No matter what age you are, the Radio City Rockettes will dazzle you in the annual Christmas Spectacular, a must-see bucket-list show. If you’re looking for an event the entire family can enjoy, this tradition is one of the best, showcasing incredible moves from the famous precision dance troupe. Parents will be impressed by the larger-than-life sets, and you'll all leave in the holiday spirit.

Get Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets now.

If your parents loved the Wicked movies, then treating them to the Broadway musical is the natural next step. It has something for everyone, whether they are fans of the Wizard of Oz, impressed by amazing effects, moved by heartfelt stories, or all of the above. Afterward, they can decide whether they’re a Glinda or an Elphaba.

Get Wicked tickets now.

Do your parents love Michael Jackson music? They’ll enjoy this high-energy hit about the King of Pop’s life and career. It’s set during Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour and lets audiences travel back in time as he reflects on memories and milestones. Hear his biggest hits live, like "Beat It," "Man in the Mirror," "Smooth Criminal," and "Thriller," and see equally iconic dance moves like the moonwalk.

Get MJ The Musical tickets now.

A tale worth revisiting every December, A Christmas Carol is a timeless nod to the true spirit of the holidays. This year's revival in downtown Manhattan gives new life to the classic tale, incorporating Christmas carols, snacks, and immersive elements due to the in-the-round design. You and your parents will leave inspired and excited for the Christmas season.

Get A Christmas Carol tickets now.

Nearly 30 years since its debut, The Lion King is still one of the top shows to see on Broadway. Perfect for treating parents to a fun night, this is a great first Broadway show because it appeals to just about everyone: It has songs we all know and love, gorgeous costumes and puppetry, and a well-known story from the beloved Disney film. Great for enthusiastic and casual musical fans alike, The Lion King rules when gifting theatre tickets.

Get The Lion King tickets now.

The hit musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel is a crowd-pleaser for parents, breathing new life into the classic tale of love and obsession. They'll love the dazzling sets, jazz-inspired music, and infectious dancing, even if they’re not super familiar with the story. It’s another great option for Broadway newcomers, as you can’t help but be entertained by the glittery Jazz Age spectacle.

Get The Great Gatsby tickets now.

Treat your parents to a night of gravity-defying acrobatics and incredible stunts centered around a heartwarming story. This holiday-themed Cirque du Soleil show takes everything you expect from one of the world-famous performance troupe and blends it with a sweet holiday story inspired by the "'Twas the night before Christmas" poem.

Get Cirque du Soleil: Twas the Night Before... tickets now.

Disney movies, and musicals, never fail to delight audiences of all ages. With magic carpet that actually flies through the sky, Aladdin is a captivating musical that takes this familiar story to new heights with amazing costumes, sets, and more. This is a great show to see with parents if you watched it over and over again with them as a kid — they’ll be sure to appreciate the nostalgia.

Get Aladdin tickets now.

Whether your parent is a history buff or a musical comedy fan, they’ll love tickets to Operation Mincemeat, which was so popular that its 2025 limited run keeps extending on Broadway. Set during World War II, it tells the true story of the Allies turning the tide of the war in an utterly chaotic way that will have you dying of laughter. It's a hilarious, creative, and clever musical with a lot of heart.

Get *Operation Mincemeat* tickets now.

Do you have a parent who loves Greek mythology or classic love stories? Then they’ll be thrilled with this Tony Award-winning retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set to a score infused with folk and jazz music. Hades, Persephone, and Hermes also come to life on stage as the young lovers attempt to defy the odds and fight to be together. They’re guaranteed to have never seen a show like this before.

Get Hadestown tickets now.

If your parents aren’t the musical type, a play option is The Play That Goes Wrong, which takes inspiration from British humor legends like Monty Python for two hours of slapstick hilarity. Opening night of a murder mystery play turns catastrophic as the theatre starts to fall apart around the actors — in all the ways you might expect and plenty you won't.

Get The Play That Goes Wrong tickets now.

Your parents — and maybe even their parents — may well have loved Bobby Darin hits like “Mack the Knife” and “Splish Splash” growing up. Let them travel back in time and witness Darin’s rise to fame in this energetic musical, which sets his life story to his most famous songs and features other notable figures like Connie Francis and Sandra Dee.

Check back for information on Just in Time tickets on New York Theatre Guide.