'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows! Unlike earlier this fall, when theater for young audiences was scarce, November and December are filled with joyous productions for families, thanks in part to children ages 5 to 11 finally being eligible for vaccination.
While there are plenty of extravaganzas to splurge on, like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and all those beautiful Nutcrackers, if you've got young kids, you may not want to blow all of your bucks on theater tickets. That's why our roundup of seasonal family fare includes a range of productions, from inexpensive, low-key offerings perfect for fidgety preschoolers, to over-the-top spectacles that are worth the investment.
From live stage adaptations of classics such as Elf on the Shelf and A Charlie Brown Christmas, to seasonal musicals based on popular picture books, to amazing circus feats and offbeat experiences, here are our top 16 holiday shows for NYC families in 2021.