christmas in new york essay

Christmas Celebration in New York City Essay

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Christmas is a holiday season which is celebrated on 25 th of December every year. It is a wonderful time of the year for many Christians around the world. Christmas was first celebrated three centuries ago with the main intention of displacing the pagan Saturnalia jubilations of the winter solstice. Initially, little attention was paid to this important celebration of the year, as the original nativity occurred no later that September when the notable star-struck shepherds would have spent their night with their flock in the fields. During last year’s Christmas festive season, I decided to visit New York City. The city is one of the biggest and attractive holiday destinations in the world. The experience I had in New York City is an event which I will never forget in my life. New York City is ranked in top ten among the holiday destinations in the world.

According to Adams, New York City is a place of recreation (3). Christmas Holiday is an amazing event, which even the New Yorkers who are mainly tourists; consider choosing New York City, as a holiday destination. I was mesmerized with the arrangements and the atmosphere of the city which was full with a colorful holiday spirit as everyone enjoyed the celebrations to their fullest. I observed certain things which were magical and dreamlike concerning the New York City. As I began enjoying my holiday, I realized that there were lots of fascinating and unique things to experience.

I observed many things which make the city even more dazzling, particularly during this time of the year. For instance, the city becomes very bright and more embroidered than most cities, in the US. I watched the city glow with a catching spirit of a real festive season. The most flamboyant scenic areas were colored with Christmas lights which were visible outside the Macy’s showing the Empire State Building from the background. In addition, everywhere in the city looked pretty and spectacular with Christmas trees and other holiday attractions popping up around the city.

The other important observation I made was that the city becomes a winter wonderland during the Christmas Eve. It was very thrilling to observe the snow blankets covering the streets of Manhattan, crowds moving up and down at the exquisite window displaying adorned stores along the fifth avenue. It was also exhilarating to see the ice-skaters glide across the Rockefeller Center Skating Rink with a view of the Christmas tree glowing beneath the city skyline.

The other interesting activity that I actually saw was drummers performing impromptu concerts on the street of New York. On the other hand, the streets were packed with vendors who were always handling out free drinks. Actually, the city is a big place to encounter in just few days. When I made a comparison of the city with other cities in developing nations’ I noted that the streets within the city are also packed with street people , who remain to be a point to note as a social problem in most societies. As I walked down the streets, I saw street boys and girls, people sleeping in door ways or trash bins. Some could have the courage to talk to travelers politely. Some of these experiences made my holiday a bit uncomfortable. The next encounter was that everyone, from a Wall Street Banker to a starting homeless person shares the street. This is the negative side of New York, which I experienced.

Despite its dark sides, New York City is ranked as one of the top cities in the U.S. In addition, the city has holiday traditions that have occurred in many centuries. The traditions include the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Through history of the Christmas tree, follows the great depression, where construction site employees were required to put up a small tree. Later, the tree grew into a massive evergreen tree which graced the Rockefeller Plaza, which become the centre of attraction during the December holiday. The other important tradition which has granted New York City its position as a holiday destination includes the Radio City Music Hall, and the City Christmas Spectacular. There are many events which are arranged for the Christmas season on a yearly basis. In addition to these traditions, the other important feature of New York City as holiday destination is the Fifth Avenue.

Luckily enough, I got an opportunity to participate in a boat ride. It was beautiful watching the sparkling waters with the salty air rising. In addition, it was also fascinating to see the sea gulls gliding overhead. I was exhilarated by a glimpse of the Manhattan skyline with all its picturesque. This was one of my fantastic moments, during my experience during the adventures visit to the New York City. I also spared some hours to visit the museum, which was mostly used on weekends for recreation purposes. The other interesting moment during my visit to New York City was the trip to Macy’s which is situated along the 34 th Street.

During the holiday season, I followed the Union Square and made my way to the eighth floor which is commonly known as Santa land. The place makes a visitor feel welcome because of the wonderfully friendly elves that receive visitors and provide direction through the whimsical land of a snowy terrain, which is characterized with dancing bears and puppets. I got an opportunity to see Santa Clause, who had cheeks like roses with a nose resembling a cherry and beards which were white as snow. Santa Clause was warm and gracious and was addressing children and giving them presents. After the encounter with Santa Clause, I made my next move towards Herald Square to join others to watch the vintage New York.

I did most of the window shopping at the Macy’s, which is situated at the corner between the Fifth Avenue and the 58 th Street. Macy’s ranks top as one of the most celebrated toy stores which brings out the child in everyone. I also liked the support of the staff and other employees who kept everything running smoothly, in spite of the presence of a big crowd who attended the festive season.

In conclusion, New York City is a place for luxury for the New Yorkers endowed with so many New York Hotels providing fabulous Christmas travel offers. The City boasts the best five star hotels in the world. In addition, most of the hotels in New York City offer lower prices during the festive season; hence, I managed to afford and experience the luxury New York City Hotel, known as the Midtown Manhattan Hotel. The hotel is situated to a close proximity to the Rockefeller Christmas tree and the Grand Central terminal. Other recreation places next to the hotel include the Radio City Music Hall Spectacular and the Rockefeller Ice Rink.

My Christmas Holiday experience in New York City has been of the most interesting adventures in my life, I will cherish to tell and encourage my friends and children because freelance writing had a perfectly sweet ending.

Works Cited

Adams, Lisa. Twelve Days of Christmas in New York City . New York: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. 2009. Print.

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Your insider guide to celebrating Christmas in New York by a New Yorker

October 18, 2019 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

Growing up in New York, the holiday season always left me with such excitement. Although my family is not very into Christmas, some of my favorite memories with my mom are during the Christmas season in New York. This guide to Christmas in New York City will include insider tips for enjoying New York for Christmas like a local, the best things to do during the Christmas season in New York City, and some helpful tips for your trip to New York City.

First of all, I strongly recommend dressing warmly as New York is cold during winter. If you’re living somewhere a bit warmer, don’t fear, you can do your winter shopping (on a budget) once you arrive in New York . Most importantly, this is one of the most popular times of the year to visit New York City, so book your hotel as far ahead as you can. You can click for my picks for affordable hotels in New York where you can get your money’s worth . It is New York after all.

When people generally refer to Christmas in New York, they generally mean the entire holiday season. For all purposes, this season runs between Black Friday (the day after American Thanksgiving) and Christmas itself. The reason is that most attractions related to the holidays in New York kick into gear around this time, so don’t feel that you have to come for Christmas. You can come a week earlier, experience the best that New York has to offer for the Christmas season and still be home for your family’s dinner. This post has two sections: Christmas and holiday-themed activities in New York City and how to celebrate Christmas like local.

The best things to do during Christmas in New York City

How to experience christmas like a native new yorker.

1.1 Browse the windows
1.2 Browse the Christmas markets in Bryant Park, Columbus Circle, and Union square
1.3 Have a drink at the Christmas pop-ups
1.4 See the Nutcracker
1.5 Cozy up to enjoy the Christmas spirit at the Queens County Farm House
1.6 See the Rockefeller Plaza tree
1.7 Enjoy the light spectacle at the Bronx Zoo
1.8 Enjoy the neighborhoods with houses decorated with Christmas lights
1.9 Do a candlelight tour in Historic Richmond Town
1.10 See the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas Spectacular
1.11 Drop by Macy’s to say hello to Santa!
1.12 Go Ice Skating at New York’s rinks
2.1 Christmas Eve in New York
3 Christmas Day in New York
4 Any questions about Christmas in New York?

Browse the windows

One of my all-time favorite things to do during the Christmas season in New York is to browse the windows of the various department stores. Each year, around Thanksgiving, New York’s major retailers decorate their windows in elaborate, beautiful decorations. (Some include animatronics that move!)

My favorite is typically Macy’s who often goes with telling a story as you walk down the street looking at the windows. It will be crowded with both locals and tourists, but it tends to be quieter in the middle of the day if you’re visiting during the week. Even if you don’t have the budget to shop at Bergdorf Goodman in New York , you can still enjoy the view! Where to go: Macy’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Browse the Christmas markets in Bryant Park, Columbus Circle, and Union square

There’s nothing like grabbing a hot chocolate and browsing the stalls at the various Christmas markets in New York City. Bryant Park and Union Square are the most well-known markets and both open far before the Christmas season, so you don’t need to worry much about hours.

In Bryant Park, you’ll find a spacious ice skating rink (arguably the best outdoor rink in Manhattan!) with stunning views of the New York Public Library along with hundreds of booths at the Holiday Market. The Columbus Circle Christmas Market is a bit smaller, but a great place to support local designers and businesses. If you’re looking for a gift that can’t be bought on Amazon, come here. I always love Union Square as it’s often bustling. You’ll find more than a hundred stalls here, and even if you don’t find the perfect gift, you’re surrounded by some of New York’s most affordable shopping .

Have a drink at the Christmas pop-ups

Famous Christmas-themed cafe in New York City dekked out for Christmas in New York City!

If you’re looking for a memorable experience that you can’t have anywhere else, consider stepping into one of the Christmas pop-ups and bars around New York City! (Note: Most New York bars will not allow someone under 21 into the bars, even if they’re not drinking. Bring ID!)

The photo included is an older version of Rolf’s , New York’s most famous Christmas-themed restaurant that does not go light with its decor. Expect German food and homemade egg nog! It’s still a bit early for 2019’s best pop-ups, but still bookmark Nomad as they typically go all out for their holiday decorations. Be sure to look up the Miracle on 9th , which is a Christmas-themed pop-up bar and restaurant generally within the East Village although now with more locations to help with the demand for Santa.

See the Nutcracker

As a kid, my mom would often take me to see The Nutcracker put on by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. No matter how many times we saw it together, it was always magical. Tickets aren’t particularly cheap, but if you plan well ahead, tickets are sold online through the official website. Dress up for the occasion and get a ticket!

Cozy up to enjoy the Christmas spirit at the Queens County Farm House

On the outskirts of New York City, you’ll find the oldest continuously operating farm in New York State. This is the Queen County Farm, which is open to the public. During the week of Christmas, they’re open for free to visitors to enjoy the cozy historic farmhouse. They’ll have cider and crafts for the kids. It’s a bit of a challenge to get out here (F train to the last stop + bus or Uber), but if you have extra time before heading to JFK, it might be worth the excursion if you’re with kids.

Similarly, during all of December, there will be a holiday market here for those looking to decorate their homes with beautiful wreaths. If you’re traveling and can’t bring one home, you’ll also find other nice locally-made souvenirs at this non-profit market. (Check the official website for hours/dates. Should be open on Christmas Eve/Day.)

See the Rockefeller Plaza tree

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree during December in New York City decorated for Christmas!

One of the most impressive Christmas spectacles in New York has to be the Rockefeller Center Tree. Whether or not you make the lighting, this tall tree (typically 80 feet!) just as impressive in person. The tree lighting itself is a very crowded event, so think carefully about coming here as it’s just as special watching it on TV… Still, drop by anytime after dusk to see the lights shining besides on Christmas day when the lights are on all-day. The tree goes up in 2019 as of December 4th, 2019 and it’s typically still up until the first week of January. This is free to visit!

Enjoy the light spectacle at the Bronx Zoo

Another New York Christmas tradition perfect for families visiting NYC is visiting the Bronx Zoo in the evenings for the light show. Somewhere in an album in my parent’s house are photos of me running around the Bronx Zoo and it’s definitely a nice thing to do if your kids are awake past dusk. The sunset is early in December in New York (around 4:30pm), so you don’t need to go very late! You’ll need to purchase a ticket (best bought direct ), but it’s truly a winter wonderland with ice sculptures, wildlife-themed lights, trains, and caroling.

Enjoy the neighborhoods with houses decorated with Christmas lights

For the best Christmas lights in New York, you need to go where people have the space to decorate. Within the various boroughs, you’ll find a few key spots if you’re willing to venture outside of the popular tourist areas by stepping on the subway to Queens and maybe even taking a bus.

The most famous neighborhood in New York for Christmas Lights is Dyker Heights in Brooklyn , which has blocks of Christmas lights. I’d say that it’s the easiest to get to, namely because there are tours heading to Dyker Heights from Manhattan . For those looking to visit independently, it is accessible by public transit with multiple transfers.

Within Queens, you’ll want to look up Bayside and Whitestone , which are two quieter residential neighborhoods (close to Flushing ) that often have nice light displays. Within the Bronx, you might want to look up Garabedian Christmas House , which is an impressive display if you put the effort into getting here.

Do a candlelight tour in Historic Richmond Town

Wanting to get away from the crowds close to Christmas? Consider heading to Staten Island to check out Historic Richmond Town! This historic park with multiple houses that have been fully preserved showcase the history of Staten Island and New York itself. Admission is pretty affordable and the whole venue is family-friendly!

During the Christmas season, they offer a few evening tours with candlelight showcasing yuletide traditions throughout the centuries. If you’re curious about how Christmas was celebrated in Ye Old Times, come here for English country dancing and wassailing.

See the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas Spectacular

A beloved Christmas show throughout the year, but especially during Christmas, is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. From holiday favorites to high-kicks, you cannot go wrong with booking this family-friendly favorite complete with dancing, music, and stories. I recommend booking a ticket well in advance through the official website, but if you’re last minute, you can book a tour to ensure that you get your tickets .

Drop by Macy’s to say hello to Santa!

For those with kids or those who just love Christmas, you need to stop by Macy’s Headquarters to say hello to Santa. After Thanksgiving, the top story turns into a Christmas-themed shop complete with NYC-themed ornaments and other souvenirs. Of course, Santa is there for the iconic photo if you wish, but I’d recommend stopping by here if you’re looking for a thoughtful Christmas souvenir to decorate your tree with!

Go Ice Skating at New York’s rinks

People enjoying ice skating in Bryant Park, one of New York's best Christmas markets and ice skating rinks during Christmas in New York!

Lastly, I had to include ice skating. Although not all of us are overly graceful, ice skating in New York’s many public rinks is a favorite of tourists and locals. Personally, I avoid the Wollman rink due to an association with a certain president, but politics aside, it’s a beautiful location in the middle of Central Park. Similarly, most locals avoid the Rockefeller Center rink as it’s quite smal, expensive, and cramped. To avoid the crowds while enjoying ice skating in New York , consider heading to Chelsea Piers, Bryant Park, or even venturing out to Brooklyn to see Prospect Park in its prime. (The rentals add up, so check prices before you go!)

Christmas Eve in New York

Woman enjoying Christmas Day in New York City, one of the best times to enjoy NYC!

If you’re someone of faith, you’ll probably want to go to church on Christmas Eve. There is a church for virtually every denomination. You can click here for our picks for the most beautiful churches in New York City to figure out where you want to attend services.

On Christmas Eve, some shops will be open for last-minute purchases although things will start to quiet down as people settle in at home or leave town. Still, you can go ice skating and browse the Union Square & Bryant Park markets.

If you want to have dinner out on Christmas eve or Christmas day, I recommend making a reservation at a restaurant of your choice. This will not be inexpensive, but many restaurants and shops will be closed on Christmas day. If you forget to make a reservation, historical food landmarks like Katz’s Deli, Russ & Daughters, and the 2nd Avenue Deli will be open. Vegans should look up ABC Kitchen .

If you’re looking for a nightcap or to dance the night away, that’s an easy possibility. Quite a few bars and clubs will be having themed Christmas parties, so be sure to bring your ugly Christmas sweater. (TimeOut New York regularly updates about parties.)

One of New York’s most secretive traditions that I still have only read about is the Gramercy Park caroling. This private park is locked most of the year, however, it’s open to the public on Christmas Eve for caroling if you have nothing to do and love to sing.

Christmas Day in New York

Giant Christmas decorations in New York City for the Christmas Season

In my opinion, there is nothing more New York than ordering in using a delivery app or going out for Chinese food on Christmas. If you’re wondering where to go, take the subway down to Chinatown or hop over to Queens to experience New York’s biggest Chinatown at this point, Flushing . Some shops will still be closed, but it’s a good start to finding options if you didn’t make reservations.

A few museums will be open on Christmas Day, namely the Jewish Museum. One of my favorite museums in New York has to be the Tenement Museum, which showcases how New Yorkers lived in the late 1800s-1900s. Buy your ticket ahead for one of their tours and enjoy the Lower East Side where things should be a bit less quiet.

Another tradition that I usually do with friends on Christmas day is going to the movies in the afternoon. I strongly recommend buying your tickets out in advance as many movie theatres will sell out. (Many New Yorkers who aren’t Christian or who have quieter plans often go to the movies as it’s a public holiday and not much is open.)

Any questions about Christmas in New York?

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Unusual things to do in New York

Your insider guide to the best of Christmas in New York City written by a native New Yorker, including the best things to do in New York City in December and Christmas week! Includes what to do during Christmas Day in New York CIty.

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

October 24, 2019 at 12:21 pm

This looks so amazing! I love Christmas and I’ve never been to NYC yet so I guess I really need to go soon *w*

A Short History of Christmas for New Yorkers

December 25, 2022 by Peter Hess 9 Comments

Albany children singings hymns to St. Nicholas on the Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas

Many of the American traditions on Santa Claus originated in the Dutch settlement of New Netherland along the Hudson River between New Amsterdam (New York City) and Oranje ( Beverwyck-Albany ). The other colonies were English.

The image of Santa, with his round belly and long white beard leaving presents for children in shoes left by the door and stockings hung by the fireplace, was the image of Dutch St. Nicholas. The tradition that Santa was dressed all in fur with high boots, smoked a long-stemmed Dutch pipe and rode in a sleigh with reindeer certainly never originated in either England or America.

Two of Santa’s reindeer “Donder” and “Blitzen” are derivations of Dutch words for “thunder” and “lightning” while “Vixen” means “fox” in Dutch. Decorated holly trees were recorded in sixteenth century Netherlands. In Germany, there is a widely held belief that in the 1500s Dutch families decorated evergreen trees with lighted candles on the Feast of St. Nicholas to imitate the stars in the sky. Dutch holiday trees were also decorated with berries and nuts, fruits and decorated cookies. This was all part of the Feast of St. Nicholas celebration on December 6.

In the English colonies, any secular, fun-loving, celebration of Christmas (December 25) was outlawed. The New England Puritans’ second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out pagan mockery of Christmas and penalized any frivolity. Oliver Cromwell preached against the heathen traditions and joyful expression that he felt desecrated the sacred event of Christmas.

In 1809, author Washington Irving, writing under the pseudonym “Dietrich Knickerbocker,” wrote the History of New York. In it, he described St. Nicholas as the patron saint of New York and wrote of him arriving on horseback each year on the eve of St. Nicholas’ feast day, Dec. 6. Irving was not creating anything new, but he was taking an old verbal Dutch tale and spreading the word of St. Nicholas to the English colonies.

Clement Clarke Moore first published his poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (‘Twas the Night before Christmas …) in The Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823. This was almost 200 years after the Dutch first began celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas in Rensselaerwyck and Fort Orange. Moore’s poem was probably not authored by him but he was one of the first to write the old popular story down in a published work.

Moore popularized the “jolly old elf” image of Santa and his ability to fly from house to house in his sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. Sometime between 1809 when Washington Irving placed Santa’s visit on the feast day of St. Nicholas and 1823 when Moore wrote “… the night before Christmas…” the two separate holidays were combined.

