The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1, bringing runners and cheering crowds through all five boroughs. For families, you don’t have to run 26.2 miles to be part of the excitement: pick a neighborhood, make a sign, and cheer from the sidelines.
Where families can watch the NYC Marathon
The marathon starts on Staten Island, crosses the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn, travels through Queens and the Bronx, and finishes in Central Park. Here are some family-friendly viewing ideas along the route:
Brooklyn — Fourth Avenue: A long stretch of the course offers plenty of chances to cheer, with shops and neighborhood streets nearby. Choose a spot close to a subway station and expect crowds.
Queens — Long Island City: See runners as they approach the Queensboro Bridge. This can be an exciting stop for older children interested in the scale of the race.
Manhattan — First Avenue: The avenue is famous for its energetic spectators. It’s lively, but can be crowded and loud for younger children.
Harlem and the Bronx: The northern portion of the route is another opportunity to support runners without joining the finish-line crowds.
Central Park area: The finish is iconic, but access is controlled and some viewing areas may require tickets. Families seeking a relaxed experience may prefer an earlier point on the course.
Pick one location. Traveling across multiple boroughs during the race can be frustrating with young children because of closures and crowds.
Use public transportation. Many roads along the course close, and parking can be difficult. Check MTA service updates before traveling.
Bring a homemade sign. Kids can decorate a poster with encouraging messages. Cheer for runners you don’t know, too!
Pack the essentials. Bring water, snacks, weather-appropriate layers, and hearing protection if your child is sensitive to loud crowds.
Agree on a meeting plan. Crowds are large, so decide what to do if anyone becomes separated. Keep younger children close.
When should you arrive?
Runner arrival times vary by starting wave, pace and location. Instead of relying on a single predicted time, check the official race-day resources and any available runner-tracking tools shortly before heading out. Give yourselves extra time for subway travel and navigating pedestrian crossings.
Make it a lesson in perseverance
The NYC Marathon is a wonderful chance to talk with children about determination, community and supporting people working toward a goal. Look for runners representing charities, countries and neighborhoods from around the world. Even a few minutes of cheering can make a runner’s day.
Race day: Sunday, November 1, 2026. Cost to watch: Most street-side viewing is free; some finish-area access is restricted or ticketed. Before you go: Check NYRR’s official marathon website for the latest course, spectator and safety information.
Looking for a Halloween outing in New York City that doesn’t require a pricey ticket? The South Street Seaport Museum is planning a day of free family activities on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with a little maritime history mixed into the costumes and candy.
What families can do
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum will offer free general admission. Families can explore the historic 1885 tall ship Wavertree and follow a sailors’ superstitions scavenger hunt. The waterfront celebration also includes hands-on Halloween crafts and seasonal activities.
The Healthful Halloween Fair at Pier 16, presented with Mommy Poppins, runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A costume parade is planned for 2 p.m., and trick-or-treating around the Seaport is scheduled for 3–5 p.m.
What parents should know
Admission is free, but organizers encourage advance registration; walk-up entry depends on capacity. Activities take place around the museum and Seaport neighborhood, so allow time to move between locations and check the forecast before heading downtown.
Who says your kids have to wait until they’re older to experience the music you grew up loving? The Rock and Roll Playhouse has announced a slate of New York City concerts for families, featuring everything from hip-hop to Queen, Taylor Swift, the Grateful Dead and the Beatles.
The first date is coming up fast: The Q Brothers bring Hip Hop for Families to Brooklyn Bowl on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Upcoming Rock and Roll Playhouse NYC shows
Saturday, October 24: The Q Brothers — Hip Hop for Families, Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, November 8: Music of Queen for Kids, Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, November 15: Music of Taylor Swift for Kids, Soho Live
Sunday, November 15: Music of Dave Matthews Band for Kids, Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, November 22: Music of Grateful Dead for Kids, Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, November 29: Music of The Beatles for Kids, Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, December 13: Music of Taylor Swift for Kids, Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, December 27: Music of Olivia Rodrigo for Kids, Brooklyn Bowl
Live music for the whole family
These performances give parents an excuse to share familiar songs with their kids in a live setting. Whether your household is more Beatles than Swifties—or somewhere in between—the fall and holiday lineup offers several ways to make a family music outing happen.
Showtimes, ticket prices, age guidance and availability may vary by performance, so check the event listings before heading out. Find details and tickets through The Rock and Roll Playhouse.
Source: The Rock and Roll Playhouse October 19, 2026 email announcement. Event details are subject to change.
Banana Ball is headed to New York City! The Savannah Bananas and Firefighters are scheduled to bring their high-energy baseball entertainment to NYC on May 28 and 29, 2027—and families interested in tickets have a deadline coming up much sooner.
What better way is there to celebrate dad than to make him feel like a king? Treat dad like royalty this Father’s Day at Medieval Times!
Available for all shows now through June 16, Dads are FREE at Medieval Times with the purchase of one full-priced adult ticket. Just use the coupon code DAD19 to take advantage of this great special offer.
As a special upgrade package has been added for an additional $25 which includes:
Framed photo of dad and family
25 oz souvenir glass stein with the choice of draft beer or soda
Everyone in your party does not need to upgrade to the package. Guests can purchase packages online, by phone, or at the door.
Wild Kratts LIVE 2.0 – pulls into NYC this weekend with an awesome show!
All-New Action-Packed Touring Production Brings the Stars of the Emmy-Nominated Hit PBS KIDS Series to Kids and Families at the Beacon Theatre
It’s going to be WILD! Young fans and their families nationwide are in store for even more adventure on the creature trail when the world-famous Kratt Brothers hit the road with an all-new stage adventure! Wild Kratts LIVE 2.0 – Activate Creature Power!,the theatrical production starring Martin and Chris Kratt, based on the Emmy-nominated hit PBS KIDS series, will bring audiences along on a “wild” ride with a dynamic mix of live-action and animation. The stage show will be at the Beacon Theatre on Saturday, April 13 at 2pm and 6pm. For information on how to purchase tickets, visit www.wildkrattslive.com. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com, or at (800) 745-3000 (tickets are not available at the Box Office the day of the performance.)
“We are so excited to introduce our new live stage show and meet our fellow ‘creature adventurers’ in cities across the U.S. this fall,” said Chris Kratt, creator, producer and co-star of the Wild Kratts series and co-founder of The Kratt Brothers Company. “Wild Kratts LIVE 2.0 is perfect for explorers of all ages. It features all the excitement and interactive elements that Wild Kratts fans love, plus awesome new Kratt Brothers twists and turns to keep them on the edge of their seats.”
In Wild Kratts LIVE 2.0, Chris and Martin take to the stage to activate new Creature Powers and go “off to the creature rescue!” With some help from Aviva and the rest of the Wild Kratts team, who will be animated and on screen at the Tortuga HQ, the brothers confront a comic villain and once again save the day, sharing fascinating tidbits about some of the world’s most amazing creatures along the way.
Audience members are encouraged to bring along their animal knowledge and participate in the action right from their seats by calling out answers to the questions posed by the Kratt Brothers during the show.
Since their original Wild Kratts LIVE! touring show launched in 2014, Chris and Martin have performed to wildly-enthusiastic crowds of hundreds of thousands of fans – many of them sporting their own Creature Power Suits, just like the Kratt Brothers do in the popular series – in more than 135 cities across North America.
As a special upgrade package has been added for an additional $25 which includes:
