Our overview features the best events for Brooklyn families in November. Volunteer as a family for Thanksgiving, attend the Brooklyn Folk Festival and BAMkids Film Festival, and usher in the holiday season with the first tree lightings, ice skating rinks, holiday markets, and outdoor light shows.
1. Plan your Election Day
Schools are closed Tuesday, November 5 for Election Day. After going to the polls, attend a family-friendly event, find a fun drop-in activity, or sign the kids up for a day camp!
- Election Day at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Tuesday, November 5 | 110am-5pm | $15 admission
Explore the power of your voice by casting a vote in BCM’s mock election! This year, we have three candidates campaigning to become BCM’s Animal Representative. Learn more about the candidates, make an informed decision, and cast your ballot! - Election Day School Holiday in Prospect Park
Tuesday, November 5 | 12-5pm | FREE
Join Prospect Park Alliance for family-friendly programming on Election Day! There will be a fall nature walk, leaf art, and a visit from one of the Audubon’s live animals. See the full schedule of activities here. - Day camps for when public schools are closed
Browse our overview of school holiday camps. There are so many camps to choose from, with activities like art-making, coding and robotics, skateboarding, chess, and so much more! - Best drop-in indoor activities for kids & teens
Looking for a drop-in activity on Election Day? Our guide includes including play spaces, story times, arts and crafts, adventure parks, rock climbing, mini golf, bowling and more for all ages.
2. Brooklyn Folk Festival at St. Ann’s Church
Friday, November 8–Sunday, November 10 | Day pass: $17.50 for kids (6-16), $35 for adults | Brooklyn Heights
The Brooklyn Folk Festival is a celebration of down home music, cultural diversity and memory. The annual festival provides an opportunity for community to come together, enjoy music and take part in workshops, film screenings, contests and jam sessions. The 3-day festival is held at the beautiful historic St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn Heights and features includes 30+ bands, vocal and instrumental workshops, a family-friendly square dance, jam sessions, film screenings, the famous Banjo Toss contest and more!
3. Best of BAMkids Film Festival
Saturday, November 9 | 11am | $14 adults, $10 kids (13 and under) | For ages 3-5 | Fort Greene
Join BAM at Rose Cinemas for their selection of the most popular films for kids ages three to five from last year’s BAMkids Film Festival, featuring food that comes to life, a friendly cactus, a friendship between a robot and an alien, and more! Kids will love these imaginative, playful tales from all over the world.
4. 18th Annual Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair at Brooklyn Museum
Sunday, November 10 | 11am-3:30pm | FREE, registration required | Prospect Heights
Calling all young book lovers! Meet more than 40 of your favorite Brooklyn authors and illustrators as they share their latest publications. This free event features storybooks, picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels—fiction and nonfiction—for preschoolers to middle schoolers. Highlights include books in Hindi and Mandarin, along with works on topics as diverse as Ocean Parkway, Mars, Edward Gorey, trains, the ABCs, Prince, and poetry. Throughout the day, children can chat with authors and illustrators, listen to readings and watch artists sketch, get books signed, meet a famous dog, and participate in book-related art projects. See the full schedule here.
5. Volunteer as a family this Thanksgiving
As Thanksgiving approaches, there are so many ways for Brooklyn families to give back locally, whether delivering meals, decorating meal delivery bags, stocking a food pantry, or serving a Thanksgiving dinner for refugee families. Check out our guide to volunteering as a family this month, and mark your calendar for some of these highlights:
- Rake Leaves in Fort Greene Park
Saturday, November 16 | 10am-12pm | Sign up here | Fort Greene
Join Fort Greene Park for their annual leaf raking event, Leaf No Trace, to collect leaves en masse. They will be bagged and stored to slowly break down over the winter and early spring to turn into nutrient-rich leaf mould. - Host and Serve a Thanksgiving Dinner for New Neighbors at St. Ann’s Church
Wednesday, November 20 | 6:00-8:15pm | Best for 10+ | Sign up here | Brooklyn Heights
Join The Service Collective for their monthly community dinner for newly arrive refugees at St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn Heights! Tasks will include light cooking, cleaning, serving, helping to make everyone feel at home, and more. - Pack a Neighborhood Food Pantry
Saturday, November 23 | 9:30-11:30am | Ages 10+ | Sign up here | Brooklyn Heights
Come to St. Ann’s Church to pack 350 pantry bags and join the pantry parade! Volunteers will be hand delivering pantry essentials to neighbors who are transitioning out of homelessness at 90 Sands Street. - Create Art for Thanksgiving Meal Delivery Bags | Brooklyn Heights
Saturday, November 23 | 3-5pm | All ages | Sign up here
Volunteers will decorate 250+ meal bags that will be delivered to local homebound seniors. Each volunteer will design 3-5 bags and bag tags.
6. Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
November 22, 2024–January 5, 2025 | Tickets start at $36/adult and $18/child during off-peak hours, free for children 2 and under | Prospect Heights
Lightscape is a winter light show that takes advantage of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s landscapes, trees, water features, architectural details, and paths to create a magical, otherworldly experience in the winter Garden. Along the trail, kids can enjoy hot chocolate and treats, and there will be mulled wine and hot cider for adults. Take advantages of Value Nights with discounted tickets: $24/adult, $12/child, and free for children 2 and under. There will also be Sensory-Friendly early entry on select nights for those with sensory sensitivity to enjoy reduced capacity. Learn more and see full calendar here.