In the 1830s, R.H. Pease of Albany printed America’s first Christmas cards (actually St. Nicholas cards). The first Christmas cards were merchant’s advertising cards printed in a holiday motif with the merchant’s name and address. They were handed out to customers in the Albany area.

In 1846, the popular English royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince Albert were sketched with their children standing around their family Christmas tree. Albert had brought the celebration from his family tradition in Germany. The sketch appeared in the Illustrated London News . What was done at court immediately became fashionable. Christmas and Christmas trees had officially arrived both in the U.S. and England.

Louisiana was the first state to declare Christmas an official holiday, in 1837. By 1860 fourteen states had done so. By 1865, 31 states and territories officially recognized Christmas. In March, 1868, Charles Dickens read A Christmas Carol from the stage of Albany’s Tweedle Hall. In 1870, the U.S. Congress in Washington voted Christmas a federal holiday.

In 1881, cartoonist Thomas Nast began publishing a series of cartoons in Harper’s Weekly. Nast’s cartoons gave many Americans their first look at Santa. Nast started to make Americans aware of Santa’s bright red suit, bundle of toys and elves. Nast spread the image of rotund, jolly old St. Nick from Moore’s poetic description, which, of course, was based on the Old Dutch image of St. Nicholas. However, as Moore had described him, Nast drew St. Nick as a small character resembling an elf.

In 1931, the Coca-Cola Company published a series of illustrations making Santa a human-size figure and created the modern image of Santa Claus.

If you spend December 25 at church, celebrating the birth of the founder of the Christian religion, you are celebrating the religious holiday. If, on the other hand, you make out your letter to Santa, decorate your house with colored lights, spend weeks buying presents, decorate a “Christmas Tree,” send out cards with a picture of a man dressed in red fur, hang stockings by the chimney with care, listen with your children for the arrival of the sleigh with eight tiny reindeer, open Santa’s presents on Christmas morning … then you are celebrating the Old Dutch Feast of St. Nicholas.

The traditions of the Albany Dutch live on, not only in Albany but all over the U.S.

Illustration: Albany children singings hymns to St. Nicholas on the Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas, courtesy Harper’s Magazine.

This essay first appeared on the New York History Blog on Dec. 22, 2017.

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Reader interactions.

December 23, 2017 at 11:53 AM

My home town was Albany, NY! Thank you for the info!

December 23, 2017 at 12:17 PM

This is wonderful and so appreciated…lovers of all things Historical…..will love it. My ” pilgrim ” arriving in 1623….is documented as receiving a reprimand from Gov. Bradford for ” saying the WRONG” evening prayer ! Several families apparently had had enough of Gov. Bradford…and moved to Barnstable,MA. HSTORY….is such a blessing……RALF WALLEN / WALLING’S dealings with Bradford…survive..yet my dear husband’s father,born in IN in 1924 has no birth certificate ! :-)

December 24, 2017 at 1:27 AM

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (December 19 on the Julian Calendar).

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas’ life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

————Re Christmas tree Long before Christianity appeared, people in the Northern Hemisphere used evergreen plants to decorate their homes, particularly the doors, to celebrate the Winter Solstice. On December 21 or December 22, the day is the shortest and the night the longest. Traditionally, this time of the year is seen as the return in strength of the sun god who had been weakened during winter — and the evergreen plants served as a reminder that the god would glow again and summer was to be expected. The solstice was celebrated by the Egyptians who filled their homes with green palm rushes in honor of the god Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a crown. In Northern Europe, the Celts decorated their druid temples with evergreen boughs which signified everlasting life. Further up north, the Vikings thought evergreens were the plants of Balder, the god of light and peace. The ancient Romans marked the Winter Solstice with a feast called Saturnalia thrown in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and, like the Celts, decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that Saturnalia was the most important celebration in Roman life. It was a week-long lawless celebration held between 17 and 25 December in which no one could be prosecuted for injuring or killing people, raping, theft — anything usually against the law really. But although a lot of people blew off steam by taking advantage of the lawlessness, Saturnalia could also be a time for kindness. During Saturnalia, many Romans practiced merrymaking and exchange of presents.

Sounds familiar? In the early days of Christianity, the birth of Jesus was set at the last day of Saturnalia by the first Christian Romans in power to approach pagans, even though scholars assert Jesus was born nine months later. It was a clever political ploy, some say, which in time transformed Saturnalia from a frat party marathon into a meek celebration of the birth of Christ.

While a lot of ancient cultures used evergreens around Christmas time, historical records suggest that the Christmas tree tradition was started in the 16th century by Germans who decorated fir trees inside their homes. In some Christian cults, Adam and Eve were considered saints, and people celebrated them during Christmas Eve.

During the 16th century, the late Middle Ages, it was not rare to see huge plays being performed in open-air during Adam and Eve day, which told the story of creation. As part of the performance, the Garden of Eden was symbolized by a “paradise tree” hung with fruit. The clergy banned these practices from the public life, considering them acts of heathenry. So, some collected evergreen branches or trees and brought them to their homes, in secret.

These evergreens were initially called ‘paradise trees’ and were often accompanied by wooden pyramids made of branches held together by rope. On these pyramids, some families would fasten and light candles, one for each family member. These were the precursors of modern Christmas tree lights and ornaments, along with edibles such as gingerbread and gold covered apples.

Some say the first to light a candle atop a Christmas tree was Martin Luther. Legend has it, late one evening around Christmas time, Luther was walking home through the woods when he was struck by the innocent beauty of starlight shining through fir trees. Wanting to share this experience with his family, Martin Luther cut down a fir tree and took it home. He placed a small candle on the branches to symbolize the Christmas sky.

December 24, 2017 at 7:25 PM

Thank you for expanding the discussion of Saint Nicholas to ancient Roman Christian culture in Turkey. Amsterdam was probably not the only city which celebrated St. Nicholas in the 16th and 17th centuries. It would be interesting to trace the history through medieval times to cities in different European cultural and linguistic areas. The early history of Christmas in London or Paris could be expected to differ from its celebration in Amsterdam. In the U.S., the role of the Dutch takes on special significance only because of the New Netherland colony. The history of the evergreen Christmas tree in the northern temperate zone surely goes back to pagan celebrations around the winter solstice. There have been many books written on the history of the Christmas tree. Prof. Philip Shelley, who taught German literature at Pennsylvania State University , donated a huge collection of books on the origins of the Christmas tree to the Pattee library at Penn State.

December 27, 2017 at 10:12 AM

Presents, toys, cookies and cakes, decorated trees and houses, are associated with the Feast of St. Nicholas, Dec. 6 not the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, Dec. 25. Technically, I don’t think there is a “Christmas” tree until after the two holidays were combined.

December 27, 2017 at 9:33 AM

Remember that Christmas, the religious celebration of Joseph and Mary traveling through Nazareth and having a baby, Jesus Christ, delivered in Bethlehem on the traditional date of Dec. 25, …… and the Feast of St. Nicholas, a jolly soul, dressed all in fur, smoking a long-stemmed Dutch pipe, with 8 reindeer – two named Donder and Blitzen (Dutch for Thunder and Lightning), flying from rooftop to rooftop delivering toys, on Dec. 6, are two completely separate holidays that have nothing to do with each other. Presents, decorated trees, wreaths, Santa, have nothing to do with Christmas, the birth of Christ. Sometime between 1809 when Washington Irving identified Santa as appearing on Dec. 6 and 1824 when Clement Clark Moore wrote “Twas the night before CHRISTMAS,” the two holidays were somehow combined. Martin Luther would not have decorated a CHRISTMAS TREE.

December 24, 2017 at 4:05 PM

William Bradford was the Governor of Plymouth Colony (the Pilgrims), not of the Puritans in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Pilgrims and Puritans are far from being interchangeable. The Pilgrims were separatists and established their own Congregations while the Puritans sought to rid the English Catholic Church of Vatican and Roman influences (purify). Big difference and important to understand in our history.

December 25, 2017 at 10:54 AM

Peter Hess did not mention Black Pieter. Just wondering why this omission.

December 25, 2019 at 7:27 PM

The character first appeared in an 1850 book by Amsterdam schoolteacher Jan Schenkman. So way after the founding of New Amsterdam.

On Christmas in New York

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The bar might have been bathed in neon turquoise light, but I still noticed Monica’s nails. Long, lovingly cared for, perfectly squared off, and resplendent in layer upon layer of cherry-red lacquer, topped with a few coats of red glitter.

Christmas nails. So festive, yet not garish or obvious. Her nails weren’t made to look like mini Santa hats or dotted with Christmas trees. Even red and green stripes were overlooked.

Just bright red, and red glitter. Classy Christmas nails. And it’s so strange, but looking at those nails made me realize the kind of Christmas that I wanted to have.

It’s hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit. I’m not a big Christmas person, I don’t like Christmas music, I’m not a fan of anything cutesy, and I don’t have many little kids in my life who get excited for Santa. I hate the rampant consumerism and I know what an emotionally difficult time the Christmas season can be for many people.

So perhaps because of that, I’ve spent the past few years seeking out nontraditional Christmases in different parts of the world.

There was my first Christmas abroad: Sihanoukville in 2010, where I took a costumed booze cruise to an island, frolicked on a beach in a bikini and Santa hat, shotgunned beers, made out with a random Israeli giant, then spent the night partying with new friends at JJ’s, the see-and-be-seen spot of Serendipity Beach.

It was wild, as was my first trip to Southeast Asia. But I’m still in touch with many of those friends from Christmas night and one of them, Chris, became one of my favorite travel companions ever.

There was Christmas in Koh Lanta in 2013, a much more mature day on the beach topped off by a tasting menu at one of the nicest beach restaurants and getting to know classy couples from all over the world. As wonderful as it was to be on my favorite island, it was also a stressful and difficult day.

Less memorable was Christmas in London in 2012, during which I did nothing. Honestly, I can’t remember a single thing about it because it was an ordinary day; I had only stayed in the UK for Christmas because I had to go to Scotland a few days later. I may have watched Django Unchained . Or maybe it was Home Alone .

There were also the Christmas markets I explored all over Europe, from Paris to Florence to Birmingham. It’s really a whole season more than just a day.

But New York is a different kind of Christmas. It is incredibly, indisputably traditional. Unbelievably, I had somehow never experienced Christmas in New York all this time, but my #BookingEpic campaign with Booking.com brought me to the Ace Hotel in the heart of December.

I’ve never seen a single destination get so swept up in the holiday.

And I was afraid that I’d hate it.

On my mind was an essay written by David Sedaris in which he describes a friend of a friend’s disastrous visit to New York. She was from a small town in the south and had come to New York afraid of bloody everything, assuming everyone was trying to pickpocket her, even accusing taxi drivers of trying to rip her off before they even got in the car.

She hated the food; she hated the markets. But as soon as she got to Rockefeller Center and saw the Christmas tree, she was at her happiest. A different writer might treat this turning point with beauty and grace, but this is David Sedaris we’re talking about. He wrote about how she was hysterical with happiness despite being crushed by the masses.

She was surrounded by people just like her who hated New York but loved all the cheesy Christmas stuff.

So between that and my general distaste for midtown Manhattan, my expectations for Christmas in New York were low.

But they shouldn’t have been.

There was always a crowd at Rockefeller Center, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t that bad. Not only did I go see the Christmas tree a few times, I went with longtime New Yorkers (including a native Manhattanite) and we took cheesy pictures of ourselves in front of the tree! We even stuck around to watch part of the show on the buildings! Who says there’s anything wrong with that?

And so what if it’s the “touristy” or stereotypical thing to do? It was fun! And more importantly, we were having a great time with each other.

Midtown was such a great place to explore the Christmas festivities. Giant balls in the middle of a fountain? Excellent! Store windows filled with winter wonderlands of high fashion I couldn’t afford? Most excellent!

And decorations? They were out of this world.

Like these giant Christmas lights.

…if those are, in fact, supposed to be Christmas lights.

Image: The Legendary Adventures of Anna

And there were Christmas parties! My friends and I dropped into Nomadic Matt ‘s annual Christmas party, all dressed up, made up, and enjoying drinks with travel people. This is the closest thing I had to an office Christmas party. (Though it still didn’t top the office party when my boss passed out Viagra to all the guys, but that’s another story for another time…)

This year, I learned that I didn’t need to leave the country in order to have the kind of Christmas I wanted. Whether I wanted to have a nontraditional Christmas of shotgunned beers on the beach in Cambodia, a very traditional Christmas with the decorations of New York, or even my personal brand of classy-but-not-obvious-and-very-me Christmas, the Christmas of Monica’s glittery red nails, it didn’t matter.

Christmas, overall, was about sharing the holiday spirit with the people around me, whether they were close friends or complete strangers.

The #BookingEpic campaign is brought to you by iambassador and Booking.com to highlight unusual accommodation around the world. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Where was your most unusual Christmas?

How to do the holidays in NYC like a New Yorker

Four long-time locals share their favorite festive spots..

There’s a reason New York City is the setting for so many holiday movies. The larger-than-life Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center , a visit with Santa at Macy’s Herald Square , dazzling Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular : There’s more than enough cinematic moments to choose from—and that’s just Manhattan.

Still, what arguably makes New York so special this time of year is the nostalgia that comes from shared traditions. To that end, we tapped four New Yorkers who all embody the holiday spirit in their own ways to share their favorite spots to cozy up next to a fireplace, shop local, and maybe enjoy a Hanukkah-inspired cocktail or two.

See the lights in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Christmas decorations in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

From Tony Muia, founder and CEO of A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours , a Traveler’s Choice Award–winner that has been guided holiday tour through illuminated Brooklyn neighborhoods since 2005:

“I grew up not far from Dyker Heights —we’d pile into the car every year, sometimes in our pajamas, to go look at the lights. It was such a big part of our Christmas. What I love about Dyker Heights and the other neighborhoods we visit is that the homeowners do the decorating, and me and my guides—all of which are native Brooklynites—love telling their stories.

The tour is a tribute to people like Lucy Spata, who I grew up with and who started the holiday-lights tradition back in the 1980s. It’s since grown to include hundreds of houses that draw at least a half million visitors each year.”

Tip: If you’re heading to Dyker Heights from Manhattan, take the R Train to 86th Street. The majority of the light displays can be found between 11th and 13th avenues and 83rd and 86th streets.

Tony’s favorite NYC holiday spots:

“Park Slope is where my family first settled when they came from southern Italy. The neighborhood takes me back to Christmases of yesteryear and during the winter, you can find me at this local bar on one of the enormous leather couches near the fireplace.”

The Chocolate Room

“I’m a regular at the location on Court Street and they have the best hot chocolate in the city. It’s a thick, Belgian dark chocolate—literally just liquid chocolate in a cup.”

Classic Impressions

“This little card shop has been serving Bay Ridge since the ’80s and I love it for its unique Christmas ornaments and quirky gifts.”

Villabate Alba

“The owners of this Italian pastry shop in Bensonhurst came from Sicily many years ago and opened the shop on 18th Avenue. At the top of my must-have list is the struffoli—a Christmastime dessert made from deep-fried balls of sweet dough covered with honey.”

Support local makers

From Jonah Nigh, the senior vice president of Development and Alumni Engagement at The New School, a semi-finalist on NBC’s Baking It, and a judge for Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off , which is on view at the Museum of the City of New York through mid January.

“The hardest part about judging gingerbread is my total imposter syndrome. The house my husband and I made on Baking It was supposed to be a Japanese temple but ended up looking like a gay bar with no roof that couldn't pay its rent. So, I have a fraught relationship with gingerbread. And I had my work cut out for me this year with 23 entries, inspired by the city’s five boroughs.

We have different categories, including People’s Choice, so the public has a chance to weigh in, and it’s a great activity for kids since anyone under the age of 20 gets in free. I recommend going early in the exhibition’s run so you get more of that amazing gingerbread smell.”

Tip: After stopping by the gingerbread exhibition, check out Starlight, a modern, multi-story light installation that contrasts with MCNY’s 1930s architecture.

Jonah’s favorite NYC holiday spots:

Union Square Holiday Market

“This year, for the first time, The New School will have a booth selling gifts made by alumni and students from Parsons School of Design.”

Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden

“I'm biased since I live in the Bronx, but I have to recommend the miniature train show at the botanical gardens. Iconic NYC landmarks are made with flowers and other organic materials and each one is a masterpiece.”

Pâtisserie Fouet

“This is my favorite bakery in NYC for elevated holiday sweets. It's Japanese and French and the designs are exquisite.”

The Laurie Beechman Theatre

“Located in Midtown West, this theater always has seasonal drag shows like Jackie Beat's ‘It's the Most Miserable Time of the Year!’”

Take part in new (and old) Hanukkah traditions

Close up of man lighting candles in menorah while celebrating Hanukkah

From Harrison Bryan, a Jewish American actor and playwright behind A Hanukkah Carol , a modern musical that debuted in 2022 (register on the official site for this year’s updates).

“Growing up, my parents had my sister and I believing in ‘the Hanukkah Fairy.’ Every year, while we were fast asleep, this fantastical being would decorate the house in blue and white, and leave us presents under the table, making Hanukkah a truly magical experience. But outside the walls of my home, I didn’t really see much Hanukkah celebration—certainly not on any mainstream level. There was a seemingly endless number of adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol everywhere, and I often found myself asking, ‘Where is our version?’ So I wrote one.

A few months later, I met this amazing song-writing duo—Aaron Kenny and Rob Berliner—and we felt inspired to expand my little Hanukkah play into a full-scale musical. All three of us have a common goal as writers to share kindness with the world. And like the steadfast light of the Hanukkah miracle, we believe each of us has the power to effect change and make the world a little bit brighter.”

Harrison’s favorite NYC holiday sps:

Maccabee Bar

“My writing partners and I went to this pop-up, Hanukkah-themed bar last year and it’s a memory I will cherish forever. They have some really fun, wacky cocktails and mocktails. If you’re not sure what to order, spin the dreidel and leave it to chance.”

S&P Lunch

“There are a lot of great places around the city to try latkes but this classic diner offers them with applesauce and sour cream. I’ve also been experimenting with blueberry jam. Mix the blueberry with the sour cream for some classic blue and white Hanukkah deliciousness.”

Prospect Park

“A few years ago, my wife and I did a festive 5K through Prospect Park, put on by New York Road Runners . Everyone dresses up in costumes and it’s a wonderful way to stay fit during the holiday season. Plus, there’s a warm cup of hot cocoa waiting at the finish line.”

One World Observatory

“It’s neat to go to the indoor observation deck and get a 360-degree view of all the lights from above—it might be as close as we get to seeing the world as Santa or the Hanukkah Fairy.”

Travel back in time

Tourist on board the Holiday Nostalgia Train, in New York

From Concetta Anne Bencivenga, Director of the New York Transit Museum

“New York in December is magic—there’s just a bit more sparkle. For us at the museum, we’re delighted that we get to bring back the nostalgia rides , a beloved tradition that people look forward to every year. In partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, we intersperse historic subway cars with their modern counterparts. You might see a wreath or snowflake here or there, but really we let the classic fleet speak for itself with lovely lighting, rattan seats, and period advertisements.

