The Magic of Lights returns to New Jersey’s PNC Bank Arts Center on Friday, November 19, and runs through the holiday season until January 2, 2022.

Desperate for some pandemic-era holiday merriment, my family tried out the Magic of Lights drive-thru in Holmdel for the first time last year. Naturally, our young kids (all under age 8) were antsy on the 40-minute drive south on the Garden State Parkway. But –– upon reaching the gates of this outdoor, drive-thru holiday village, they were beyond thrilled and dazzled by the seemingly millions of lights, dancing elves, cheery Santa figures, blinking holiday trees, sweet illuminated scenes, and the eye-popping tunnel of lights.

Find more seasonal fun in our Christmas and Holiday Guide for New Jersey Kids.

Online learning has risen in popularity with families looking for high-quality educational alternatives that provide flexibility and individualized instruction to fit their unique learners. The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) serves up an online tuition-free public school education to kids in grades K-12 that spans from their computer screens out into their communities with a combination of online and in-person learning opportunities.

One of the largest, most experienced remote public schools in the nation, PA Cyber is well-loved for its personalized instructional methods; state-certified, highly-qualified teachers; and rich academic content that’s aligned to state standards. Flexible and engaging, the program offers both virtual live and self-paced instruction, plus a number of meaningful ways for kids to connect with their teachers and peers on and, sometimes, off-line.

If you’re out there wondering whether this popular online program could be the right choice for your family, read on. We’ve rounded up answers to some of the most-asked questions about PA Cyber to help you make the best call.

Wollman Rink, the iconic ice skating rink on Central Park's south end reopened to the public this week with a brand new operating team and mission to make the rink a welcoming destination for all New Yorkers.

Read on for details about what to expect at the beloved skating rink, one of our favorite outdoor skating rinks in NYC.

Model trains provide multigenerational fun—everyone from grandparents to toddlers can enjoy an outing to a model train show. We've found eight model train shows in New Jersey perfect for family fun this holiday season.

Read on for our top picks for seasonal train shows and find more curated family fun in our Guide to Holiday Fun in New Jersey.

Philly families may have missed out on some holiday fun in 2020, but the 2021 holiday season is more than making up for it. Flight on Ice is bringing the Veterans Memorial Rink to Newtown Square next month. The new ice rink and winter village join Tinseltown, the Visit Philadelphia Holiday Parade, and the Visit Philadelphia Fireworks Spectacular as the newest must-do holiday and Christmas activities in the Philadelphia area.

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Christmas light displays are one of the highlights of the holiday season, and while we love the Elf on the Shelf Experience, the Dodger Holiday Festival, and other walk and drive-thru light adventures, there's something special about wandering through gardens that are decked for the holidays, with nary a commercial tie-in in sight. These holiday light shows at four of our favorite enchanted and enchanting gardens near Los Angeles delight kids with interactive features, and parents with spectacular natural beauty. Dig out those mittens, make a thermos of hot chocolate, and get in the holiday spirit as you soak up the incandescent glow of the holidays at these stunning botanic lighting displays.

For more holiday fun, be sure to check out our complete Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Los Angeles Families.

Live holiday events are back in a big way in 2021—so big that even the elves are life-sized! While we totally appreciated the creative holiday drive-thru experiences of last Christmas season, we are definitely excited to be getting out of the car to enjoy holiday lights, decorations, and even outdoor ice skating once again. If all that sounds like a festive evening your family would enjoy, point your car toward Pomona, then jump out of it and enjoy carols, elves, skating, hot chocolate, a trolley ride, and an audience with Santa Claus himself at Elf on the Shelf's Magical Holiday Journey at Fairplex in Pomona.