Yes, Thanksgiving is less than a week away (where has November gone?), but we think you should skip the stress of planning the festivities and enjoy the weekend with your brood instead. Since holiday decor is already gracing the windows of stores and institutions around the city, make a checklist of the various spots and spend the afternoon peering at their lights and life-size panoramas; the weather is supposed to be perfect for a fall stroll. Our favorites so far are the brightly colored windows of Macy’s and the traditional arrangements at Bloomingdale’s.

If you’re looking for other no-cost activities, check out Super Sabado at El Museo del Barrio, which is hosting a bunch of family-friendly happenings and free admission to boot. Should you find yourself in Queens, stop by City Ice Pavilion’s Opening Weekend Celebration, which includes free ice time and skates (Sat 7–9:30pm, Sun noon–2pm) and a performance by NY’s Ice Theater. If you’d rather cozy up indoors, MoMA hosts an afternoon of animated shorts; after the flickfest, families can enjoy the museum without paying a dime. Check out all the free events here.

Saturday’s got a lot in store: For just $5, you can rock out with your kiddos at the Roulette Children’s Concert, which features kid-friendly renditions of jams from cool artists like Nick Cave. If you want to follow the holiday theme this weekend, the New York Botanical Garden launches its Holiday Train Show—a must see for city tykes. See more Saturday events here.

Looking for more fun on Sunday? Kids who don’t mind getting a little dirty will dig Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s Ickyfest. If your tots prefer to stay clear of snot and slime, pop into the Guggenheim for its Family Day, or enjoy some tunes with Elizabeth Mitchell at the 92YTribeca. Browse all Sunday events here.

Parents may know Mitchell from his stage performances in the original Ragtime and the most recent revival of Kiss Me, Kate (for which he snagged a Tony). If your kids haven’t yet been introduced to the Broadway star (and New York City dad), today’s the day to do it. Head over to Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center, where Mitchell will read from Lights on Broadway: A Theatrical Tour from A to Z, a book about backstage for which he penned the foreword. After the reading, Mitchell will and kids from TADA! Youth Theater will treat the audience to a free mini concert.

If you’ve got a tween girl, unplug the telephone, turn off the Jo Bros album and pop over to the Helen Mills Theatre today, where the Arts Effect NYC is holding a free afternoon of acting and writing workshops tailored to adolescent gals. Kids will learn from local directors, producers and actors, and develop their interests in the arts. A live theatrical performance follows the workshops, along with a “Girl Power”-themed party. Reservations are required. Click here to snag your spot.

Head to the Tribeca Barnes & Noble today for a reading by the author of the Mo’s Nose series, Margaret Hyde. Her latest installation, Mo Smells the Holidays, focuses on the hard-to-learn lesson that giving is better than receiving, which can serve as a gentle reminder as the present-giving—and greed-inducing—season approaches.

Looking for more Veteran’s Day fun? Check out our roundup of events to celebrate the holiday with your family.

If your kids have the day off from school today. there’s plenty to keep them busy at spots around the city. After you tote ‘em to the polls (be sure to read our take on the candidates first), head to Lefferts Historic House where kids can cast their own ballots in an Election Day Celebration. Once your kid has voted, hang around for some patriotic cake and to hear the winner announced at 4pm. Happy voting!

At the risk of completely killing your Wild Things buzz, we’re recommending yet another event revolving around the highly anticipated flick (which opens this Friday!). In our defense, however, this one is pretty cool: Celebs from the film, including Forest Whitaker, Catherine Keener and precocious star Max Records will read aloud from Maurice Sendak’s story. Arrive as early as possible, since there’s bound to be a crowd.

Check out all the Wild happenings taking place throughout the city at nycgo.com/wildthingsweek.

Looking to brighten your mood on this overcast day? Then escort your tykes to Chelsea’s Marlborough Gallery for a taste of spring (albeit an artificial one). The folks at the awesome kiddie art collective Hi Art just reminded us that the the space’s current exhibit, “Will Ryman: A New Beginning” is closing on Saturday, so it’s your last chances to see the artist’s oversized sculptures of red and pink flowers, garden detritus and insects. The works are two- to seven-feet tall and the enlarged scale is intended to give visitors the feeling that they are rodents traipsing through a garden.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to stop and see the roses!