26 Fun Things to Do with Kids on Long Island this November

Our list of fun and low-cost kids’ events on Long Island this November includes family shows, Thanksgiving events, and holiday activities in Centerport, East Hampton, East Islip, Elmont, Floral Park, Garden City, Lindenhurst, Oyster Bay, Port Washington, Riverhead, Wantagh, and beyond.

‘Fiddler on the Roof’

Broadhollow Theater at Elmont, Elmont
Nov. 2

Imagine being caught betwixt and between as tradition goes head-to-head with modern-day convention. Tevye, a poor milkman, is accustomed to parents finding husbands for their daughters. Now what’s a dad to do when his daughters go against tradition and fall in love with someone else? Now he must choose between his daughters’ happiness and his beloved traditions. Listen as this Fiddler on the Roof renders such favorites as Tradition, Matchmaker, If I Were a Rich Man, and Sunrise, Sunset. Mention NYMetroParents and get $2 off adult or senior tickets!

‘I Do I Do’

The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, Bellmore
Nov. 3

I Do I Do is a poignant show about husband-and-wife duo Michael and Agnes, who begin to recall their wedding day and all the ups and downs of their marriage over the past 50 years. Despite little hiccups in their relationship, both love each other deeply. This charming musical includes such memorable songs as My Cup Runneth Over, The Father of the Bride, and Together Forever.

‘Disney on Ice: Let’s Celebrate’

Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale
Nov. 5-10

Everybody loves a party and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are no exception! Join the fun as Disney On Ice Presents Let’s Celebrate! Among the “we love to party crowd” are Alice and the Mad Hatter celebrating a Very Merry Unbirthday Party, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen rocking to the sounds of Mardi Gras, the fabulous Disney princesses waltzing at the Royal Valentine’s Day Ball, and the Disney villains getting spooky at a Halloween haunt. Also, watch out for pineapples at the tropical Hawaiian luau hosted by Lilo & Stitch and join Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear in a winter wonderland.

‘The Diary of Anne Frank’

Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor
Nov. 8-10, 15-16, and 22-23

Bay Street Theatre’s Literature Live education program brings The Diary of Anne Frank to the stage. The production is a piece of literature selected from the core curriculum of local schools. Plays chosen are from standards-based literature and are supported with teacher-developed lesson plans and reference materials. All performances are 90 minutes and weekday shows are followed by a question-and-answer session. Recommended for ages 13 and older.

‘The Nutcracker’

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, Centerport
Nov. 10

Graceful video imagery on the planetarium dome adds a little twist to The Nutcracker as dancers from The Lumiere Ballet perform scenes form Tchaikovsky’s classic.

Veterans Day Fishing Event

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, Cold Spring Harbor
Nov. 11

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium is open for business on Veterans Day, when visitors can explore the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fish, and amphibians with a tour through two aquarium buildings and eight outdoor ponds. You can also feed the hungry trout and try “Catch & Keep” fishing (pictured).

‘Tramp, Tramp, Tramp’

Cinema Arts Centre, Huntington
Nov. 19

Cinema Arts Center is one of the few venues to offer a quiet alternative to the current crop of over-the-top ‘talkies’ most of us take our families to see. The center’s Anything But Silent program features a black-and-white silent film accompanied by MOMA’s Ben Model on the cinema’s Miditzer organ. This month, catch the 1926 film Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, in which Harry Langdon plays a down-on-his-luck suitor who goes to great lengths to win Joan Crawford’s hand.

‘The Paper Bag Players: Hiccup Help!’

Guild Hall, East Hampton
Nov. 23

The Paper Bag Players: Hiccup Help! takes a simple approach to keeping your kids in stitches—the laughing kind, of course. With cleverly made paper-bag props, lively music, zany characters, and funny stories and songs, your children are guaranteed to laugh themselves silly.

‘A Christmas Carol’

Theatre Three, Port Jefferson
Nov. 16 – Dec. 28

Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas in Theatre Three’s Production of A Christmas Carol. Check the website for specific dates and show times.

Yoga for Children with Special Needs

Calliope Fitness & Arts, Roslyn
Thursdays in November (except Nov. 28)

Yoga for Children with Special Needs (5- to 10-year-olds) is a small class that includes a warm-up, calming breathing exercises, yoga poses with visual support, cooperative yoga games, creative guided imagery, mindfulness techniques, and relaxation techniques. Classes are tailored to match the physical abilities and needs of the children.

Titans of Business & the Best of Design Showcase

Sands Point Preserve, Sands Point
Nov. 2-24

Design House International and many of the country’s most gifted designers present Titans of Business & the Best of Design Showcase, an effort that will transform 15 rooms in Hempstead House into a breathtaking masterpiece. Hempstead House, located on Long Island’s Gold Coast, is a castle-like mansion that reflects the opulent lifestyle of a bygone era. Originally built in 1912, the baronial home was sold to Daniel and Florence Guggenheim in 1917. Overlooking the Long Island Sound, Hempstead House is the epitome of extravagance, from its imposing vaulted ceilings to a sunken palm court to the carved stone gargoyles that peer down from above. No children younger than 12 will be permitted.

Theatreworks USA’s ‘A Christmas Carol’

Landmark on Main Street, Port Washington
Nov. 24

There’s plenty of generosity to go around in Theatreworks USA’s A Christmas Carol. The show captures both the humorous and touching moments of the classic story with witty dialogue and fresh new songs, conveying Dickens’ original message that the holiday season should be a “kind, forgiving, charitable time.” This sentiment is a timeless and heartfelt message for parents and children alike.

Thanksgiving Events

East Islip, Floral Park, Garden City, Lindenhurst, Oyster Bay, Riverhead, and beyond
Throughout November

Here’s where to catch a variety of Thanksgiving-themed events on Long Island this month.

Community Chanukah Service

Temple B’nai Torah, Wantagh
Nov. 29

Light the menorah at a Community Chanukah Service in Wantagh. Each participant is asked to bring a menorah and three candles: one for the first two nights of Chanukah, and one for the shamash, also known as the service candle, used to light the other candles on the menorah. Then everyone will listen to the story of the Maccabees and the magic of the small amount of oil that lasted for eight days. FREE!