Some people get really into it and dress up in 1940s attire—suits, pillbox hats, stockings. It’s a lot of fun for those who seek out the trains, but also amazing for those who just stumble upon it and have no idea what’s happening. It’s all part of the season of delight.”

Tip: The two trains run on Saturdays in December on the D and F lines—take them to 42nd street to see Bryant Park ’s Winter Village, complete with an ice skating rink and an open-air holiday market.

Concetta’s favorite NYC holiday spots:

Central Park and Fifth Avenue

“I dress warmly and then take the subway to Columbus Circle. From there, I walk the lower loop of Central Park, with a break at Tavern on the Green , before continuing onto Fifth Avenue for the wonderful holiday window displays.”

“This incredible Ukrainian restaurant has amazing pierogi, the kind of comfort food you want when it’s snowing outside.”

Grand Central Terminal

“Vendors sell unique gifts around the holidays and it doesn’t cost a dime to stare up at the ceiling in awe. One thing people may not know is that there is actually a New York Transit Museum gallery here featuring a holiday train show .”

Pete’s Tavern

“Everyone flocks to Rolf’s because it's super fun and very Christmas-y, but there’s always a line. For a more low-key experience, I recommend Pete’s Tavern, where O. Henry wrote the quintessential Christmas story, The Gift of the Magi .”

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Christmas Traditions with New York State roots

There's nothing like Christmas in New York. While that statement may conjure up images of Rockefeller Center and 34th Street, all of New York - from the high peaks of the Adirondacks to the far West of the state - is steeped in holiday tradition.

In fact, many of the traditions that are integral parts of the Christmas experience across the nation have roots in the towns and cities of New York State. From Santa Claus to illuminated trees, Christmas wouldn't be the same without the many contributions from the Empire State.

Read on to see if you knew all of these traditions began in New York.

Electric Christmas Tree Lights

Inventor and business partner of Thomas Edison, Edward H. Johnson, is widely credited as the first person to light up a Christmas tree with electric lights.

Before the advent of electricity, Christmas trees were traditionally illuminated with candles, which were both fleeting and dangerous.

In 1882, Johnson - Vice President of the Edison Electric Light Company, the forerunner of Con Edison - ordered 80 red, white, and blue light bulbs about the size of walnuts to be strung together.

He wrapped them throughout his Christmas tree at his home in New York City, and also used electricity to make the tree rotate.

The move gained the attention of national papers, and the tradition spread as electricity became more widely available and people less suspicious of it. In 1895, Grover Cleveland became the first President to have an electrically lit Christmas tree in the White House, and Edison General Electric Company began mass-producing electric lights for consumers in 1901.

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Santa Claus

While New York can't lay sole claim to the invention of the contemporary icon of Christmas, several New Yorkers made significant contributions to Santa's modern image and his immense popularity.

In an early nineteenth-century edition of his widely read satirical work, A History of New York , Washington Irving referred to St. Nicholas as the patron saint of New Amsterdam.

He painted a picture of a jolly old man nicknamed Sancte Claus, who slid down chimneys with gifts for children on St. Nicholas' day.

In fact, residents of New York had been celebrating St. Nicholas long before Irving wrote about him (though Irving's characterization was unique at the time). Dutch settlers in the Hudson Valley celebrated Sinterklaas on December 6, the day of the St. Nicholas' Feast as far back as 300 years ago.

The tradition is still alive and well in Rhinebeck and Kingston, and is worth experiencing!

The Night Before Christmas and Santa's Reindeer

For a time, Sancte Claus was associated with the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. It wasn't until New Yorker Clement Clarke Moore penned what authors Burrows and Wallace refer to as "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American," that St. Nicholas became a part of the Christmas holiday.

A friend of Moore's sent "A Visit from St. Nicholas" to the Troy Sentinel , which published the piece on December 23, 1823 , beginning with the memorable lines,

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

Moore also established the names of the original eight reindeer:And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:

"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen, "On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;

Of course, "Dunder and Blixem" (Dutch for thunder and lightning) were replaced with their German counterparts, Donder and Blitzen, in an 1844 reprint of the poem, and those were the names that stuck.

Nearly 100 years later, a ninth Reindeer was added to the team, when Robert May (born and raised in New Rochelle, New York) wrote "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" for a Chicago-based department store, Montgomery Ward.

In 1949, May's brother-in-law, New York composer Johnny Marks, turned the story into a song, which hit number 1 on the Billboard pop singles chart that Christmas.

There are certainly more Christmas traditions that began in New York - if you can think of any, share your knowledge with us in the comments!

25 Magical Things to Do During the Holidays & Christmas in New York City

Last Updated: December 15, 2023

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It will come as zero shock to any of you that I’ve always dreamt of spending Christmas in New York City. Growing up on holiday classics like Elf, Home Alone 2 and the very underrated rom com Serendipity, all set in New York, it was only a matter of time before I twirled my way through the decked halls of NYC for myself… something I finally got to check off my bucket list on a recent trip!

Is it overly romanticized? Probably. Will it smell a lot more like garbage than you imagined? Of course. And will there be thousands of other starry-eyed tourists fa la la la lunging at the same sights as you? Yes, a thousand times yes.

But still… it’s Christmas in New York!! And it is magical, so long as you plan smartly.

And that’s what in this post is all about! In this post, I’ll be walking you through all the best things to do in New York City during the holidays, separated by area and with links to activities and tickets to help you save time and stress. Meaning more time for you to shovel cookies in your mouth and prance. Oh, and I’ll be adding in some realistic tips too, just to make sure you have your expectations straight.

Click here to see my full NYC Christmas map, and jump to the following sections to find what you’re looking for :

Midtown Manhattan
Central Park
The West Side
Lower Manhattan
Staten Island

Save this List of New York Christmas Things to Do!

You’ll be very glad you did.

1. Admire the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree & Skating Rink

Now let’s start with holiday magic in the most obvious spot – Midtown Manhattan, where you’ll find the highest concentration of festive New York sights, AKA every establishing shot in every NYC Christmas movie ever.

Rockefeller Center (along with its tree) is possibly the most iconic scene of New York Christmas, featured in countless Christmas movies and TV shows. Lit every year the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a near century-old tradition that dates back to 1931… and is a true must-see in festive New York as far as photo opps are concerned.

Do note though that this is hands down the busiest area during the holidays in New York, with legions of crowds that will grinchify even out of the jolliest of visitors. So, be sure to visit during off peak periods like early in the morning (I’ve heard 5am is actually the sweet spot – no joke) or late at night. We found the crowds must more tolerable at around midnight (after we did the final time slot going up Top of the Rock ).

While here, a whirl on the (much smaller in person) Rockefeller Center skating rink is the stuff of festive New York dreams, with an eye watering price tag to match.

With skate rentals, this signature New York Christmas experience will set you back over $50 per person for an hour of skating, though for those like me who grew up wanting to do it, it can be worth it… just make sure you book well in advance , because they do sell out. Yes, even at that price! What a world.

For a unique view of the tree away from the many crowds, you can book a tour of Rockefeller Center that’ll give you special access to a view of the tree up close. Do note that this tour mainly focuses on the architecture of the buildings around Rockefeller Center though so it isn’t for everyone but it may be one of the only ways to get a crowdless photo of you and the tree.

Lastly, while here, you can also head up the Top of the Rock , home to probably my personal favourite view of New York City because of its head on views of the Empire State Building . I’d recommend going skating in the evening and booking the last entry slot (around 11pm) for the fewest crowds. We practically had the whole place to ourselves!

2. Decorations Around Radio City Music Hall

Of course, contrary to popular belief, Rockefeller Center includes much more than just its most famous building at 30 Rock. Another festive must-see within this sprawling complex is the Radio City Music Hall, the world’s largest indoor theatre.

Surrounding this iconic venue are fun Christmassy displays like giant baubles and candy canes, so be sure to take a walk around to admire them! Again, this is the busiest area of festive New York, so try to visit either early in the morning or late at night… and be sure to avoid the area around the Christmas Spectacular showtimes, as this is when you’ll see the highest density of crowds… unless you’re going to see the show, of course! On that note…

3. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

The decorations around Radio City Music Hall are cute, but the real magic can be found behind closed doors at the Christmas Spectacular, an incredible show featuring the famous Radio City Rockettes, performed 4-5 times a day.

This incredible show is honestly one of the best festive performances I’ve ever seen, with a breathtaking venue, impeccable choreography, fun story, and a near impossible amount of festive cheer. I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say there were drone-powered Christmas fairies.

… Much more Christmassy than Sweeney Todd, which I also enjoyed during my visit.

4. Decor and displays on 5th Avenue

In this area, 5th Avenue is also a great place to experience some New York Christmas sparkle… though beware that this avenue spans over 10km, or 6.2 miles and only a select few spots go all out for Christmas, so if you expect extravagant decor for the entire thing, you’ll be disappointed. Many of the storefronts are, in fact, fairly normal-looking, with splashes of decadent construction along the way to really kramp(us) your style.

You can of course book a tour like this one to bring you to see the best ones, but some highlights include…

Cartier
Bergdorf Goodman
Saks (more on this below)

5. Saks on Fifth Avenue Light Show

The main highlight (literally) of a festive stroll along 5th Avenue is a stop at dreamy Saks, which puts on a special light show every year along with a new unique display and themed windows too.

This year’s theme was Carousel of Dreams, and it was honestly breathtaking.

NOTE: Be sure to check the showtimes before you visit! The shows don’t run all throughout the night, so that’s one of the main downsides of visiting early in the morning or late at night.

6. Bryant Park Winter Village

A few blocks south of Saks is the Bryant Park Winter Village, the city’s largest Christmas Market event, with over 180 kiosks to browse selling food and gifts from around the world.

To be honest, this spot gets really crowded and there’s limited seating if you want to enjoy food and drink, but it is a nice spot to stroll through and soak in the ambiance. Just try to time your visit for earlier in the day to avoid the crowds, which make browsing considerably less fun.

Besides shopping and food stalls, the event’s main draw is its signature skating rink, which spans 17,000 square feet, and offers free skating for those who bring their own skates. (A much more affordable alternative to the Rockefeller Center rink!)

7. North Pole Express

To see all these sights in the most festive possible way though, you can do as I did and book yourself a ticket on the North Pole Express, a shamelessly festive ride on an open top bus that’s decked out with garlands and lights.

The attention to detail on this ride is immaculate, with on board elves (said to be study abroad students from the North Pole) providing plenty of entertainment through singalongs, jokes, and informative facts.

The experience not only includes a golden ticket, it also comes with souvenir hats, blankets, hot chocolate, cookies and a special visit from Santa himself along with a little gift. The commitment to theme here is extraordinary, and cheesy as it is, there’s no quicker way to get into the Christmas spirit!

8. Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market

Another unexpectedly festive spot to check out in Midtown is Grand Central Terminal.

With 44 platforms spread across two levels, this is the largest train station by platform number anywhere in the world, with an incredible celestial ceiling well worth a look on its own.

During the festive season though, there’s additional draws, including its own pop up Christmas market and a splash of festive cheer on its iconic facade in the form of a small but cheerful wreath.

9. Empire State Building

While there are now many other options for amazing views in the city, the Empire State Building is still one of the most famous buildings in the entire world, and one especially worth visiting for movie lovers thanks to its starring role in hits like Elf, among others.

They’re fairly proud of this association too, so you can find plenty of Buddy-inspired merch while on site.

Plus, your visit ends in one of the most iconic entryways in the world, complete this time of year with its own Christmas tree.

So I’d say a stop here is more than worth it, especially at Christmas, when it’s decked out in fun festive decor. The views aren’t bad either!

10. Macy’s Herald Square

Just around the corner, you’ll find the iconic Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square, said to be the largest store in the world… period.

During the festive season, it’s draped in lights on the outside and decked in fun decor on the inside. Plus, tourists can get a 10% discount if they show ID confirming they’re from out of town, so be sure to take advantage.

Another highlight here is Macy’s Santaland, an epic indoor village/landscape where Christmas spirit will leap at you over 13,000 square feet. Entry to this is free, but you do need to book a time slot in advance. Click here for more info.

11. Times Square Holiday Market & Shops

Times Square may be known by many locals as the world’s worst tourist trap but honestly, I still think it’s a cool spot to visit, so long as you watch your pockets and stay away from the creepy mascots. T

here’s something undeniably thrilling about being in a place you’ve seen so many times in movies and TV shows, especially if you grew up ringing in the New Year watching the Time Square New Year’s ball drop.

Home to its own mini Christmas market this year, Times Square is packed with reminders of the holiday season, whether that’s through flashy ads splashed across its dozens of screens or through its many touristy but fun shops that are fully decked for the holidays.

Nearby you’ll find some festively decorated restaurants and bars, including the iconic Lillie’s Victorian.

NOTE: Beware when it comes to New York’s most festive bars and read reviews beforehand because many do not seem at all worth the money. Rolf’s for instance is known for its extravagant festive decor year-round, but its prices are known to be extortionate even by NYC standards, with many reviews complaining about poor quality food, drink and service.

12. Festive Highlights in Central Park

Covering over 840 acres of green space in the very centre of Manhattan, this park is probably one of the city’s most famous spots.

You could easily spend all day exploring Central Park’s countless winding paths, but if your goal is to capture the city’s most festive sights, then don’t miss the iconic Wollman Rink in the southeast portion of the park, where skating will cost you only a fraction of what it would at Rockefeller Center.

There’s also Tavern on the Green, which offers a festive and cozy dining experience.

13. Columbus Circle (and its Holiday Market)

You can also head to the Southwest corner of the park, where you’ll find Columbus Circle, home to festive installations and shopping.

… along with its own holiday market with over 100 stalls to browse.

14. Lavish Hotel & Home Facades Around Central Park

Of course, surrounding the park are also some of New York’s most luxurious hotels, including the Plaza as featured in Home Alone 2, as well as beautifully decked homes in the Upper East Side and beyond.

If you’re looking for a scenic slice of New York to explore, daydream and maybe live out your best Gossip Girl dreams, then this is it.

15. Festive Events at the Edge

Moving west over to Hudson Yards, more festive magic awaits. One of the highlights here is a visit to the Edge Observation Deck , the highest sky deck and outdoor viewing platform in the Western Hemisphere, as demonstrated very cooly by me here:

In time for the holidays, they even have a small skating rink set up, along with other festive photo opps and, for those who dare, even an opportunity to walk and dangle yourself from the outside.

16. Hudson Yards Shops & Restaurants

Down below, Hudson Yards itself is a festive force to be reckoned with, with an array of beautiful holiday displays grounded in a whimsical hot air balloon motif… and lots of stores to peruse for holiday shopping. I’m honestly still dizzy from the amount of lights they use here – they really go all out!

The Vessel, located just outside, offers another fun photo opp… although it was sadly was closed to the public during my visit.

17. Chelsea Market & its Gingerbread Way

No time to be sad though, from here, you can do as I did and walk along the Highline to Chelsea Market, a spot known for its mouthwatering food options and during the festive season some fun surprises too, like pretty Christmas decor and an impressive gingerbread village with over 1000 houses, said to be inspired by the streets of New York itself.

This market is a foodie’s paradise, with tons of overwhelming options. I opted for tacos from LOS TACOS No.1, which probably wasn’t the most festive choice but I assure you their horchata tasted like Christmas in a cup.

18. Union Square Christmas Market

A 20 minute walk away from here, you’ll find another one of New York’s top festive events, the Union Square Christmas Market, where you can take your pick from over 150 vendors, whether you’re looking to buy fun gifts or just grab yourself a little treat. Pete’s Tavern nearby is also one of the most festively decorated bars in New York, so don’t miss it!

19. New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree

Now, let’s move even further south to Manhattan’s southern tip where you’ll find the iconic Financial District, home to Wall Street, the World Trade Center, and probably the world’s most photographed bull.

The main hub of Christmas magic here can be found in front of the New York Stock Exchange, where they have their own impressive tree set up and a fun wreath above its signature ticker. Coming on a weekday just after work hours, there was a surprising lack of people around, so I’m not sure if I just got lucky or if this is a lesser known spot for festive magic in NYC… just be sure to put it on your list because it’s really pretty!

NOTE: We missed the official lighting by a few days, so it looks even more magical when lit!

20. Festive Events at the Oculus

There’s also festive events at the Oculus, an impressive piece of (relatively new) NYC architecture that’s part shopping centre, part transport hub, and part photogenic hotspot.

During my visit, they had beautiful Christmas decorations along with a fun skating rink. It’s definitely a spot worth checking out, though I will say it was a lot smaller in person than I expected from all the photos. Adjust your expectations accordingly!

NOTE: While you’re in the area, you can also do as I did and check out the incredible viewpoint at the One World Observatory, the highest indoor viewpoint in the Western Hemisphere, offering epic 360 degree views across the city.

21. Festive Events at the Seaport District

Staying in Lower Manhattan, another great festive area to check out is Seaport.

This hidden gem of a festive area has a lot of great offerings during the holidays, including its own tree and lighting ceremony, special pop up markets and a glorious gem of a bookstore known as McNally Jackson Books, which is packed with curated reads on every topic you can imagine.

My personal highlight was visiting a beautiful pop-up event on the rooftop of Pier 17, which had amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge, along with ice skating, festive installations, and even cozy cabins you could rent out.

Lastly, it has to be said that like most itineraries for first time visitors to New York, this post has focused on Manhattan. But there’s plenty more Christmas magic to be found in the city’s other four boroughs, so I’m going to run through some ideas for you now. Beware that I didn’t get a chance during my trip to check them out though, so I’ve just listed them here for your reference!

22. Dyker Heights in Brooklyn

In Brooklyn, the signature Christmas thing to do is a visit to Dyker Heights, a neighborhood known for its elaborate Christmas decor, with houses fully consumed by giant nutcrackers, lit-up angels, window lights, and much much more.

Other festive things to do in Brooklyn include…

Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s “Lightscape”
Frost Fest at Luna Park, Coney Island

23. New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show & Glow

In the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden is home to a number of cool festive events, like the Holiday Train Show where you can marvel at model trains gliding through a miniature New York City, while admiring festive lights in their Holiday Light Show.

Other fun festive things to do in the Bronx include…

Holiday Lights at Bronx Zoo
Winter Wonderland at Bronx Terminal Market

24. Astra Lumina in Queens

In Queens, there’s the Astra Lumina walk, a mile long stretch of beautiful lights at Queens Botanical Garden, known for its picture-perfect lighting displays.

Other fun festive things to do in Queens include…

Astoria Christmas Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting
Winter Lantern Festival
Winter Wonder at the Garden

25. Staten Island Festivities

Lastly, you can hop on the free Staten Island ferry for incredible views, fun festive shows and plenty of great opportunities for shopping! Granted, I only really ventured over to Staten Island for the views, but during my brief visit, I saw loads of ads for festive events, including…

The Christmas Show
Holiday Activities at Empire Outlets

Did I Miss Any of Your Favourite New York City Christmas/Holiday Activities?