7. Ice Skating Rinks open in Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum ArtRink
Opening November 9, 2024 | $15 museum admission, plus $5 add-on ticket | Crown Heights
ArtRink is Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s interactive art exhibition taking place on the Museum’s rooftop through March 30, 2025. The centerpiece of ArtRink is our synthetic-ice rink where families can glide around in special sock bootees. This new sock skating experience is perfect for families with young children, offering more control and cushioning than traditional ice skating – no special equipment or preparation needed! This year’s ArtRink theme, “We Celebrate!,” honors BCM’s 125th birthday. Open Wednesday through Friday, 2 pm – 5 pm, and all day Saturday and Sunday. - Roebling Rink in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Opening November 25 | $10 tickets | DUMBO
Roebling Rink, an ice skating rink located in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, will open November 25 through February 2. The ice rink showcases spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and is positioned alongside the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. $7 skate rentals, $3 helmets, and $5 skate buddies. They offer two free sessions for Brooklyn residents on Sundays from 10 to 11 AM and Mondays from 5 to 6 PM. Tickets for the free sessions are first-come, first-served and must be booked in person with a valid Brooklyn address on your ID. Opening hours will be Monday to Thursday from 2 to 9 pm and Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm. - Ice Skating Lakeside at the LeFrak Center
Opening November 10 | $10.60 on weekdays, $15.25 on weekends | Prospect Park
Ice skating is returning to Lakeside at the LeFrak Center on November 10th! You can skate on the open air rink or on the covered rink. All skating session times can be found here. Skate rentals are $10.35, and guests are welcome to bring their own skates. Skate aids are also available for rent. - Domino Park Ice Rink
Opening November 2024 (Dates TBA) | Ticket information coming soon | Williamsburg
Williamsburg’s new plaza Domino Square will be the home of a waterfront ice skating rink opening in mid-November, and tickets will be on sale soon. The rink will be open Monday–Friday from 12-9pm and Saturday–Sunday from 9am-9pm. Advanced booking is recommended, and skating sessions will be 75 minutes long. Skates will be available to rent, and guests can also bring their own skates. The rink will also offer skate aids for an additional fee. Skaters will also be able to enjoy Stretch Pizza rink-side, as well as Cuban street food from Frita Batidos.
8. Frost Fest at Luna Park
November 23, 2024–January 1, 2025 | Admission to the park is free, rides start at $4 | Tickets for North Pole Experience and Santa’s Wonderland here
Immerse yourself in holiday magic sprinkled throughout the park and experience Winter themed activities at our 2nd annual Frost Fest! Select dates beginning Saturday, November 23, 2024, visitors at Luna Park will experience a thrilling winter destination boasting select rides and attractions, holiday lights & décor, photos with Santa (through December 24), holiday shopping, festive food options to fulfill the cravings of New Yorkers and visitors alike, and more! New this year is a giant slide called the “Candy Cane Chute.” Learn about more highlights of the event here, include private dining in heated igloos!
9. Holiday markets open in Brooklyn
The holidays are right around the corner, and it’s never to early to start shopping! These markets are popping up in our neighborhoods in late November.
- Danish Christmas Fair
Saturday, November 23 & Sunday, November 24 | 10-4pm | Danish Seamen’s Church | Brooklyn Heights
The annual Danish Christmas Fair features unique Scandinavian design, knitwear, gift items, holiday ornaments, Danish candy, and traditional food products for Christmas Dinner. Say hi to Santa, sip on hot glög, or bite into delicious “æbleskiver” (puffed pancakes), all in the covered cozy backyard at the Danish Seamen’s Church on Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights. - The Makers Show
Saturday, November 30 & Sunday, December 1 (and continuing on December weekends | 11am-7pm | City Point | Downtown Brooklyn
Holidays ’24 at City Point also marks the return of The Makers Show, a pop-up platform which connects small businesses and creative makers with vibrant local communities. The Makers Show will bring back Brooklyn-favorites and introduce a new selection of artists and crafters, from local farmers to handmade potters to international artisans to sock designers. A little bit of Brooklyn for everyone on your list!
10. Tree lightings begin in Brooklyn
The holiday season officially kicks off after Thanksgiving with the first tree lightings in our neighborhoods. Also check out our roundup this year’s best family-friendly holiday experiences here!
- Downtown Brooklyn Gets Lit!
Tuesday, November 26 | 5-6pm | Albee Square | Downtown Brooklyn
Get ready to kick off the holiday season in true Downtown Brooklyn style and flair! Countdown with us to turn the holidays lights ON! You won’t want to miss this unforgettable event where music, dance, and festive spirit come together in perfect harmony! - Park Slope Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 30 | 4:30-5:30pm | 5th Avenue at 4th Street | Park Slope
Park Slope’s annual tree lighting will feature photos with Santa, live music, sweet treats and hot cocoa, and bubbles!
Updated: November 19, 2024. Main Image: Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
