey Studio Theater, 405 West 55th Street Ticketed. Treehouse Shakers brings dance, puppetry, and music into a gentle journey through the seasons. Babies and caregivers sit in the round, with room for little ones to crawl, walk, and explore textures as the story unfolds. Reserve tickets ahead; more performances follow November 13 and 15.
November 8 — Reading into History: Indigenous History Month The New York Historical Museum admission. Browse books by Indigenous authors, explore historical activities, and try snacks. A thoughtful addition to a month that often gets reduced to Thanksgiving crafts.
Week 2
November 13 & 15 — Flutter: A Discovery Play for Babies Ailey Studio Theater, 405 West 55th Street Ticketed. Another chance to catch Treehouse Shakers' sensory play for babies and toddlers, with dance, puppets, music, and hands-on discovery. Check the organizer's calendar for your preferred performance and reserve in advance.
November 13 & 20 — WeBop Holiday Jazz Jam The Shops at Columbus Circle, 2nd Floor Stage FREE; no registration required. About 45 minutes of live jazz with plenty of room for little listeners to sing and move along. A lovely indoor Friday outing as the weather turns colder.
November 14 — Family Visual Arts Workshop L'Alliance New York, Le Skyroom, 22 East 60th Street FREE; RSVP required. Studio in a School teaching artists guide families through an art-making session inspired by a medium or French-speaking artist. Grown-ups are encouraged to make something too.
November 14–29, select dates — DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME New Victory Theater Tickets from $25, including service fees. STREB EXTREME ACTION brings flips, falls, and astonishing physical feats to the stage in a 55-minute show with no intermission. This is my theater pick for bigger kids who love movement and a little suspense; Thanksgiving weekend dates make it an option for visiting family too.
November 15 — Origami Family Fun: Holiday Models American Museum of Natural History, School Lunchrooms General public $35 per class; AMNH or OrigamiUSA members $20. A beginner-friendly class folding holiday models together. Children ages 5–8 need a parent or guardian with them, and everyone should plan to stay for the full two hours. Register in advance.
Week 3
November 20–22 — Rain: for babies and their carers Lincoln Center, Clark Studio Theater Choose-What-You-Pay; reserve tickets. Cello, voice, and movement create a gentle sensory performance lasting about 45 minutes. The organizer specifies that the environment is not suitable for walking toddlers, so check that detail before booking for your little one.
November 21 — Family Screening: Mary Anning L'Alliance New York, Tinker Lounge, 55 East 59th Street Children $8; accompanying adults free; members free. An animated film about the young fossil hunter, shown in French with English subtitles. Reserve tickets ahead and allow about 72 minutes for the screening. A nice choice for dinosaur fans who are ready for subtitles.
November 21 — Family STEAM: Slime! Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library FREE. A hands-on library afternoon for kids who would happily spend the whole weekend mixing and experimenting. Check the event listing for participation details.
November 22 — Sunday Story Time: Balloons Over Broadway The New York Historical Museum admission. A picture-book storytime with songs, movement, and a craft, just in time to get little ones excited about parade week.
Week 4
November 25 — Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation Upper West Side, around the American Museum of Natural History FREE. Watching the balloons take shape is a whole outing of its own. Keep an eye on Macy's official page for confirmed viewing hours and the entrance location before making a plan; allow time for queues and dress for standing outdoors.
November 26 — 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Upper West Side to Midtown FREE public viewing. The 100th edition is the big November finale, with giant balloons, floats, and plenty to spot together. Check the official route and viewing guidance before choosing a place to stand. The broadcast begins at 8:30 AM if a cozy morning at home works better for your family.
For the rest of the long weekend, the New Victory show has performances on November 27–29, and MoMA's book-making studio returns November 28. Both are useful options to have ready when visiting relatives ask what to do with the kids.
My Top 3 Picks
If you only put a few things on the calendar:
- De Papel (November 6–8) — an intimate paper-puppet show at Lincoln Center, with the audience helping bring the story to life.
- WeBop Holiday Jazz Jam (November 13 & 20) — an easy, free music outing with younger kids.
- Flutter: A Discovery Play for Babies (November 8, 13 & 15) — a gentle introduction to live performance for ages 0–2, with dance, puppetry, music, and room to explore.
By Neighborhood
Plan the Rest of Your Month
Find more storytimes, craft afternoons, library playdates, and shows on the full November events calendar. For a quieter UWS outing between the big events, try the tiny Lego treasure hunt on West 85th Street or read my guide to the Discovery Room at AMNH.
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