# George Balanchine's The Nutcracker by New York City Ballet > Event for families in the New York–Newark–Jersey City area (NY / NJ). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Nov 27 – Nov 29 · 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM - Where: David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023 - Ages: Recommended for ages 5+; booster cushions and stroller check available - Price: Tickets start at $65–$120 depending on section (advance purchase strongly recommended) - Organizer: New York City Ballet - Official page: https://www.nycballet.com/season-and-tickets/ - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/george-balanchine-s-the-nutcracker-by-new-york-city-ballet--listing-9c21704fd969a7934e47a205 ## About Nothing signals the arrival of the New York holiday season like the opening night of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center! Premiering annually on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, New York City Ballet's legendary production at the David H. Koch Theater is the gold standard of classical holiday dance theater. Audiences are swept into a dreamscape powered by Tschaikovsky’s immortal score performed live by the 62-piece New York City Ballet Orchestra. Young theatergoers gaze wide-eyed as a 40-foot Christmas tree grows before their eyes, a fierce battle erupts between mouse soldiers and toy infantry, real stage snow flurries during the Waltz of the Snowflakes, and the Sugarplum Fairy welcomes Marie and her Prince into the Land of Sweets. Family Tips: Recommended for children ages 5 and up. Complimentary booster seats are available in the lobby to help younger kids see over the seats in front of them. The theater features stroller check and coat check services. Performances run Friday evening, Saturday matinee/evening, and Sunday matinee over Thanksgiving weekend. Arrive 45 minutes prior to curtain to admire the soaring promenade and take family photos by the grand chandeliers. ## Similar picks in New York - [George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at New York City Ballet](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/george-balanchine-s-the-nutcracker-at-new-york-city-ballet--listing-f98e3a331a322de3d93a9f9a) — Nov 27 – Jan 3 · 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM · David H. Koch Theater (Lincoln Center) · Ages 5–99 · From $85 · checked Nov 7. Tschaikovsky's unforgettable score and Balanchine's breathtaking choreography come alive at Lincoln Center with a 62-piece orchestra, 90 dancers, and 125 children from the School… - [George Balanchine's The Nutcracker — New York City Ballet](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/george-balanchine-s-the-nutcracker-new-york-city-ballet--listing-ebc2d8ce0a094c5e8fb9d595) — Nov 27 – Jan 2 · David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center · Ages 5+ · Paid · checked Oct 16. New York City Ballet's George Balanchine's The Nutcracker returns to the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center from November 27, 2026 through January 2, 2027. Set to… - [The Nutcracker Sensory-Friendly Performance — New Jersey Ballet at UCPAC, Rahway](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/the-nutcracker-sensory-friendly-performance-new-jersey-ballet-at-ucpac--listing-ef8ace2190200b96cfddf0cf) — Sun, Nov 29 · 2:00 PM · Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC), Rahway · From $8 · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 16. New Jersey Ballet opens its holiday season with a sensory-friendly performance of The Nutcracker at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, November 29, at… - [Keith Michael's The Nutcracker — New York Theatre Ballet at Kupferberg Center, Queens](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/keith-michael-s-the-nutcracker-new-york-theatre-ballet-at-kupferberg-c--listing-abf7ecf930882576365a4af2) — Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM · Colden Auditorium, Kupferberg Center for the Arts (Queens College), Flushing · Ages 3+ · From $25 · checked Oct 24. New York Theatre Ballet brings its one-hour Nutcracker, choreographed by Keith Michael, to Colden Auditorium at Queens College's Kupferberg Center for the Arts for a Friday… - [The Nutcracker — American Repertory Ballet at Two River Theater, Red Bank](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/the-nutcracker-american-repertory-ballet-at-two-river-theater-red-bank--listing-4a6409811951a985f83364ef) — Sat, Dec 5 (+1 more date) · 1:00 PM · Two River Theater, Red Bank · Paid · checked Oct 16. American Repertory Ballet's Nutcracker, a production families have returned to for more than 60 years, plays three performances at Two River Theater in Red Bank on the first… - [The Nutcracker — New Jersey Ballet at bergenPAC, Englewood](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/the-nutcracker-new-jersey-ballet-at-bergenpac-englewood--listing-925e5be2753eeb13e7d8d834) — Sat, Dec 5 (+1 more date) · 1:00 PM · Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), Englewood · From $35 · checked Oct 16. 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