Plan a weekend with your parents in New York City

There are so many exciting shows, experiences, museums, and more to enjoy all together the next time your family spends a few days in the city.

Although there is a seemingly unlimited number of activities in New York City, it can be hard to figure out what to do when your parents come to visit. There are so many options between museums, nightlife, restaurants, and more, and it can be difficult to pinpoint what will wow your parents.

To help you make the most of their time in the city, we’ve put together a list of some of the best things to do with parents in NYC, including Broadway shows and must-see attractions.

Among the dozens of family-oriented events throughout the city, you’re guaranteed to find something for parents with a wide range of interests, including musical theatre, stand-up comedy, museums, and more.

Get tickets to a Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.

Get tickets to New York experiences on New York Theatre Guide.

Back To The Future: The Musical

Great Scott! One of your parents’ favorite '80s blockbusters is sure to delight as they travel back in time with Marty McFly to save his own future. The musical captivated audiences in London, where the show made its West End debut and won the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

While Back To The Future has an amazing cast and fantastic music, including hits from the movie like “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode,” one of the most talked-about features is Doc Brown’s flying DeLorean.

Get Back to the Future: The Musical tickets now.

Blue Man Group

For over 30 years, the Blue Man Group has put on performances like you’ve never seen before. It’s the perfect all-ages show, and a guaranteed hit for parents with different types of interests because it’s so much fun to watch. Three blue people have descended from another planet and use music and art to explore Earth’s technology, science, and other new experiences. You and your parents may never look at an ordinary PVC pipe the same way.

Get Blue Man Group tickets now.

Museum of Broadway

If you’re looking for something to do before a show or a way to spend an afternoon, take theatre-loving parents to check out the Museum of Broadway. With both immersive and interactive elements, this special experience celebrates the history of Broadway, plus the creatives dedicated to making the magic happen. You’ll find props, costumes, videos, and more from iconic shows, plus exhibits and immersive experiences on famous musicals like The Phantom of the Opera, The Wiz, and The Lion King.

Get Museum of Broadway tickets now.

Amateur Night at the Apollo

Can’t decide between what type of live entertainment to bring your parents to? Get tickets to Amateur Night at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. Talented hopefuls will try to impress the crowd with comedy, singing, dancing, and more.

Plus, you’ll get to do something you can only experience at Amateur Night: vote on your favorite acts! The winner gets $20,000, which means you just might help the next Lauryn Hill, H.E.R., or Machine Gun Kelly (just some of the many artists who won Amateur Night early on in their careers) get their start.

Get Amateur Night at the Apollo tickets now.

I Need That

For a father-daughter story that’s both funny and sincere, take your own pop to see the new Broadway play I Need That, starring real-life father and daughter Danny DeVito and Lucy DeVito. It follows Sam, a homebound hoarder whose daily life is thrown off kilter when he’s faced with an eviction notice. He must accept the help of his daughter and a friend or else lose his home.

Get I Need That tickets now.

MJ The Musical

One of the most thrilling musicals to hit Broadway over the past few years is MJ The Musical, which tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life and career while showcasing more than 25 of his megahits. It’s a great crowd pleaser to bring your parents to, filled with incredible choreography, especially some of his most famous moves like the moonwalk during “Billie Jean.”

Get MJ The Musical tickets now.

A Beautiful Noise

If your parents are known to belt out “Sweet Caroline” at a wedding, take them to A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical. The show tells the story of Diamond as both a young man and the legendary musician he went on to become. You’ll hear over 20 Neil Diamond songs performed during the show, including “America,” “I’m A Believer,” and “Forever in Blue Jeans” in addition to “Sweet Caroline.”

Get A Beautiful Noise tickets now.

The Metropolitan Opera

For parents who liked to play classical tunes around the house as you were growing up, why not see what’s on at The Metropolitan Opera during their visit? You can find tickets to many operas here, including classics such as Puccini’s La Bohème and Madama Butterfly and Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, as well as more contemporary shows like X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X and Dead Man Walking.

Get Metropolitan Opera tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

ARTECHOUSE: Beyond the Light

For a self-guided activity, take your parents to the stars at ARTECHOUSE. The versatile venue currently hosts an immersive exhibition that uses images from the James Webb Space Telescope to put you right in the cosmos. The Beyond the Light exhibition contains an audio-visual show that uses AI-aided visual production and an original musical score to look at how humans have experienced light over time. It also features installations that allow you to explore the solar system and beyond.

Get ARTECHOUSE: Beyond the Light tickets now.

Photo credit: ARTECHOUSE: Beyond the Light. (Photo courtesy of exhibit)