All in all, New York at Christmas time can be just as overwhelming as it is magical, but I hope this post helped you see all the glittering possibilities that await. Let me know in the comments if I missed any of your favourite NYC festive must-dos! Safe and happy travels 🙂

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

The Ultimate Guide to Christmas in New York City: The best Christmas-themed bars, restaurants, activities, pop-ups and Holiday shows (2023 Edition)

Categories New York , New York

Last Updated on January 11, 2024

There’s no doubt about it: New York City is one of the most popular destinations in the entire world for a Christmas trip! The Big Apple is just magical in December, when the Christmas decorations light up the streets, the windows of the department stores look festive, Christmas bars pop up all over town, Holiday markets and ice rinks are open and the Rockettes perform their annual Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Hall. There are so many Christmas-themed things to do in New York City that it is almost impossible not to get into the Holiday spirit!

To help you hit up as many Christmas activities in New York as possible, I put together a comprehensive list of all the Christmas-sy & Holiday-themed things that you can do in NYC in December to make you hum a Christmas tune while walking down Fifth Avenue. Read on for all the free things to do in NYC to get you excited for the Holidays, ranging from the best holiday windows, Christmas markets, and decorated houses you can visit. If you want to spend some money, there is ice skating on several ice rinks, there are Holiday-themed bars and rooftop bars, Christmas pop-ups, tree-lightening ceremonies and Christmas-themed tours in NYC.

The best things to do for Christmas in NYC: Bars, Restaurants, Shows, Holiday Markets, Christmas Lights and More (updated for Christmas 2023)

Table of Contents

The best Christmas-themed bars and restaurants

Rolf’s.

Rolf’s is a German restaurant in Gramercy (Manhattan) that is known for its insane Christmas decorations. Reservations are essential, or you’ll wait 60 – 90 minutes in line.

Address: 281 Third Avenue, Manhattan
Opening Hours: Noon – 10pm daily

Miracle on 9th

A Christmas-themed pop-up bar in Manhattan’s East Village. They serve delicious seasonal cocktails in festive cups.

Address: 649 E 9th St
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 4pm-1am; Friday & Saturday: 2pm-1am; Sunday 2pm-midnight
Reservations necessary .

Lillie’s Victorian Establishment

Lillie’s is a fabulous bar & restaurant known for their extravagant seasonal ornaments – there’s no way you will NOT get feel cheerful here! There are two locations in Manhattan, one near Times Square and one near Union Square. In addition to the magnificent decorations, several unique Christmas-themed cocktails have been added to the menu.

Address: Lillie’s Times Square: 249 West 49 th Street; Lillie’s Union Square: 13 East 17 th Street
Opening Times:
Times Square: Monday 4pm-1am; Tuesday – Thursday: noon-3pm and 4pm-1am. Friday: 12-3pm and 4pm-2am; Saturdays and Sundays 10.30am-3pm for brunch; 4pm-1pm
Union Square: Monday – Wednesday: 4pm-1am; Thursdays and Fridays: 4pm-1am; Saturday: 11.30am-2am; Sunday: 11.30am-1am

Grinchy’s at Roberta’s

Iconic Brooklyn pizzeria Roberta’s in Bushwick turned its tiki bar into a Christmas-themed wonderland named Grinchy’s. Worth the trip if you love Neapolitan-style artisan pizza.

Address : 6 Grand St, Brooklyn
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 12pm-10pm; Friday & Saturday: 12pm-11pm
Reservations only for parties over 10 people.

Miracle on Union

Known as Thief for the rest of the year, this bar turns itself into a fabulous winter wonderland every December. No reservations necessary.

Address: 595 Union Ave, Brooklyn
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday 5pm- 2am; Thursday & Friday 3pm-2am; Saturday & Sunday 12pm-2pm.

Loreley is tranforming from a German beer garden into a Winter Wonderland from 16 November 2023 – 7 January 2023. This German restaurant on the Lower East Side has not only delightful Christmas decorations, but also tasty German beers and specialties such as sausage platters and of course soft pretzels. And if beer’s not your thing: there are a number of special winter cocktails, including spiked eggnog, gluhwein, boozy hot chocolate and hot bourbon apple cider. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends and around the holidays.

Address: 7 Rivington Street, Manhattan
Opening Hours: Monday & Tuesday: 5pm-midnight; Wednesday: 5pm-1am; Thursday: 5pm-2am; Friday & Saturday: Noon-4am; Sunday: Noon-midnight.

Oscar Wilde

This bar, which pays homage one of the most prolific writers of the 19 th century, has been around since 1933 and feels like a bar from a bygone era – Victorian décor, high ceilings, a plethora of oil paintings and clocks adorning the walls, and it also has New York City’s longest bar at 118.5 feet (36 meters!). For the Holidays, it adds dazzling Christmas decorations and makes this an essential stop on any NYC Christmas bar crawl.

Address : 45 West 27th Street, NoMad, Manhattan
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 4pm-1am; Thursday & Friday: 4pm-2am; Saturday 11am-2am; Sunday 11am-1am

The Santa Clauses’ Winter Wonderland @ Pier 15

The Watermark Restaurant at Pier 15 is stunning was transformed into a Winter Wonderland with a giant snow globe, Santa’s Sleigh, Santa’s Workshop and a Gingerbread Bar. Cocktails and food can be purchased, and there’s an enclosed waterfront cocktail chalet. There are also heated glasses houses.

Address: 78 South Street Pier 15
Tip: There’s off-peak pricing Monday – Thursday, and from Monday to Friday, there are Happy Hour Specials (4pm – 6pm).
Tickets: Starting at $25 (includes a cup of hot cocoa), Premium Express Entry $30 (includes a pair of hand warmers & a souvenir Santa hat). Purchase tickets here .
Meet Santa! Santa will be visiting every Friday through Sunday in December.

Holly Jolly Holiday Bar at Mad Morton

This holiday pop-up bar charges $27 admission, which includes a holiday-themed cocktail. They also have a Boozy Christmas Brunch (starting at $49, including an entrée and a holiday cocktail, and the option to upgrade to bottomless mimosa with your brunch).

Tip: On Fridays and Saturdays at 11pm, admission is $15 (including a welcome shot).
Address : 47 7 th Ave, West Village, Manhattan
Opening Hours: 1 December – 30th December 2023. Wednesday through Sunday. Several sittings per night: 5pm-6.30pm; 5.30pm-7pm, 7pm-8.30pm, 7.30pm-9pm; 9pm – 10.30pm.
Reservations can be made here .

Frosty’s

Frosty’s Restaurant and Bar is New York’s biggest Christmas pop-up, right around the corner from Times Square. Frosty’s has taken over Bacall’s & Blue Midtown and transformed their restaurant and bar specas across four bars and three levels into the ultimate Christmas Experience. There are seasonal cocktails, photo opps, live music and food.

Note: This is a 21+ Experience.
Tickets: General admission starts at $30 – prices vary depending on time of the day and weekday / weekend. Up to $60 per ticket. Buy tickets here .
Address: 220 West 44 th Street, Manhattan
Opening Hours: 1 – 31 December 2023. Open daily from 4pm – midnight.

Christmas Rooftops in NYC

Magic Hour is a gorgeous rooftop (on the 18 th floor) year-round, but in December, the decorations are changed to make the bar look like a “ Pink Winter Lodge – Neon Frost Edition”. Expect hanging snowy branches, a sparkling white gondola, a winter white fireplace flocked with icy garland, a frosted white Christmas tree – all set to the backdrop of the Empire State building. There’s also a winter-themed cocktail and food menu. Reservations are essential.

Opening hours: Monday – Wednesday 3pm-midnight; Thursday 3pm-2am; Friday 3pm-4am; Saturday 11.30am-4am; Sunday 11.30am-midnight. There’s a Sunday brunch from 11.30am-3.30pm.
Address: 485 7 th Ave (Midtown Manhattan)

230 Fifth’s Rooftop Igloo Bar

230 Fifth, named after its address on Fifth Avenue, is another rooftop bar with splendid views of the Empire State Building, and every winter, it transforms itself into an igloo village with wood cabins and see-through domes (which are heated). There are several seasonal hot drinks on the menu, like a Mint Boozy Hot Chocolate, a Pumpkin Pie Hot Chocolate (with pumpkin liqueur) and mulled wine.

Note: If your party is bigger than six people, it’s recommended to make a reservation. Reservations are also needed for the Bottomless Brunch (Saturdays and Sundays from 11am – 4pm $45 for an entrée, bottomless champagne and coffee). They also have a $49 prix fixe dinner (reservations necessary).
Opening hours: Monday – Thursday: 2pm-2am; Friday: 2pm-4am; Saturday: 11am-4am; Sunday 11am-2am
Address: 230 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan

Ophelia Lounge

Ophelia Lounge, atop the historic Beekman Tower in Midtown East, close to the East River, is another stunning rooftop bar that transforms into a winter-themed cocktail lounge. Ophelia is less opulent than Magic Hour (the theme is “snow globe in the sky”) but the winter cocktails and the views make it a great place for a couple of holiday drinks. I recommend the Polaris Express with two different types of rum, Kalani, cinnamon, homemade horchata and vanilla. Yum!

Opening Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: 5pm-11pm, Thursday: 5pm-midnight, Friday & Saturday: 5pm-2am
Address: The Beekman Tower, 3 Mitchell Place, Manhattan

A Holiday-themed NYC Observatory: Edge

The EDGE observation deck, which is the highest outdoor skydeck in the Western hemisphere at a height of 1,131 feet / 345 meters). Since it is much higher up than any of the rooftop bars, it obviously offers much better panoramic vistas – and 360° views! – over NYC, and for the Holidays, the indoors section of the Edge has been transformed in a winter wonderland. There’s even an indoor ice rink! The Glice® rink costs an additional $10 for a 30-min session (this includes the skate rental). Make sure to book your tickets in advance, since they do sell out.

Standard Tickets start at $46 ($41 for children 6-12, free for kids 5 and under).

Buy tickets here.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies in New York City

The most famous tree lighting ceremony is obviously the Rockefeller Tree Lighting, which is even televised nationwide and has celebrity guests, but did you know that there are a bunch of other tree lighting ceremonies around town that are worth visiting?

Here are all of NYC’s tree lighting ceremonies in 2023

28 November, 6pm-7pm: South Street Sea Port Christmas Tree
28 November, 6pm: Bryant Park Christmas Tree
29 November, 2pm-6pm: New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree
29 November, 7pm-10pm: Rockefeller Christmas Tree
30 November, 5.30pm-7.30pm: Central Park Holiday Lights at the Harlem Meer
7 December, 4-7pm: Dumbo Christmas Tree (Pearl Street, right on the waterfront)
6 December, 4.30pm – 6pm: Madison Square Park Christmas Tree
6 December, 6pm-7pm: Washington Square Park Christmas Tree
10 December, 4pm – 5pm: Tompkins Square Park Christmas Tree

The best Christmas Decorations in New York City

Midtown manhattan.

The Fountain in front of the Plaza Hotel

Right across from The Plaza Hotel and southeastern corner of Central Park, Pulitzer Fountain is decorated for the Holidays. Go out night for the full effect.

Upper East Side

There is a beautifully decorated townhouse on East 76th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue
East 73rd Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave has lovely Holiday lights wrapped around the trees

Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighborhood

This neighborhood in South Brooklyn is known for their over-the-top decorated houses, which are well worth the 75-minute trip from Midtown Manhattan (by subway). This is one of my favorite things to do for Christmas in New York! The decorations are mainly between 83 rd and 86 th Streets, between 11 th and 13 th Avenue. Expect to spend about two hours walking around the neighborhood to take in all the Holiday lights.

How to get there: It takes about an hour to get to Dyker Heights from Midtown Manhattan. Take the R to 86 th Street. From there, you can walk to the Christmas Lights (about 15 minutes) or take the B1 bus for 5 stops (6 minutes) and get off at 86 th Street and 11 th Ave. Alternatively, you can take the D to 79th Street and walk over to 83rd and 13th Street from there (about 15 mins).

Tip: There are also guided tours to Dyker Heights, if you don’t want to figure out public transportation in NYC. Scroll down to “Christmas-themed Tours in NYC” for more information.

christmas activities in New York City: Dyker Heights

Downtown Manhattan

Zuccotti Park, the Oculus & the Stock Exchange Christmas Tree

If you’re planning to visit Wall Street and the Financial District, there are several good Christmas photo spots. Zuccotti Park is beautiful to see at night, when the trees and holiday lights are turned on. There’s also the Liberty Street Holiday Pop Up with several vendors selling artisan gifts, and the Christmas Tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange is only a 4-minute walk away. Also just a short walk (3 minutes) away is the Oculus , beautifully decorated for the Holidays and with an indoor Holiday Market (open from 25 th November 2022 – 2 nd January 2023; Monday to Saturday: 10am – 8pm; Sunday: 11am – 7pm)

The Best Holiday Markets in New York City

Bryant park holiday shops.

170 artisanal vendors will make it easy for you to find a gift or two!

Market Dates / Opening Times: 28 th October 2022 – 2 nd January 2023. Monday – Friday: 11am – 8pm, Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 8pm.
Closest subway station: Bryant Park 42 Street. Subway lines: B, D, F, M

Union Square Holiday Market

A popular Holiday market with 185 vendors in Union Square

Market Dates / Opening Hours: 16 th November – 24 th December 2023. Monday – Friday: 11am – 8pm, Saturdays: 10am – 8pm, Sundays: 11am – 7pm. Closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Closest subway station: 14 th Street / Union Square. Subway lines: L, N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

At this market you can find art, jewelry, home goods and delicious food from independent vendors and small businesses.

Market Dates / Opening Hours: 28 th November – 31 st December 2022. Monday – Friday: 11am – 8pm. Saturday: 10am – 8pm. Sunday: 11am – 7pm
Closest subway station: Columbus Circle / 59 th Street. Subway lines: A, C, B, D, 1

Grand Central Holiday Fair

Since the Holiday Fair at Grand Central Terminal is indoors, it’s a great place to browse the shops on a rainy or super cold day. The market takes place in the Vanderbilt Hall wing of Grand Central Terminal.

Market Dates / Opening Hours: 13 th November – 24 th December 2023. Monday – Saturday 10am – 7pm; Sunday 11am – 6pm
Closest Subway Station: Grand Central 42 nd Street. Subway lines: S, 4, 5, 6, 7

Christmas Shows in New York City

Christmas spectacular starring the radio city rockettes.

See New York City’s most iconic Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall: the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes. The legendary group dance started performing in NYC in 1932 and there’s nothing quite like this mesmerizing performance. There are up to five performances a day, and the last show is on 4th January.

Tickets start at a $52 for the cheapest seats, but you can also splurge on front row seats for $392 .

The Nutcracker

For the entire Holiday Season, The Nutcracker will take you into a marvelous land of twirling snowflakes, candy canes, and so much more! 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands and over 125 children join for each show, making it one of the most complex ballet performances. This production, along with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, will leave you in awe for sure.

Tickets start at $95 .

A Christmas Carol

From London’s West End to New York City: You can see Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge at the Merchant’s House Museum from 28 November – 24 December.

Tickets range from $45 – $115.

Click here for tickets.

Pop-Up Holiday Experiences in New York City

New york botanical garden’s holiday train show & glow light experience.

The Holiday Train Show has wowed visitors for over 30 years now! The model trains that whiz through 190 model replicas over New York City landmarks are a delight for grown-up and children alike. In addition to the trains, you can visit NYBG Glow , the largest holiday light experience in New York City, illuminating the Botanical Gardens. Tip: If you’re not interested in the model trains, you can also purchase tickets just for NYBG Glow. There are also special events throughout the season – check the calendar for that.

Tickets: $54 Holiday Train Show + GLOW ($39 for children under 12). Children under 2 visit for free.
Address: 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
Opening hours: The show takes place from 5-10pm
NYBG Glow happens on these dates: December 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 26–30; January 6 & 13, 2024

Santa’s Secret Immersive Holiday Experience

This event combines winter wonderland and a Christmas-themed speakeasy. The bar offers Christmas-themed cocktails, there’s live music, and there are dazzling acts, cabaret-style! It is a 2-hour Experience.

Note: This Experience is 18+ (21+ to drink)
Tickets can be purchased via this link , and start at $75
Address: The Shops at Hudson Yards (5 th Floor)
Opening Hours: 27 November – 31 December 2022. Thursdays – Saturdays 6pm – 9pm, Sundays 4pm – 7pm. Closed December 21 st , 25 th and 28 th

The Best Ice Rinks in NYC

Ice skating is one of my personal favorites when it comes to Christmas activities in New York City! Most people want to ice skate in front of the iconic Rockefeller Christmas Tree, but I personally find that ice rink to be very small (and crowded) and prefer other ice rinks. Here are the best ice rinks in New York City, and how much they cost:

Rockefeller Ice Rink, Midtown Manhattan

The Rockefeller Ice Rink is NYC’s most famed Christmas ice rink, and for many people a must-do Christmas activity in New York City. Because it is so popular, I recommend making your reservation early – especially if you’re visiting on a weekend.

Opening hours: November 2023 – 24 March 2024. Daily 7am – midnight.
Costs: Prices vary depending on what time of day you visit, and weekday or weekend. $51 per hour / $25 children 5 and under (peak) / $38 per hour / $19 children 5 and under (offpeak before 9am). The highest tier pricing is $73 per hour. Skate rental is an additional $11 . A $73 peak ticket plus skate rentals will cost you $89 (incl $5 processing fee).
Tip: In January, after the Holidays, it is easier to find tickets in the $38 range.
Tickets: Reserve your tickets here

Wollman Ice Rink, Central Park, Manhattan

The Wollman Ice Rink is another well-known ice rink – made famous through its appearance in Home Alone 2. Ice skating in Central Park is one of the most “New York” things to do during the Holidays, and the backdrop of the Manhattan skyscrapers is striking! Make your reservation early, because slots at this iconic ice rink do fill up.

Opening hours: The Wollman Ice Rink is open from 24 October 2022 – 15 March 2023. Mondays & Tuesdays: 10am – 2.30pm; Wednesdays & Thursdays: 10am – 9pm; Fridays & Saturdays: 10am – 9pm
Cost: $26 (off-peak) / $37 (peak) for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under; plus $11 for the skate rental. That means that the total price for skate rental and admission during peak hours is $48 .
Tickets: Buy your tickets here

Bryant Park Ice Rink, Midtown Manhattan

The Bryant Park Ice Rink has a spectacular setting: surrounded by the imposing high rises and skyscrapers of Midtown Manhattan! What makes this ice rink stand out is that is completely free ! You only have to pay for the skate rental (or bring your own). The Bryant Park Winter Village is the perfect place to warm up with a hot chocolate after your ice skating session.

Cost: FREE ! Skate rentals vary in pricing, depending on day & time of the rental. They range from $21 – $50. Make a reservation early and expect to pay around $21 in the mornings, $32 around noon, and $48 in the afternoon / evening ( $50 on weekend nights).
Opening Hours: The ice rink is open from 28 th October 2022 till 5 th March 2023. Mondays – Wednesdays: 8am – 10pm; Thursday – Sunday & Holidays: 8am – midnight
Tickets: Reserve your tickets here . Note that even if you have your own skates, you’ll have to reserve a time slot.

Brooklyn Bridge Ice Rink, Dumbo | Brooklyn

This ice rink is located right under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side, in Emily Warren Roebling Plaza. This ice rink is in its first season and ice skaters can enjoy it well beyond the Holiday Season – this ice rink will be open until 1 March 2024. Skate sessions here are 50 minutes long and begin at 10am, the last one beginning at 8:55pm. The backdrop of the Downtown Manhattan skyline makes this one of the most scenic ice rinks in the entire city, and you can warm up in Time Out Market just two minutes away, or grab a hot chocolate at Jacques Torres, also just down the street.

Cost: A 50-minute session is $15 on weekdays (Mondays – Thursdays) and $25 Fridays – Sundays. Kids (2-12 years old) pay $10 / $12 respectively. Skate rental is $12.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10pm-10pm
Tickets: Book your tickets here

Prospect Park Ice Rink, Brooklyn

If you want to check out an ice rink outside of Manhattan, the ice rink in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park is a solid choice. The outdoor ice rink is at LeFrak Center on the southeastern corner of the park (the closest subway stations are Prospect Park and Parkside Ave) and Prospect Park makes for a scenic backdrop. This ice rink is less busy than Central Park’s Wollman Rink, making for a more relaxed ice skating experience. It is also considerably cheaper!

Cost: $10.05 for a 90-minute session; plus $11.19 for the skate rental, $14.70 on weekends (plus $10.30 for the skate rental)
LeFrak Center Ice Rink Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 7pm; Friday & Saturday: 11am – 8.30pm

The Vale Rooftop, Brooklyn

This is a tiny ice rink, and it’s not even real ice – it’s actually “glice” – but it’s set on a rooftop, and it has a terrific view over the Manhattan skyline, which is why I am including it in this list.

Note that this is not real ice!

Cost: $20 + taxes (adults 13 and above); $12 + taxes for children 12 and below. The price includes the Glice skate rental and locker use.
Hours: Wednesday – Friday: 2pm – 10pm; Saturday & Sunday: 12pm – 10pm
Tickets: Buy tickets here

Free Christmas activities in New York City

I am well aware that most of the Christmas things to do in New York are not cheap, and if you want to do two or three things, it adds up quickly. The good news is that despite some ridiculously high priced Christmas activities, there are still some free things to do in NYC for the Holidays:

Visit the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is best enjoyed after 11pm, when the crowds aren’t as crazy. If you go in the early evening, expect mad crowds.

Note: The Christmas Tree is only lit up from 6pm till midnight. On Christmas Day, the Tree is lit for 24 hours.

Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show

Admire the Holiday Windows

Don’t stop at Saks Fifth Avenue – stroll up and down Fifth Avenue to see many other festively decorated shops and windows. Must See’s include Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman , Louis Vitton, Harry Winston and Macy’s at Herald Square. Tip: Make sure to head to the top floor at Macy’s for the full Christmas experience! Bloomingdale’s in Midtown East (3 rd Ave & 59 th Street) also has superb Holiday windows. The Shops at Hudson Yards are also worth a visit – the luxury mall is glowing with thousands of twinkling lights! Checking out the Holiday Windows is a must-do Christmas activity in NYC!

Car-free Sundays on Fifth Avenue

To take in the famous tree and the Saks light show without any cars, head there on any Sunday in December (before Christmas) between noon and 6pm. Fifth Avenue is closed for cars between 48 th and 57 th Streets, a roughly ten-block stretch of New York’s most iconic shopping street.

Bryant Park Winter Village

Stroll around the best-decorated shopping malls and markets

This is a great activity for the especially cold (or rainy!) days: wander around the shopping malls and markets of NYC, which are all decked out for the Holidays. Chelsea Market has great lights, Brookfield Place is stunning and has the below-mentioned Luminaries light show, the Shops At Columbus Circle look very festive and the Oculus has a holiday market in addition to the Christmas decorations.

The LUMINARIES Light Show & Winter Wonderland at Brookfield Place

Luminaries is a display of 640 lanterns that change in color. The light show takes place daily, every hour, between 8am and 10pm. You can also illuminate your holiday wish by sending a motion-activated wish or conducting the canopy of glowing lanterns above. The mall is also nicely decorated as a “Winter Wonderland” – lots of decorations and fun photo opps!

Dyker Heights Holiday Decorations

The above-mentioned decorated homes in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, are a great free Christmas thing to do in New York. The only cost you’ll have is the subway ticket ($2.90) to get to South Brooklyn (see above for directions). It is a bit of a trek to get there (over an hour on the subway, plus a 15 min walk into the neighborhood), but seeing the Dyker Heights lights is among my favorite Christmas activities in New York City. Scroll up to the “ Best Christmas Decorations in New York City” section to find out how to get there and where to eat around Dyker Heights.

Go on a Christmas Tree Crawl

The Best Christmas-Themed Tours in NYC

If you don’t want to figure out how to get to the best Christmas lights and the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, consider taking a Christmas-themed tour!

Manhattan Christmas Lights Tour – pay as you wish!

Free Tours by Foot offers a 2-hour Christmas Lights Tour every day at 7pm, and it is pay as you wish. The tour includes all the must-see holiday sights: the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Macy’s, Tiffany and Co., and more.

Reserve your spot here .

NYC Christmas Movies Walking Tour – pay as you wish!

Free Tours by Foot also offers a new 2-hour NYC Christmas Movies walking tour through Midtown Manhattan, showing you film locations of iconic Christmas movies such as Home Alone 2, Serendipity, Scrooged, Elf and Miracle on 34th Street. You’ll also walk past some of NYC’s most famous landmarks: Macy’s, Radio City Music Hall, the Plaza Hotel, Central Park’s Gapstow Bridge and the Wollman Ice Rink, and more. This tour runs three times a week: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and and Friday at 2pm.

Holiday Lights & Movie Sites Tour

On Location Tours offers a 2.5-hour bus tour that combines Holiday Lights and the sites of famous movies. The tour includes the Holiday windows at Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman and Macy’s, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Central Park, and many movie locations that you’ll recognize from your favorite movies.

Tickets: $58 for adults / $32 children

Book tickets here

4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour

This four-hour bus tour starts in Hell’s Kitchen, just a few blocks west of Times Square. There, you hop on a bus that brings you down to South Brooklyn where you can marvel at the famed holiday lights from the comfort of a bus. After a tour of the neighborhood, the bus brings you back to Manhattan. The tour ends at the Winter Village in Bryant Park, perfect for you to continue your holiday-themed NYC trip!

Tickets start at $50 – Book your ticket here

1.5-Hour Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Walking Tour

If you don’t mind organizing your trip to Dyker Heights yourself (60 – 75 minutes from Manhattan, $2.75 for a subway ticket), you can opt for a walking tour. The meeting point is near the closest subway station to Dyker Heights in South Brooklyn, and you’ll get to hear some interesting commentary while marveling at the most festive houses in all of New York City. You’ll learn about the story behind the Dyker Heights holiday lights, and learn about the unwritten code that everyone in the neighborhood follows religiously. Expect to walk about 2 miles (3 kilometers) on this tour.

Tickets start at $21 – Book your tickets here

NYC: Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols

Is there a more fabulous way to ring in the Holidays than on a 1920s style yacht, cruising around Manhattan and taking in the sights while sipping on a complimentary glass of champagne, listening to Christmas carols and enjoying the decorated boat? This cruise is 90 mins long and goes past the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and lets you take in all of New York City’s sights from a unique angle. It includes Christmas cookies and one complimentary beverage.

Book your tickets here

The Most Festive Hotels to stay in during your Christmas Trip to NYC

If you’re looking to have the full “Christmas in New York” experience in addition to doing all the New York City Christmas activities, you’ll have to stay in a hotel that takes the festive season serious as you do!

The following hotels are known for their gorgeous Christmas decorations:

The Plaza Hotel

This is not just one of the most famous luxury hotels in NYC, but it’s also where Kevin stayed in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Can it get more Christmas-y than that?!

Check rates for The Plaza here.

The Peninsula

Not only is the renowned Peninsula decked out for the Holidays, but they also have a couple of special Christmas Packages: The Night Before Christmas Package includes an in-room candy cane scavenger hunt, a gingerbread cookie decorating kit, an in-room Christmas tree (if you book a deluxe suite) and daily breakfast.

Check rates for The Peninsula here

Lotte Palace

The Lotte Palace Hotel is known for its pretty Christmas tree and stunning courtyard decorations. It’s also very conveniently located between Park Ave and Madison Ave, just a couple of blocks from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the shopping amenities of Fifth Avenue.

Check rates for Lotte Palace here .

The Mark Hotel

The Mark Hotel is an opulent 5-star hotel on the Upper East Side, just a minute away from Central Park, and they take Christmas serious here. The decorations are spectacular, and they offer an aptly named “ Holiday Penthouse Spectacular ” which includes a private rendition of The Nutcracker or a private VIP visit to Bergdorf Goodman. There’s a customizable Holiday Wish List with Christmas activities that can be tailored to your needs and no costs will be spared to make your New York City Christmas dreams come true.

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Funday Holidays

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

Good list of best Christmas-themed bars, restaurants, activities, pop-ups and holiday shows.

The 31 Best Things To Do In New York At Christmas 2024 + 3 To Avoid

What to do in new york city at christmas time.

In this guide, you will find out everything about what to do at Christmas time in New York to experience a holly jolly vacation during the holidays. After being in New York during Christmas several times I’ll share my absolute favorite things to do in New York at Christmas time as well as the best Christmas activities.

You will also like these:

Christmas in New York
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: Everything You Need to Know
Free Things to Do in NYC For Christmas

If you’re in the city on Christmas Day and you’re searching for things to do in New York City on Christmas Day , or you’re visiting during the time before Christmas and are looking for things to do in NYC at Christmas time, I’ve got you covered! I will navigate you through the best and most festive events, Christmas Markets , and Christmas Stores & shows. I’ll even give you some great tips about beautiful and unforgettable things to do in New York City on Christmas Eve.

My tip: This is my complete guide to Christmas in New York.

Best Places to Stay in New York City during Christmas

If you haven’t booked a hotel yet, be sure to check out my article on the most beautiful hotels in NYC at Christmas time . They are beautifully decorated and you are guaranteed to get into the Christmas spirit!

Table of Contents

These Are My TOP 31 Things To Do in New York at Christmas

Don’t stay at home or at your hotel on December 25: The city offers a lot of things to do in New York City on Christmas Day, from dinners to Broadway shows and everything in between. Even though it will be a very quiet day in NYC since most locals are either with their families or out of town visiting their loved ones, there are still a few things going on!

Bryant Park Winter Village

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Starting in October (and running through March), it is time once again for the best winter markets in New York City to open its doors. The Winter Village in Bryant Park is not only the largest Christmas market in the city but also by far the nicest on account of its adjacent ice rink and places to shop and eat. This along with its amazing location among all the skyscrapers makes for an amazing Christmas experience.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is one of the largest Christmas trees in NYC, placed annually in Rockefeller Center Plaza. In New York, the Tree Lighting Ceremony right after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Holiday season and one of your best things to do in New York during Christmas!

Over the past years, we weren’t super lucky with the weather but the Tree Lighting Ceremony attracts tons of people every year. Of course, the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is the highlight of visitors coming to New York from all over the world during Christmas time. Most visitors only know the tree from movies or pictures, so it’s very impressive looking at it in person. This year, the lighting of the tree ceremony at Rockefeller Center will take place on November 29th, 2023.

Visit Dyker Heights in Brooklyn

One of the Best Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours : The 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour

I’m a huge fan of the Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, where you can find the most beautifully decorated homes in the city. It is actually so popular that it’s known as one of the best things to do in NYC for Christmas time. The easiest way to explore the Dyker Heights is to book one of the four really amazing Holiday Light tours in NYC.

Each of them is a little different: some are bus tours, others are walking tours; some take place in Brooklyn, others in Manhattan. See the details for yourself to decide which ones of the Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour is best for you.

Check out our Guide to Dyker Heights Christmas Lights !

Christmas Shows in NYC

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New York is home is the epicenter of entertainment and surely does not disappoint during the holiday season. There are plenty of Christmas shows in New York that are worth watching, ranging from classics to modern adaptions of your favorite tales. Our favorite one are the The Radio City Spectacular – they are undoubtedly the most popular Christmas show in NYC. The Rockettes have performed at the iconic Radio City Music Hall since 1931 and have created a holiday tradition for many visitors and locals.

Please know that you can’t return home without having seen at least one of the best Christmas Shows in NYC !

Christmas Lights in NYC

New York Christmas Markets and Lights Walking Tour

During the holiday season, electric bills skyrocket all throughout New York City. Seeking to outdo one another, both private homes and established landmarks string up dazzling lights for you to marvel at in every direction you turn. Here’s where to go to see the most stunning Christmas lights in NYC .

Don’t want to walk? Book this NYC Holiday Lights Tour by Limousine !

Enjoy the Empire State Building's annual Holiday Light Show!

For about one week only during the Christmas season, there will be a very special Empire State Building light show: the Empire State Building holiday music-to-light show !

The already impressive lighting of the Empire State Building will be synchronized to songs by stars such as Maria Carey or Carrie Underwood and John Legend. Incredibly beautiful!

Classic Harbor Line: Manhattan Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols

Why not spending time on a Christmas Holiday Cruise during Christmas in New York? Both locals and NYC visitors love the amazing Christmas Cruises New York City has to offer.

My favorite holiday cruise is the New York City Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise. The Jazz Band on board is fun and so talented which makes the New York City Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise even more entertaining. Relax in the heated main observation cabin, join in the caroling, and admire the city through the glassed-in observatory on the 1920s style yacht.

My Tip: check out my article about the Best Christmas Cruises in NYC

Visit the beautiful Holiday Markets

Holiday Markets are pretty popular in New York City and should be on top of your list of things to do in New York City during Christmas time. To me, there is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than grabbing a hot cup of cocoa and strolling through some of the best Christmas markets in New York.

You will love the booths with local crafts, savory treats, and hot specialty drinks. The Christmas Markets in the city is the most authentic environment to have a wonderful time and wrap up your gift shopping. Here’s where to find the best Christmas markets in NYC and this is the most popular New York City Holiday Lights and Markets Walking Tour .

Enjoy the Christmas Lights in New York

During the holiday season, the entire city is stringed up with dazzling lights for you to enjoy. Both private homes and established landmarks are beautifully decorated and there are Christmas lights wherever you go. It’s one of the best things to do in NYC at Christmas time. There is no way not getting festive and excited about the holidays in New York City. Find out more about the Christmas Lights in New York City and where to find them in our NYC Christmas Lights Guide .

Ice Skating in NYC

Ice Skating is a big thing during Christmas time in New York and one of my favorite activities in New York City on Christmas day. The most famous ice rinks are the ones in Bryant Park, the Rink at Rockefeller Center with the Christmas tree in the backdrop and of course the famous Wollman Rink in Central Park. Just like with the Empire State Building, you will also have a pretty empty ice rink to show off your ice skating talent.

Here is everything you need to know about ice skating in NYC , prices and schedules.

Holiday Window Displays

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Throughout the year, the big department stores prepare for the upcoming Holiday season in New York. We recommend walking from Central Park on Fifth Avenue towards Herald Square to get you in the mood. The city is adorned with wreaths and bright lights everywhere. You’ll be able to admire the Rockefeller Center’s Christmas Tree along the way!

Keep heading downtown towards Herald Square and you’ll discover some of the city’s most beautiful window displays in NYC. Incidentally, the most beautiful Holiday Windows in New York are available from Tiffany & Co, DIOR, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and of course Macy’s. The mega-store is also decorated inside.

These are the Most Beautiful Holiday Windows in New York this year!

The 50 Absolute Best Things to Do in New York (90+ pages)

Santa's Secret Immersive Holiday Experience (November 17 – December 31, 2023)

At Santa’s Secret Immersive Holiday Experience, you’ll make your way through a winter wonderland and into Santa’s secret speakeasy. Enjoy Christmas-themed cocktails, a live band, and an eye-popping variety show of unique acts, all with a holiday twist!

Take a walk in the snow

Who knows, maybe this year there will finally be snow for Christmas in New York. What could be more romantic than a walk through the white snowy landscape of Central Park? Especially the Belvedere Castle in the middle of Central Park looks even more heavenly with snow! Central Park in winter is pretty much everyone’s favorite place in New York to enjoy the snow.

Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting (November 30, 2023)

For the 26th year, the Annual Holiday Lighting in Central Park will be held this year at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center on the Harlem Meer. Carols will be sung on the plaza, Santa Claus will be there, and the highlight will be the lighting of a flotilla of Christmas trees on the Harlem Meer. You’re guaranteed to be among New Yorkers at this Christmas event, which makes it extra special!

Thursday, November 30 at 5:30 pm

Broadway Under The Stars

This holiday season, Broadway and the Shops at Columbus Circle are gifting us with another round of Broadway Under The Stars. For you, that means free Broadway performances in one of the most magical settings. Broadway Under The Stars is a five-week series of FREE indoor Broadway performances and will take place on the second floor of the Time Warner Center.

So why is it called Broadway Under The Stars? „Under the stars“ refers to the 12 massive stars hanging from the 100-foot ceiling at Time Warner Center. They are the largest specialty crafted display of illuminated color in the world. The 14-foot stars are one of the most beautiful Christmas lights in NYC and draw thousands of visitors to their spectacular light show.Broadway Under The Stars typically takes on Mondays, starting early November and ending in early December. The exact dates for Broadway Under The Stars have not been announced yet. The performances start at 5 pm sharp and include interviews with the Broadway stars. They will perform 2-3 songs per show, depending on how many shows are featured that day.

Go to church on Christmas Day

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If you like to go to church on Christmas Day and enjoy a Christmas service you can also do so in New York City. There are several churches I can recommend going on Christmas Day. 3 of the best churches in New York City for a remarkable Christmas service are the Grace Church on Broadway, the St Mary the Virgin Church Main Office & Rectory in Midtown and St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. It’s high on my list of great things to do in NYC on Christmas Day, not only because it’s a tradition for me to go to church on Christmas Day, but also because the Christmas services are absolutely beautiful!

Check out the stunning Cartier Holiday Decorations

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Have you ever seen a building wrapped in a giant Christmas bow? Cartier’s Fifth Avenue Manhattan store goes further than just decorating the windows. The entire building, which is a gilded age mansion built for Morgan Freeman Plant, son of Henry B. Plant, the railroad tycoon, is wrapped in a Cartier signature red bow. The shiny red ribbon stretches across the building from Fifth Avenue to 52nd Street, with festive garland outlining every ground-floor window.

The building is decorated now and will remain that way until Christmas. You can find it at 651-653 Fifth Avenue and 4 East 52nd Street not far from Rockefeller Center with the most famous Christmas tree in New York .

Visit one of New York's best Rooftop Bars – event in the wintertime!

A very small rooftop bar very close to Bryant Park with a nice view of the Empire State Building is the Refinery Rooftop from the Refinery Hotel. This two-story rooftop bar in Midtown isn’t particularly large, but it certainly has its appeal due to the combination of location and quality of the cocktails.

One of the most famous Christmas Stores in NYC: FAO Schwarz

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FAO Schwarz is unlike every other toy store and a fun thing to do in NYC at Christmas time. Take your kids or just feel like a child again entering the amazing collection of unique toys and life-sized stuffed animals.

Schwarz FAO is the oldest toy store in the United States and with its location right in front of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, it’s something you can’t miss during Christmas time in NYC. Don’t miss the famous clock on the staircase. Also, you can play “The Big Piano” on the floor (famous from the movie “Big”).

Christmas Shopping in NYC

As one of my favorite Christmas time activities, Christmas shopping in NYC is a must-do. While the city is covered in Christmas lights and decoration, there is no better place to buy gifts for your family and friends. Large department stores like Macy’s, Saks on Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdales decorate their holiday windows different every year which is worth checking out as well.

Macy’s at Herald Square invites you to have a date with Santa Claus at Santaland and buy special ornaments at their Holiday lane on the 9th floor.

Visit the new One Vanderbilt Observation Deck

Are you wondering what to do in New York City on Christmas Day? Some of the best NYC attractions are open on Christmas Day in NYC and one of them is the new One Vanderbilt Summit. So if you’re looking for shorter lines and fewer crowds, Christmas Day may be the perfect day for you to visit this observation deck in New York. Maybe you can even catch the sunset before heading to Christmas dinner!

Go see Santa Claus at Macy’s

There’s nothing you can’t do in New York City. During the holidays, you should set up a date with Santa Claus at Macy’s and share your wish list. Santaland at Macy’s is a whole experience with a meet & greet with Santa in the end. Both kids and adults come to Santaland to talk to the big guy. It’s a special thing to do in New York on Christmas Eve.

Every year, Macy’s Santaland is the main highlight of Macy’s Christmas celebrations. The history of Santaland goes back to 1861 when the store advertised that Santa Claus would come to stock their counters with the finest and most special Christmas gifts. Fast forward to today, close to 200,000 Santa fans are visiting Santaland at Macy’s every season. If you’d like to be one of them make your reservation online beforehand.

Bateaux Christmas Eve Gourmet Lunch or Dinner Harbor Cruise

If you are spending Christmas in NYC and still looking for a special locale to celebrate the holiday, then look no further. Santa’s Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise is the perfect option. Featuring three decks, holiday LED lighting, and an evening of food, drinks, and dancing, the modern yacht invites you to a Christmas party that you won’t soon forget.

Attend a service at St. John the Divine Church

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The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is the largest cathedral in the world and when you enter it, you will be amazed by the ceiling height and the many details. This year, there will be festive holiday services at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Sunday, December 24, 2023: 10:30 AM | 4:00 PM | 10:30 PM
Monday, December 25, 2023: 10:30 AM

Amaze Light Festival in Flushing: The largest lights festival in the U.S.

Superlative Christmas Lights can be experienced for the first time this year at Citi Field (the New York Mets’ stadium) in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, as the Amaze Light Festival.

It is the largest festival of lights in the country and offers you booths with festive food and a light show in addition to the incredibly impressive Christmas lights. The Amaze Light Festival takes place outdoors and with the amazing stadium as a backdrop, it becomes even more unique.

You can stroll through a total of five themed worlds with millions of twinkling lights, 3D light decorations and a Christmas market. There will even be a small forest with lanterns and frost-covered trees. Every 30 minutes there will be an animation of the trees, which will then dance to Christmas music. Especially for children, this will be a real highlight at Christmas time.

In total, over 400,000 Christmas enthusiasts are expected to attend the Amaze Light Festival. Tickets for the event will be available from October 3 via the official website.

Go Christmas caroling

It’s a tradition and one of my favorite things to do on Christmas Eve in New York City to gather under the Washington Square Arch next to the illuminated tree to sing traditional holiday songs at 5 pm. Meet the Rob Susman Brass Quartet and accompany the crooners to sing your favorite Christmas songs. You don’t know the lyrics? No worries, songbooks are provided.

Get festive at a museum

Many of the major museums in NYC are open on Christmas Eve. Lines are short and most museums will put you in the holiday spirit as well. My favorite museums like the MoMA , the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Whitney Museum are my go-to museums on Christmas Eve in New York and very popular things to do in New York City on Christmas Eve as well.

What’s worth visiting? These are our 36 best museums in New York !

Radio City Music Hall

The Radio City Music Hall is a very famous theater building in the middle of New York. It is part of the Rockefeller Center and is located in close proximity to the Top of The Rock and the Museum of Modern Art. When you see the Radio City Music Hall from the outside, it will seem like a journey 80 years into the past. In many movies you can see the old neon sign and therefore it is really famous.

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most famous ballets and enjoys great popularity among visitors and locals. It is performed by the New York City Ballet and is one of the most important things to do during Christmas in New York. The ensemble includes 90 dancers and 62 musicians – it’s truly magical!

The piece, set to the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, premiered in New York back in 1954, making it an important holiday tradition!

Check out the Christmas tree on Wall Street

The Christmas tree on Wall Street looks back on a long tradition: this year it can be seen for the 100th time. Not only is the tree itself festively decorated – the building of the New York Stock Exchange also looks beautiful, as it is illuminated from the outside in Christmas colors.

The 100th Annual Tree Lighting will take place on November 29, 2023 from 2 pm – 6 pm.

Discover the impressive GingerBread Lane at Chelsea Market

Imagine the aroma and whimsical fun of walking through the world’s largest gingerbread village. What if we told you that one actually exists in New York City? If you’re planning on spending Christmas in NYC, then be sure to head over to Manhattan’s Chelsea Market and check out the amazing and delicious creation brought to you by “The Gingerbread Man” Jon Lovitch.

Avoid These Places

In my opinion, there are certain places that are either completely overrated or where visiting at the wrong time can ruin your experience. Here are the locations you might want to avoid during the Christmas season:

01 Dining at Rolf's Restaurant

Yes, Rolf’s restaurant is beautifully decorated and truly stands out during the Christmas season. I’ve visited it myself, and unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. The value for the price just isn’t there, and it feels like you’re being overcharged. And it’s not just my opinion; there are numerous negative reviews on Google and Yelp to support this.

So, my advice? Admire the decorations through the windows, but if you’re hungry, head to the Union Square Holiday Market instead. You’ll get much more for your money!

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02 Skip the horse-drawn carriages at Central Park!

It always surprises me how many people still opt for the horse-drawn carriages there. It’s been widely reported for years that the horses aren’t treated well. By choosing not to book these tours, you can play a part in promoting better animal welfare.

So what are your alternatives? Consider a leisurely bike ride through Central Park or book a private Pedi Cab tour !

03 Visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on a weekend

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, but if your travel schedule allows, I’d recommend avoiding it on the weekend. It’s extremely crowded, with people jostling for the best photo. You’ll find a more pleasant Christmas atmosphere if you visit on a weekday.

My Personal Best New York City Christmas Time Activities

I hope after reading my recommendations about the best things to do in NYC at Christmas time you know now what to do in New York City during the most wonderful time of the year.

If I had to pick my absolute all-time favorite New York City Christmas activities I personally would choose to visit the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center after watching the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Then I’d go to one of the many great restaurants in town for a Christmas dinner before heading to a rooftop bar for a drink or visiting my favorite holiday market at Union Square .

Christmas in New York 2024: My Guide For The Magical Christmas Season

The 5 Best Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2024

The 26 Best Free Things to Do in NYC For Christmas in 2024

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide . Also check out my hotel finder for New York !

Hole dir deine wöchentliche Dosis New York mit meinem Loving New York-Newsletter! Er ist vollgestopft mit den neuesten Artikeln, Videos, Erfahrungsberichten und allem, was gerade Interessantes und Wissenswertes im Big Apple passiert.

Ich selbst war über 25x in meiner Lieblingsstadt und möchte dir mit meinen Emails dabei helfen, eine sensationelle Zeit vor Ort zu haben.

Und als BONUS bekommst meine ✔️ "24 Tipps für deine New York-Reise" ✔️ die U-Bahn-Karte und ✔️ die offizielle NYC-Karte zugeschickt. Ganz KOSTENLOS!

Start of your trip: We will remind you with current events when you are in NYC!

A Mega Epic Local’s Guide to 25 Best Things to do this Christmas in NYC

Ready to experience Christmas in NYC like a super savvy local? If so then you need to check out this hella comprehensive guide to the 25 best things to do during Christmas in New York City .

After all, I’ve lived in the city for 30+ years and know exactly what you should and should not do this holiday season in the city that never sleeps.

And I want to share all my secret insider tips with you so that you can stop worrying about your trip and start enjoying the magic of winter in NYC .

Plus, this post will give you access to a free map that outlines all the very best things to during Christmas in NYC. This way, you can quickly and easily plan the trip of your dreams NOW.

And trust me, you’ll want to do this sooner rather than later since Christmas in NYC is next level popular.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

⏰Looking for an amazing place to stay while in NYC but haven’t had the time to book your accommodation yet? Try Pod 39 . It is budget friendly and pretty luxurious for the price! ⏰

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Where to Stay This Christmas in NYC

Want to spend Christmas in NYC but not exactly sure what hotel would make a great home base?

Well then check out my local tips for where to stay in NYC.

Because regardless of your budget you really can find a hotel that is perfect for you this holiday season.

Pod 39 (Budget) – This amazing budget hotel is located in Murray Hill and quietly sits inside a historic home from 1918. If you stay here you’ll also be well-located near some of the best Indian food in the city and can enjoy comfy rooms that start at around $120 per night.
Arlo Midtown (midrange) – Situated in Hell’s Kitchen, this modern and all around lovely boutique hotel is perfect for Christmas in NYC. The rooms also come equipped with a personal balcony so you can catch the view!
Lotte New York Palace (Luxury) – If you want to feel like royalty then stay at this oppulent 4.5-star hotel right now! Not only is it well-located near St. Patrick’s Cathedral but rooms are inside a 19th-century mansion and come with WiFi, flatscreen TVs, and designer toiletries too.

Christmas in NYC – Manhattan

1. see the christmas spectacular starring the radio city rockettes.

View of the marquis sign in front of radio city music hall and a place that shoudl eb on your New York City bucket list.

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5 (168 Reviews) Price: $42 per person Duration: 1 hour 📍 Meeting Point: Radio City Music Hall’s special tour entrance Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

When spending Christmas in NYC, you should leap at the chance to see this iconic holiday production.

And The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes is an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza that is absolutely perfect. It also takes place every year at Radio City, inside a gorgeous art deco theater on Sixth Avenue.

However, even if you don’t see this iconic show, you should add seeing this immortal building to your NYC winter itinerary.

“We really enjoyed the tour. The tour was competent and entertaining. We learned a lot about the history of the Hall and of course the Rocketts, a very good look behind the scenes. Absolutely to recommend.” Michael ( read more reviews now! )

After all, the facade of the venue is always decorated with a thoroughly festive tree.

Just know that this show is extremely popular and it’s highly recommended that you purchase tickets online in advance.

The Radio City Rockettes are also legendary for their high-kicking abilities and perform completely in sync.

Meanwhile, costumes span the gamut from reindeer to elves to toy soldiers and everything in between.

Plus, the Christmas Spectacular is suitable for the entire family. And at 90 minutes long, it’s a comfortable length for younger travelers. Yeah, you’ll practically dance out of the concert hall afterward.

And you know it’s good since this production has charmed New Yorkers since ye olde 1933.

Take a festive Manhattan cruise

Wrap up in your warmest winter gear and step aboard a vintage yacht for a holiday-themed cruise in.

2. Take a Festive Manhattan Cruise

Boat cruising along the Hudson with the Manhattan skyline in the background. Perfect for this Christmas in NYC.,

⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 ( Reviews) Price: $128 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

The Manhattan Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols is a 1.5-hour sailing expedition.

Once inside the solarium, you’ll remain toasty warm courtesy of a climate-controlled atmosphere. But, a glassed-in observatory means you won’t miss a beat!

The route is also strategically planned so you will float past all the icons of the Manhattan skyline. Therefore, expect to get up close and personal with the Empire State Building, Battery Park, South Street Seaport, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

“Absolutely amazing!! The band was fabulous and the views were phenomenal. Would recommend to all!” Nicole ( read more reviews now! )

Additionally, your booking entitles you to one beverage (champagne, wine, beer, or hot chocolate). And, more importantly, an unlimited supply of holiday cookies.

If you want extra drinks though, you can buy these at the bar since cash and plastic are both accepted.

Interiors are also well adorned with yuletide decor and trees that comes with all the trimmings.

Now, how’s your singing? Because you are highly encouraged to join in with the carol singing while a live jazz band croons in the background.

Yup, this is easily one of the coolest Christmas in NYC activities for couples.

Address: Varies based on your booking.

Hours: The cruise is 1.5 hours long with most departures at 4:15 pm, 6:15 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8:30 pm.

Price: $123 per person. Book your tickets now , spots fill up fast.

3. Sing along at a Broadway Show

Times Square during 4 days in New York itinerary

Seeing a Broadway show in NYC is a longtime bucket list item, even for those who aren’t all that enthralled with theater.

And the Christmas season sees family classics brought to life all throughout NYC’s famed theatre district.

And while tickets are pretty pricey, Christmas is a time of giving. So, if you’re traveling to New York with a longtime theater lover, this is an ideal gift.

Plus, there’s no better place to escape the frigid temperatures on a winter evening in the Big Apple.

Now, tickets sell like hotcakes during the holidays. Therefore, you’ll want to sort these out ahead of your trip.

And this year, you’ve got the six-time Tony-winning adaptation of The Lion King on stage at Minskoff Theater. The costumes, the music, the dancing – if you loved the 1994 Disney movie, you’ll be enthralled.

Another Disney classic, Aladdin: The Musical , is showing at the Amsterdam Theater too.

Sing along with those cherished songs from the cartoon and listen for some new faves that were written specifically for Broadway.

4. Check out all the Manhattan Christmas lights

Vibrant lights on the Macy's building and one of the best things to do in NYC in Christmas.

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (3 Reviews) Price: $60 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍 Meeting Point: 977 6th Ave Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

One of the main reasons travelers rush to celebrate Christmas in NYC is to see the jaw-dropping lights that illuminate the city.

In fact, it’s the Christmas lights that inject a huge dose of joviality and magic into the city that never sleeps.

And these aren’t your standard trees with bulbs dangling off them. Christmas trees in New York are of epic proportions and the store windows are works of art.

In fact, some of the blingiest ones are located on Fifth Avenue. You’ll also want to view the installation at Saks, for sure. You can even brave the crowds after dark to watch their light show too.

“Debbie was excellent. Very informative and patient. She went above and beyond her call of duty. We loved having her as our tour guide so much we wanted her to stay with us the rest of our stay in New York. Of course she couldn’t but it sure would have been nice. Wonderful, sweet, caring, just around great person. My daughter and I will miss her when we leave.” Diana ( read more reviews now! )

Cartier and all the other high-end designer stores set out to impress too.

Naturally, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is always a winner. And the official switch-on ceremony is a massive event on the holiday calendar. It’s free to attend and is set to take place on Wednesday, November 30th this year.

Yeah, my guide spills all the deets on how you can check out the best Christmas lights in NYC independently.

But, a neat way of seeing them all is with a friendly local guide at your side. And booking a spot on the Holiday Lights Extravaganza Walking Tour means you get even more gossip on the lights. Plus, you’ll make a couple of new friends in the Big Apple!

Address: 977, 6th Avenue, New York, New York

Hours: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:00 pm and the tour lasts between 3 and 4 hours.

Price: $50.00 per person.

How to Get There: Take the E/B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/M train to 34th Street Herald Square and walk from there.

5. Visit an NYC Observation Platform

A view of the Edge observation platform in NYC.

There are five sky-high observation decks in NYC where you can get a birds’ eye view of the New York City at Christmas.

In particular, Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building has been providing awesome views for almost a century. But, these tend to be the busiest.

That’s why, if you’re spending Christmas in NYC, my insider tip is to visit one of the new additions.

So, option a.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is the youngest of the newbies. This 92nd-floor observation deck opened in 2021 and clocks in at 1,063 feet tall.

As if the 360-degree views weren’t enough, the deck is outfitted with an innovative multi-sensory art experience. Plus, you can sip a festive cocktail at the oh-so-appropriately named Après bar.

Advance ticket purchase is essential though, so buy your NYC: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Experience Ticket online .

And, option b.

The Edge at Hudson Yards opened in 2020 and lures in thrill-seekers with the promise of the highest outdoor Skydeck in the Western Hemisphere.

The nail-biting platform with sloped walls extends 1,100 feet over the streets. And come wintertime, the interior of the Edge is adorned with trees, tinsel, and sparkle aplenty.

Again, you’ll need to snap up your Edge Observation Deck Admission Ticket in advance.

Bonus: if you visit one of these decks, you can get photos of the older skyscrapers from the sky!

6. Ride THE RIDE

If this winter is your first ever trip to NYC, then you’ll want to tick off all the iconic sights of the city.

But, winter in NYC in the lead-up to Christmas is cold, and the subway is packed.

And that’s where The Ride comes in mighty handy.

This is a custom-built, theater bus that shuttles you to the city’s prominent landmarks while you stay warm and toasty.

For example, the route takes you past Times Square, Grand Central, and Central Park.

High-tech audio equipment even brings the sounds of the city inside the bus. So, it kind of feels like a walking tour. But, without the aching feet and the winter chill.

Your comedic guide will also provide a running commentary and you’ll stop to watch street performances. Plus, as an immersive experience – interaction with the actors is encouraged!

Each ride lasts around 75 minutes. They take place throughout the day; you can browse times and book your RIDE Entertainment Experience Ticket online.

Address: In Front of Patrick’s Restaurant, 259 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, New York, NY 10018, United States

Hours: Operates daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Price: Starts at $78.00 per person.

How to Get There: It’s a five-minute walk from Times Square.

7. Go ice skating in Manhattan

Ice skaters at the winter village in Bryant Park during Christmas in New York City.

Ice skating is the quintessential activity if you’re going to spend Christmas in NYC. I mean, how many movies and TV series have featured the rink at Rockefeller Center?

Yeah, too many to count. That’s how many.

Now, paying a visit to the Rockefeller Center is a must purely to watch the skaters glide across the ice.

But, if you actually want to go for a twirl, there are better places. So, for skating on a budget, head to the Winter Village at Bryant Park.

This pop-up market contains the sole rink in NYC where you can skate for free! However, you will need to pay for skate rentals. Unless you’ve got the space to include some skates on your NYC winter packing list.

But, although it’s free, you’ll need to reserve a time slot via their website.

Other fun places to skate in Manhattan include the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, Winterland in South Street Seaport, and the Wollman Rink in Central Park.

8. Enjoy the Best Holiday Markets

Main concourse in Grand Central as you enjoy New York in 2 days.

If the sound of a winter-pop up piqued your interest, then, rest assured – there are tons of these in winter. Generally, they open in late November and hang around until early in the new year.

And the Winter Village at Bryant Park is one of the best Christmas markets them all (that free ice rink helps!). In fact, around 60 stalls sell all manner of handicrafts, gifts, and yummy festive food. So, it’s a win-win.

Columbus Circle Christmas Market is another biggie. Actually, this one usually amasses over 100 vendors! So, you can clear your entire holiday shopping list without breaking a sweat.

But, the biggest and buzziest of all is the Union Square Holiday Market that gathers together around 160 small businesses and local entrepreneurs.

And if you love the thought of eggnog but aren’t crazy about the cold then check out the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market.

This one is indoors and predominantly focuses on artisanal and socially-conscious gifts.

You can even share the experience and get expert tips from a local guide with this New York Christmas Markets and Lights Walking Tour .

9. Take a Wintery Stroll in Central Park

Central Park belongs on any NYC travel itinerary. Whatever season you visit, the city’s emblematic park is a joy to explore.

And if you’re lucky, you might encounter Central Park under a blanket of snow. But, that’s never a guarantee.

However, even if it doesn’t snow, you can’t beat a brisk stroll through the grounds on a crisp winter’s day while the ground crunches beneath your feet.

Plus, Central Park contains multiple lakes and ponds, dozens of memorials, and unique architectural elements.

In fact, Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace, and Bow Bridge are three of the key spots for views and photography.

Wollman Rink also opens seasonally for a spot of scenic skating with a backdrop of the Midtown Manhattan skyline.

And, don’t miss the Pulitzer Fountain in the southwest corner, in front of the Plaza Hotel. Because every year, the fountain gets a Christmas makeover.

Plus, since it’s winter, you’re completely entitled to splash out on coffee to keep that fuzzy feeling going.

After all, there are several cafes within the park’s boundaries. And, if you conclude in the southwest corner, you can wrap up your walk at the Columbus Circle Christmas Market.

Address: Central Park, New York, NY, United States

Hours: Twenty-four hours a day.

Price : Free

How to Get There: Take the D train to 59th Street and Columbus Circle and walk from there.

10. Sip Yuletide Cocktails

Christmas cocktails with a sugar cookie on the rim.

‘Tis the season to treat yourself.

And that’s easy to do since a fair share of the bars and restaurants in Manhattan turn out themed cocktail menus in time for Christmas in NYC.

But, where better to sip on a Christmassy libation than at an elevated bar in Manhattan?

And rooftop watering hole 230 Fifth turns into a winter wonderland on Tuesday, November 1st with a cluster of snug igloos and A-frame cabins. Add in some sweet views of the Empire State Building and you’ll even get a holiday light show too.

You’ll need to leave a deposit when you book a shack at Igloo Bar, but, this goes toward food and drink. So, just choose between boozy hot chocolates and punchy hot ciders. After all, these will help keep the frostbite at bay.

Meanwhile, the Moxy Hotel Times Square puts out all the stops with its Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge.

It’s basically a fuchsia dreamland that is open year-round. But, it gets a wintery facelift with faux-fur rugs, pink trees, and vintage ice skates.

And cocktails are just as tasty as they are photogenic, with sprinklings of marshmallow and sparkle.

11. Get Merry at Rolf’s German Restaurant

Christmas decor at Rolf's should be on everyone's NYC bucket list.

Another place that earns itself a spot on your NYC Christmas trip itinerary is this German-themed restaurant.

Actually, the menu at Rolf’s technically fuses Bavarian and French cuisine from the Alsace region.

So, you’ll find the likes of schnitzel and German potato salad alongside onion soup and steamed mussels.

Although, as the food is a little hit-and-miss, you’ll really be going for the decor.

The old-worldly dining hall is decked out with enough bulbs, tinsels, and fairy lights to cover a village. Meanwhile, sturdy wooden panels and stained glass wall decor add even more coziness.

Now, the holiday-themed cocktails at Rolf’s aren’t for the faint of heart and are laced with pungent bourbon, cherry liquor, vodka, and Bailey’s.

And both the Vanilla Spiced Eggnog and signature Rolf’s Holiday Martini come highly recommended!

Address: 281 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

Hours: Open daily from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Price: Entrees start at $25.00 each.

How to Get There: Take the 6/R/W train to 23rd Street Station and walk from there.

12. Enjoy Some Nostalgia at George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

View of Lincoln Center in New York City.

Christmas in NYC isn’t really Christmas until you’ve caught a performance of The Nutcracker.

Choreographed by George Balanchine for the New York City Ballet, the whimsical production runs from late September until the New Year.

And in case you need a refresher, the dance brings to life the story of a little girl who befriends a Nutcracker and joins him in a battle against the evil Mouse King.

So, you can see George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker with music by Tchaikovsky in the lavish David Hi. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center.

Additionally, this ethereal show is suitable for all ages and is recommended for children upwards of 5. Each performance runs for around 2 hours.

However, tickets are already on sale. So, you’ll need to hurry to secure the best seats in the house.

Because only when you’ve booked your tickets for The Nutcracker, can the Christmas season officially begin.

Address: David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, United States

Hours: From the end of November through the beginning of January and performances are held almost daily at either 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, or 8:00 pm. The first act is roughly 49 minutes while the second act is 41 minutes.

Price: Tickets are between $89 and $280 per person.

How to Get There: Take the 1 train to 66th street and Lincoln Center station and walk from there.

13. Splurge on a Manhattan Afternoon Tea

Technically, afternoon tea is more associated with London. But, this posh British tradition has taken over the streets of Manhattan.

And afternoon tea is a luxurious way to celebrate Christmas in NYC.

Think, teeny-tiny finger sandwiches served with freshly baked scones and dainty cakes. Of course, with a flourish of tea and maybe even a glass of bubbles or ten.

If you want you can even splash out with a seating at one of the city’s top hotels. After all, dining rooms are always exuberantly festooned with festive decor while menus are inspired by incredible holiday flavors.

Naturally, Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel is a premier destination for afternoon tea. However, you’ll need to book a table in advance and adhere to a smart-casual dress code.

And if you’re a fan of Home Alone 2 , this is the very hotel where Kevin set up camp after getting lost in New York!

However, a wallet-friendly alternative is Bluebird London at Columbus Circle. Originating in Chelsea, London, the Manhattan outpost overlooks Central Park and is absolutely divine.

Plus, afternoon tea is served Thursday through Sunday with menus reflecting every season.

They also whip up brunch, lunch, and dinner if you prefer.

14. Meet Santa Claus

If you are spending Christmas in NYC with kids, then they’ll seize the opportunity to ‘meet’ Santa.

And one of the most iconic places to take kids is Santaland at Macy’s Herald Square. An enchanted woodland leads you to workshops in Santa’s village where they can deliver their Christmas list and enjoy one of the best things to do in New York City in Christmas.

The grotto is free but ticketed and you can book your slot on the Macy’s Santaland website .

And not to be outdone, Bloomingdales actually has its own version of Santaland with a 20-minute meet and greet.

Unlike Macy’s though, Bloomingdales does accept walk-ins. But, these are subject to availability, and this is NYC. So, reserve that free slot to avoid disappointment!

Oh and another cool event to add to your radar is the Winter Wonderland at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

And, added bonus? This is a totally free event that is scheduled for December 10th from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Also, while the primary focus here is kid-friendly crafts and activities, the evening carol singing offers something for everyone!

15. Watch the Ball Drop

Stick around after Christmas in NYC and you can witness the ball drop in Times Square.

See, this symbolic event has been carried out in Times Square since 1907. In fact, it was inspired by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, where a red time ball is dropped daily at 1:00 pm.

Originally, the purpose was to share the exact time with seafarers passing by the English capital. It then quickly caught on all around the world.

So, Adolph Ochs, owner of the New York Times, decided to refashion the tradition to ring in the new year.

However, what you might not know is that the ball in Times Square has been forged from iron, wood, aluminum, and crystals.

Anyway, the ball is raised at precisely 11.59 pm with the midnight drop celebrating the beginning of a new year.

This quirky event is free to attend and open to all. But, you’ll need to arrive super early to nab a standing spot.

And, it’s not recommended if you’re not a fan of crowds. But, streaming it live from the comfort of your NYC hotel is an unrivaled experience.

Address: Times Square

Hours: You’ll need to get here well before noon to secure a spot. You’ll also need to spend hours standing in the cold and won’t be able to leave.

Price: Free

How to Get There: You can take just about any subway train to Times Square.

16. Shop At FAO Schwartz

If you head to the city in December you really should not miss out on visiting FAO Schwatrz. This iconic store is unlike any other store that you have visited. Why? Because it is Christmas themed! You will find that it has all things Christmas stocked from the floor to the roof.

Okay so you can probably visit at any time of the year BUT if you need some Christmas shopping done then why not at a legendary store? Mind you, FAO Schwartz is always crowded during the season.

The store is located right next to the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller center. Convenient right? You can quickly tick off two items from your things to do this Christmas in NYC.

Pro Tip: If you want to be an effective shopper, check out their website and browse by age. This will help you get a feel of what you want to buy and it makes the rush so much more manageable.

Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, United States

Hours: Open everyday from 10am to 8pm

How To Get There: It is located right next to the Rockefeller square. You can just walk from any of the central locations.

Christmas in NYC – Brooklyn

17. see the dyker heights christmas lights.

The vibrant Christmas lights in Dyker Heights with a blow up Santa. One of the best things to do in Christmas in New York City.

⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (540 Reviews) Price: $59 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍 Meeting Point: In front of the Treehaus Liquor Store Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

If you were blown away by the Manhattan Christmas lights, just wait until you see what Brooklyn has to offer.

See, Dyker Heights is a residential zone that turns into a gigantic winter wonderland starting in late November.

So, expect pretty much every house to be adorned with Christmas paraphernalia. As a result, you’ll see the likes of fairy lights, wreaths, trees, angels, reindeer, candy canes, giant nutcrackers, and more.

Tourists are also welcome to visit since actual bus tours will take you here.

“Amazing tour to see the lights. Was a very cold night but glad it was not raining! nice tour lady and special to go on Christmas Eve” Megan ( read more reviews now! )

And, because a subway ride here takes at least one hour, these bus tours will save you a lot of hassle.

Plus, The 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour includes pick-up from Manhattan and return transit via private bus.

Actually, the driver will drop you off at the Bryant Park Winter Village where you can defrost with hot food and mulled wine.

So, yeah, Dyker Heights is deffo one of the top-rated things to do over Christmas in NYC. Just be sure to make arrangements sooner rather than later since this place is mega popular.

Also, swathe yourself in tons of layers and pop a thermos of coffee in your bag, too!

Address: From 83rd St. to 86th St. between 11th Ave. and 13th Ave, in Dyker Heights Brooklyn.

Hours: Lights come on after sundown (best seen between 5 pm and 9 pm), daily, from late November through early January. You can avoid the crowds if you go after Christmas.

Price: Tours are around $56 per person.

How to Get There: Take the D train from Rockefeller Center to 71st Street station and walk from there.

18. Shop like a Brooklynite at Brooklyn Flea

View of the Manhattan Bridge in between two buildings in DMUBO.

In addition to browsing through the Christmas markets of Manhattan, you should also check out some of NYC’s regular flea markets too.

And perhaps the most famous of them all is Brooklyn Flea. It occurs every Sunday, April through December – with December being the final month of the year and offerings being at their best.

In fact, at least 100 local craftspeople, artisans, and vintage vendors congregate beneath the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn. So, you’ll find all sorts of clothing, antiques, and collectibles on offer.

Also, because this is a regular flea, the objects on sale aren’t restricted to holiday-themed items. So, if you’re looking to shop for, shall we say, the pickier people in your life – you might find that the Brooklyn Flea is a good fit.

After all, the apparel and trinkets on sale are thoroughly unique.

And then alongside gift items you’ll find gourmet food stalls where you can tuck into festive food and quixk bites. And, this is DUMBO, so you’re surrounded with solid options for sit-down meals and coffee too as you enjoy one of the best budget shopping spots in NYC .

Pro Tip: Also remember that the Chelsea Flea in Manhattan runs all year-round and all weekend long.

Address: 80 Pearl St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: Open from April through October on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Price: Varies by item.

How to Get There: Take the F train to York Street or the A/C train to High Street and walk from there.

19. Marvel at Lightscape in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Every year, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens ushers in the holidays with Lightscape, one of the best things to do this Christmas in New York City.

And that’s because this installation sees over one million lights dotted all throughout this 52-acre plot of land within Prospect Park.

Plus, Lightscape is designed in tandem with strategic event planners and local New York artists.

So, the idea here is to celebrate nature and winter, as well as the holiday season. Water features also play with reflections and tunnels of light are erected next to local trees.

A specific trail is even set up so that you’ll follow a thoughtfully planned route for this perfect experience this Christmas in NYC.

However, this is an outdoor event at night. So, you’re going to have to give your choice of clothing some serious thought if you wanna stay warm since this trail typically takes an hour to complete.

So, get pumped because Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Lightscape is set to open on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 and run until Sunday, January 8th, 2023.

And, FYI, this event always sells out. So, grab your tickets online once you have your trip confirmed!

Address: 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Hours: Open November 16th through January 8th from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm (this is final admission but the facility closes at 9:30 pm).

Price: Tickets are $34 for adults, $18 for kids, and free for anyone 2 and under.

How to Get There : Take the 2/3 train to Brooklyn Museum and Eastern Parkway and Brooklyn Museum Station and walk from there. Think of it as a mini Brooklyn walking tour . LOL. .

Christmas in NYC – Queens

20. illuminate the farm @ queens county farm.

Queens is a touch off the beaten track for a typical NYC itinerary .

However, if all the urban energy and bright lights are getting to be a bit too much this Christmas in NYC, here is the perfect antidote since you can inhale the glorious semi-fresh air.

Because Queens County Farm is a working farm and tourist attraction in Glen Oaks, Queens.

And just in time for Christmas in New York City, Illuminate the Farm sees swathes of lanterns light up this historic agricultural site.

These beautiful lanterns are all hand-crafted and come in the shape of various animals, flowers, and farmyard machinery. They’re pure works of art and completely justify the bus ride out of Manhattan/Brooklyn.

Plus, Queens County Farm also hosts a couple of other special events that you should add to your personal calendar.

Like on Saturday, December 17th, there will be a reading of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi at 1:00 pm.

And then, to banish the post-Christmas blues, the farm hosts its annual Holiday Open House on the 26th, 27th, and 28th of December respectively.

It’s scheduled from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and is a totally free event that charms kids with holiday-inspired crafts and delights adults with fresh mulled cider.

Address: Varies

Hours: Varies

Price: Varies. See their website for more information.

How to Get There: Varies.

21. Amaze Light Festival In Flushing

Love the Christmas lights in NYC? You’ve probably got the Dyker Heights Christmas lights all marked out for your visit BUT there is another light festival that really deserves you attention. The Amaze light festival that is held at the New York Mets stadium in Flushing is one of the largest light festivals in the country and is easily accessible if you are in the city.

Five themed worlds are set up and you can wander through them. Trust me… It is an experience that you will not forget in a hurry. Millions of twinkling lights, forests covered in snow, cute little lanterns and even a show are just a few reasons why it is one of those must dos if you spend Christmas in NYC.

Pro Tip: There is an animated show where the trees come alive. It is held every 30 minutes and is something that children absolutely love. So make sure that you catch it when you visit.

Address: 41 Seaver Wy, Queens, NY 11368, United States

Hours: Open between 4 – 10pm. Closed on Mondays.

How To Get There: Take the train to Met – Willets point and walk from there.

Christmas in NYC – The Bronx

22. glow at new york botanical gardens.

Wooden trains and displays at the train show at the Botanical Gardens.

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (206 Reviews) Price: $35 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍 Meeting Point: The main entrance is located at NYBG Leon Levy Visitor Center Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Although often overlooked in favor of more central parks, the official New York Botanical Gardens are located in the Bronx.

And, while you should visit these all throughout the year, the winter offering is particularly magical.

In a similar vein to Brooklyn’s Lightscape, the complex is illuminated with thousands of lights and installations.

A marked 1.5-mile walking trail also sets out to educate and enchant in equal measure.

“We really enjoyed the day. Flowers were so beautiful.” Angela ( read more reviews now! )

But, in addition to NYBG GLOW you shouldn’t miss the Holiday Train Show. This traditional display of scale-model trains and landmarks has been going strong for over 30 years.

Plus, after all the excitement of NYC’s biggest outdoor light show, you can dive into a tasty meal at the Bronx Night Market.

No surprises here – NYBG GLOW and tickets to the Holiday Train Show go fast. So, it’s strongly encouraged that you buy them well in advance of your visit.

And starting Friday, November 18th, the event will take place on select evenings until Saturday, January 14th.

Pro Tip: Save money by purchasing a combo ticket it both events.

Address: 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458-5126

Hours: Open from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily.

Price : Tickets are $35 for adults, $20 for children, and free for anyone 2 and under.

How to Get There: Take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd. Station. From here take the B26 bus east to the Botanical Garden’s Mosholu Entrance.

23. Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights

Yet again, the Bronx Zoo is set to deliver festive cheer with its annual light show.

The grounds of the zoo are illuminated with immersive light displays, bespoke lanterns in the shape of animals, and vivacious light shows.

Plus, performances, entertainment, and holiday music will ramp up the atmosphere even more this Christmas in NYC.

Seasonal food and drink will also be available at the Dancing Crane Cafe, complete with lots of fun pop-up stalls.

And, the Holiday Train makes a welcome return too.

Just note that the walk-through experience is fully outdoors, which means that you’ll need to bundle up in plenty of layers.

Note, all animal viewing is off-limits during the holiday lights evening events to ensure they this wonderful creatures get their beauty sleep.

Yup, these holiday lights have become an established new tradition during Christmas in New York City and appeal to all ages.

Although, advance purchase of tickets is mandatory, which you can easily do online.

And this year’s light festival is confirmed to run from Friday, November 18th through Sunday, January 8th.

Address: 2300 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York,10460

Hours: Holiday lights come on at 4:30 pm but tickets can be purchased for 3:00 pm (perfect if you want to see real animals), 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:00 pm time slots.

Price: $39.95 for adults, $24.95 for kids (3-12), and $34.95 for seniors (65+).

How to Get There: Take the 2 train to the Pelham Parkway station and then catch an uber from there.

Christmas in NYC – Staten Island

24. “escape” to snug harbor cultural center and botanical garden.

Now, Staten Island might require a ferry ride.

But, the trip is free and the borough is one of the coolest areas to experience Christmas in NYC like a local.

And the top holiday attraction here takes place at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in the Randall Manor/New Brighton neighborhood.

See, the center hosts Escape, brought to you by the same folks that put on the Winter Lantern Festival.

In fact, Escape is pretty similar to Illuminate the Farm in Queens. So, expect a kaleidoscope of color from these artistic lanterns.

Also, Escape @ Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens generally puts on a roster of dazzling cultural performances, in addition to having an epic food market where you can get your fill of cinnamon treats, eggnog, and warming street eats.

Escape usually starts for the season in late November, straight after Thanksgiving.

So, it’s worth adding your details to the Winter Lantern Festival mailing list for updates as well as early bird discount tickets.

Address: 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301, United States

Hours: Open daily from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Price: General admission is $24.99 per person.

How to Get There: Take the S40 bus to Snug Harbor and walk from there.

25. Step back Into Yesteryear During Christmas in Historic Richmond Town

Another wintery extravaganza in Staten Island sees Historic Richmond Town recreated as a Dickensian wonderland that is home to some of the best Christmas lights in NYC .

Now, this living history museum and farm complex hosts demonstrations inspired by the tales of Charles Dickens. So, expect child-friendly activities, horse-drawn carriage rides, and Santa Clause meet-and-greets aplenty this Christmas in NYC.

Meanwhile, stalls will sell traditional gifts, soul-warming drinks, and hot street eats.

Plus, tons more cheerful events will take place throughout the fair that will delight children and adults of all ages.

And as a true pillar of the Staten Island community, Historic Richmond Town is always an awesome day out with the Christmas event being a huge hit.

And this year Christmas in Historic Richmond Town is confirmed to run from Saturday, December 10th to Sunday, December 18th.

So, with only a week-long window, you’ll need to organize your schedule if you don’t want to miss out.

You can also purchase tickets via the Christmas in Historic Richmond Town website.

And while not mandatory, costumes are welcome if you fancy getting into the “spirit” of things.

Address: 435 Richmond Hill RoadStaten Island, NY, 10314, United States

Hours: Open Saturday, December 10th to Sunday, December 18th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Price: $10.00 for adults and free for kids 12 and under.

How to Get There: Take the S74 bus to the Richmond Rd/St Patricks Pl stop and walk from there.

Things to do this Christmas in NYC

What do people do on christmas in new york.

Christmas is a bustling time in the city and most people gravitate towards the timeless traditions. Gazing at the numerous window displays, lighting up of the Christmas tree, ice skating in the park or just sipping hot chocolate are some of the very popular choices.

Is NYC Fun During Christmas?

NYC is a lot of fun during Christmas. The city transforms with a blanket of snow and thousands of Christmas displays. There are musicals and trees, hot chocolate and pop-up markets and so much more.

The downside? We aren’t the only ones who think that NYC is super cool during Christmas.

There are loads of tourists who visit every year making it one of the most expensive cities to live in at this time of the year.

So, if you can try and visit NYC in January . Early in the month, the holiday decor is still up but the crowds have gone since Christmas has ended.

What Can You Do For Free In NYC On Christmas?

NYC may be super expensive during Christmas BUT there are still a lot of free activities that you can really enjoy. Central park is a winter wonderland. Head out for walks in the snow and snap up some really cool pics.

Head to Dyker heights and enjoy the lights. You can take a free self guided tour instead of paying for a guided one. All you have to do is download the audio guide.

The Rockefeller Christmas tree stands tall and you can visit it for absolutely no money at all. It is one of the top free things to do on Christmas in NYC.

Is Everything Open On Christmas Day In NYC?

Christmas day is a holiday and most of the stores are closed. So make sure that you do your shopping prior. In addition to the stores, you will find that many of the popular attractions are also closed. You can however head to Central Park or just wander around the city. It is still beautiful and fun to explore.

Map of the Best Things to do this Christmas in NYC

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There you have it! That just about wraps up this guide to the best things to do this Christmas in NYC.

Tell me, did your fave things to do this christmas in new york city make the list if not then let me know in the comments below., and if you found this post useful, don’t forget to join our email list before pinning this post now so that you can read it again later..

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Christmas in 19th Century America

Before the mid-1800s many Americans did not dream of Christmas at all. Penne Restad tells how and why this changed – and played its role in uniting the US in social cohesion.

’The Christmas Party’ by American artist Robert David Wilkie, c. 1850. MFA Boston. Public Domain.

T he Christmas that Americans celebrate today seems like a timeless weaving of custom and feeling beyond the reach of history. Yet the familiar mix of carols, cards, presents, trees, multiplicities of Santas and holiday neuroses that have come to define December 25th in the United States is little more than a hundred years old.

Americans did not even begin to conceive of Christmas as a national holiday until the middle of the last century. Like many other such 'inventions of tradition', the creation of an American Christmas was a response to social and personal needs that arose at a particular point in history, in this case a time of sectional conflict and civil war, as well as the unsettling processes of urbanization and industrialization. The holiday's new customs and meanings helped the nation to make sense of the confusions of the era and to secure, if only for a short while each year, a soothing feeling of unity.

In colonial times, Americans of different sects and different national origins kept the holiday (or did not) in ways they carried over from the Old World, Puritans, for instance, attempted to ignore Christmas because the Bible was silent on the topic. Virginia planters took the occasion to feast, dance, gamble, hunt and visit, perpetuating what they believed to be the old Christmas customs in English manors. Even as late as the early nineteenth century, many Americans, churched or unchurched, northerners or southerners, hardly took notice of the holiday at all.

By mid-century, however, new conditions had begun to undercut local customs and create needs for common and visible celebrations. Communication and transportation revolutions made once isolated parts of the country acutely aware of each other. Immigration vastly widened the ethnic and religious pluralism that had been a part of American settlement from its beginning. Moral, political and economic tensions mounted among east, west and south, raising new questions about the nature of the Union itself. Science challenged religion. New wealth and larger markets superseded old. Population swelled. The pace of life accelerated.

The swirl of change caused many to long for an earlier time, one in which they imagined that old and good values held sway in cohesive and peaceful communities. It also made them reconsider the notion of 'community' in larger terms, on a national scale, but modelled on the ideal of a family gathered at the hearth. At this cross-roads of progress and nostalgia, Americans found in Christmas a holiday that ministered to their needs. The many Christmases celebrated across the land began to resolve into a more singular and widely celebrated home holiday.

This new 'revived Christmas of our time' afforded a retreat from the dizzying realities of contemporary life, but cast in contemporary terms. Americans varied old themes and wove new symbols into the received fabric to create something definitively their own. The 'American' holiday enveloped the often contradictory strains of commercialism and artisanship, as well as nostalgia and faith in progress, that defined late nineteenth-century culture. Its relative lack of theological or Biblical authority – what had made it anathema to the Puritans – ironically allowed Christmas to emerge as a highly ecumenical event in a land of pluralism. It became a moment of idealized national self-definition.

Not surprisingly, the strongest impetus for such a holiday came from those areas most profoundly affected by the various social, economic and technological revolutions of the antebellum era. Especially in the northern cities, where the intimacies of village and town culture had been most forcefully challenged by city and factory, the felt need for more explicit symbols of common purpose and shared. past grew first. A number of writers came to see holidays as a tool to meet these ends and even to forge a. national culture. New Year's Eve, the Fourth of July and, especially, Thanksgiving had their merits and partisans, but Christmas emerged as the most logical and affecting choice. By the 1850s, it had captured the Northern imagination and was making inroads in the South.

The Civil War intensified Christmas' appeal. Its sentimental celebration of family matched the yearnings of soldiers and those they left behind. Its message of peace and goodwill spoke to the most immediate prayers of all Americans. Yet northern victory in 1865 as much as the war situation itself determined the popularity and shape of the America's Christmas. Now unchallenged in the sphere of national myth-making and in control of the publishing trade, customs and symbols of Yankee origin and preference came to stand for the American Christmas.

We can see this as a broad and unified development only in retrospect. More interesting is the way details of the holiday appeared through accident and personal genius. Each custom had its own history, and only over time merged with others to create a full-blown, national holiday.

As early as 1832, Harriet Martineau had identified what would become one of the most familiar symbols of the American Christmas. She had 'little doubt' that the Christmas tree would 'become one of the most flourishing exotics of New England'. By the 1850s, many Americans, not just New Englanders, had fallen in love with the German custom. Some had seen Christmas trees for the first time when they had toured Germany and then recreated their experience of German Christmas celebrations for friends at home. Others viewed them first-hand in the homes of German Americans. The media introduced the custom even more widely, inspiring Americans throughout the nation to adopt the tradition as their own.

As the tree gained prominence in front parlours, it also assumed a place in the market. During the 1850s, town squares began to bristle with trees cut for seasonable profits. Seamlessly, the 'German-ness' of the tree receded as it became an icon of an American festival and, to some, an index of acculturation. Even in the homes of 'the Hebrew brethren', 'Christmas trees bloomed', noted a Philadelphia newspaper in 1877. '[T]he little ones of Israel were as happy over them as Christian children'. By 1900, one American in five was estimated to have a Christmas tree.

At first, the decoration of these fragrant evergreens reflected the whim of folk tradition. Celebrants added nuts, strings of popcorn or beads, oranges, lemons, candies and home-made trinkets. However, widely-read newspapers and ladies' magazines raised the standards for ornamentation. (One suggestion: cotton batting dipped in thin gum arabic then diamond dust made a 'beautiful frosting' for tree branches.) Homely affectations gave way to more uniform and sophisticated ones, the old style overtaken by the urge to make the tree a showpiece for the artistic arrangement of 'glittering baubles, the stars, angels, etc'.

Tree decoration soon became big business. As early as 1870, American businessmen began to import large quantities of ornaments from Germany to be sold on street corners and, later, in toy shops and variety stores. Vendors hawked glass ornaments and balls in bright colours, tin cut in all imaginable shapes and wax angels with spun glass wings. 'So many charming little ornaments can now be bought ready to decorate Christmas trees that it seems almost a waste of time to make them at home', one advertisement declared.

The rise of Christmas cards revealed other aspects of the new holiday's profile. R.H. Pease, a printer and variety store owner who lived in Albany, New York, distributed the first American-made Christmas card in the early 1850s. A family scene dominated the small card's centre, but unlike its English forerunner (itself only a decade older), the images on each of its four corners made no allusion to poverty, cold, or hunger. Instead, pictures of Santa, reindeer, dancers and an array of Christmas presents and Christmas foods suggested the bounty and joys of the season.

It took Louis Prang, a recent German immigrant and astute reader of public taste, to expand the sending of cards to a grand scale. Prang arrived in America in 1850 and soon made a name as a printer. By 1870, he owned perhaps two-thirds of the steam presses in America and had perfected the colour printing process of chromolithography. After distributing his trade cards by the thousands at an international exposition in 1873, the wife of his London agent suggested he add a Christmas greeting to them. When Prang introduced these new cards into the United States in 1875, they proved such a hit that he could not meet demand.

Behind Prang's delight in profits lay a certain idealism. He saw his cards as small, affordable works of art. Through them he hoped to stimulate popular interest in original decorative art and to educate public taste. In 1880, Prang began to sponsor annual competitions for Christmas card designs to promote these ends. These contests made Christmas cards so popular that other card manufacturers entered the market. By 1890, cheap imitations from his native Germany drove Prang from the Christmas card market entirely.

Whatever Prang's plans for democratising art in his accepted land, the advent of Christmas cards in the marketplace soon served functions in keeping with the increasing pace and essential nature of American society. In a hurried and mobile nation, more and more Americans resorted to cards instead of honouring the older custom of writing Christmas letters or making personal holiday visits. The cards' ready-made sentiments drew together friends and families spread across a rapidly expanding national geography, making them a staple of December’s mail. 'I thought last year would be the end of the Christmas card mania, but I don't think so now', one postal official complained in 1882. 'Why four years ago a Christmas card was a rare thing. The public then got the mania and the business seems to be getting larger every year'.

Christmas cards also made modest but suitable presents. '[W]orn out from choosing gifts' for old friends and school mates, one writer noted, 'we usually fall back on Christmas cards, which constitute one of the most precious and at the same time inexpensive contributions of these latter days to the neglected cause of sentiment'.

Decorated trees and cards, however, were only window dressing to the custom of Christmas gift-giving that blossomed in the 1870s and 1880s. Gifts had played a relatively modest role in Christmases of the past. Now they lavishly gilded the already popular holiday. Clearly a product of the new world of commerce and consumerism, Christmas presents also served more subtle ends. The getting and giving of gifts provided a means of grappling with jarring social change. Through personal gifts, Americans mediated the fragile relationships of an increasingly fragmented society. Through charitable gifts, they sought at least symbolic solutions to the problems of extreme economic inequality that threatened social peace and individual con- science. Gift-giving itself became controversial, sometimes perceived as a worrisome, materialistic perversion of a holy day.

Such fear has not stemmed the growth of Christmas commerce. Indeed, by our own day, Christmas gift-giving has become the single most important sector of the consumer economy. No wonder that some have read backwards in time to make the new Christmas almost a conspiracy of retailers. Yet evidence suggests that the transition to a Christmas economy occurred only gradually, with both merchant and consumer acting as architects. In the 1820s, '30s and '40s merchants had noticed the growing role of gifts in the celebration of Christmas and New Year. Starting in the mid- to late- 1850s, imaginative importers, craftspersons and storekeepers consciously reshaped the holidays to their own ends even as shoppers elevated the place of Christmas gifts in their home holiday. However, for all the efforts of businessmen to exploit the season. Americans persistently attempted to separate the influence of commerce from the gifts they gave.

What emerged was a kind of dialogue between consumers and merchants. Many gift-givers, for instance, ranked handmade gifts over purchased or totally manufactured ones. Retailers responded by marketing partially assembled goods to which givers applied the finishing touches. Americans also moderated the relationship between commerce and giving by wrapping the gifts they gave. The custom had once been merely to give a gift unadorned and uncovered, but a present hidden in paper heightened the effect of the gesture, fixing the act of giving to a moment of revelation. Wrapping also helped designate an item as a gift. As gifts came increasingly from stores, factories and homes of cottage labourers, paper and string helped redefine an object to meet its social use. The commercial work comprehended the importance of this symbolic transformation of goods. Grander stores began to wrap gifts purchased from their stock in distinctive, coloured papers, tinsel cords and bright ribbons, as part of their delivery services. Thus, while paper might have blurred a present's association with commerce in some cases, in others it advertised a material status associated with patronizing the 'right' store.

The spiralling custom of giving and getting gifts did not simply reflect the materialism of the age. The felt need to demonstrate kinship ties and communal bonds more vividly helped to insure the importance of Christmas gifts. Some scholars have explored the important role that kinship plays in determining the value of an object. In what one observer has called our 'materials-intensive way of life', gifts often serve as 'social statement[s]'. Given within families, another has commented, gifts 'provide continuity in one's life and across generations'. The Gilded Age, a time of particularly challenging social and economic upheaval, underlined the importance of family ties even as it threatened them. Gifts symbolized and helped secure these important relationships. The magazine Harper's gave early voice to the link between gifts and givers in 1856: 'Love is the moral of Christmas ... What are gifts but the proof and signs of love'!'

Charity functioned in a related manner, but more as a symbolic, cathartic exercise in selflessness. The same social changes that fostered gift- giving as a means of reinforcing familial and social attachments at the private level also inspired charitable gifts as a way of declaring, if only symbolically, a unity and safety in society that extended even to the most impoverished. It was but one more large step to extend those good feelings and generosity to the homeless, hungry and unemployed, and to target Christmas as the time for the amelioration of those conditions (or at least the assuaging of guilt over them). 'Nowhere in Christendom are the poor remembered at Christmastide so generously as they are in American cities, especially our own,' the New York Tribune contended.

In their comprehension of poverty and its solutions, most Americans moved little beyond Ebenezer Scrooge's personally fulfilling but ultimately narrow patronage. Their sentimentalization of 'worthy paupers' at Christmas time, especially virtuous but destitute women and vagabonds children, did not question the essential goodness of the market economy that had, directly and indirectly, produced the poverty. As in Dickens' evocation of charity, the rich man escaped condemnation if he recognized that his money meant little compared to his responsibility to humanity. That truth perceived and acted upon in highly public, seemingly generous fashion, the wealthy man could make his peace.

In this glow of self-congratulation, Americans persisted in seeing poor relief as a matter of individual action to be undertaken on much the same terms as gift-giving within the circle of family. The best and largest gifts, of course, went to those closest to the circle's centre. Lesser gifts, in descending order of value, went to relatives and acquaintances of decreasing importance. The deserving poor, as the outermost members of the larger community, received gifts too, though often the least valuable and certainly the least personal of all. An 1894 advertisement for Best and Company illustrated the hierarchy. It suggested that 'while busy buying "things for Christmas'" the shopper might think of other children who are 'less fortunate than your own'. For them, the store advised that 'a gift of serviceable clothing', chosen from its special group of marked-down goods, 'would be more than welcome'.

This material means of salvation indicated a broader truth about Christmas and its gifts. In a world dominated by commerce, one important ritual of grace was spending money on others. Indeed, charity and gifts, and the increasingly munificent expenditures on them, emphasized the relationship between affluence, which many saw as a reward from God, and Christian duty. Mixing traditional Protestant and American doctrines of individualism with the newer vision of Social Darwinism, many in the Christian community felt that American prosperity was proof and extension of God-ordained success, a link confirmed by Christmas giving.

If gifts became the currency of an almost theological vision of affluence, their transcendent symbol was an updated version of an old saint. Santa Claus, with his fur-trimmed red suit, sackful of toys, reindeer, sleigh and home at the North Pole, emerged as a major folk figure. He first appeared in semi-modern form in the 1820s, in Clement Moore's An Account of a Visit from Saint Nicholas. By the 1850s and '60s, artists and writers had given wide circulation to the genial and generous American saint that Moore had introduced. Thomas Nast's fanciful Christmas drawings widened the sphere of Santa's rule in the late nineteenth century. Moore had already supplied eight reindeer to pull the sleigh. Nast gave him a workshop and ledgers to record children's conduct. He made him taller and dressed him in red. To this, Nast and others added a home at the North Pole, elves, a wife and even, by some accounts, children.

These amplifications imparted to Santa an ever more human and credible dimension and idealized troublesome aspects of the nation's material and spiritual life. For example, the charming notion that Santa and his tiny helpers supplied all the Christmas toys encoded a highly romantic vision of American capitalism. This Santa reigned without opposition over a vast empire. In a world of practicality, he prospered as a highly successful manufacturer and distributor of toys. From his fur coat to his full girth, he resembled the nation's Gilded Age presidents and its well-fed captains of industry.

Labour conditions were idealized as well. A work force of skilled and reliable elf-labour helped secure Santa's place in the pantheon of American business, These North pole elves were not unlike immigrants working in the nation's sweatshops. Unassimilated, isolated from the rest of society, and undifferentiated by individual name or character, the best of them worked hard, long and unselfishly; Their existence made manifest a maxim that hard work and a cheerful attitude benefited all.

Yet any analogies that might be drawn between Santa's work and late nineteenth-century capitalism lay enmeshed in paradox, for, in significant was, Santa Claus also represented values at odds with the system. He was a robber baron in reverse. Rather than acquire wealth, he shed it yearly. He never purchased gifts, but (with elf help) made his own to give away without regard for financial profit, rewarding hest the most innocent and naive of all – the children. His world lay at some distance from the calumnies and banalities of everyday life. Santa Claus exemplified the realm of dreams, hopes, wishes and beliefs, not from the realities and compromises necessary to negotiate contemporary life.

So powerful a symbol did Santa become that a number of writers and preachers worried that he had become a substitute and rival to Jesus. Centuries earlier Puritans had expressed the same fear about saints in general. Although the faith not only of Puritan Calvinists but of all Christians had modified over the intervening years, America's Protestant culture still looked upon an iconographic, human-like embodiment of Christmas with great suspicion. An evangelical magazine gave a succinct illustration of the danger when it reported in 1906 that one little girl, when told that Santa did not exist, refused to attend Sabbath School. 'Likely as not this Jesus Christ business will turn out just like Santa Claus', she reasoned.

The fear that children might equate Santa with Jesus or God, however, missed an important point. In an age of science, Santa, while not a religious figure per se, represented a palpable medium through which children and adults in late nineteenth-century America could experience and act upon spiritual impulses. In that age (and ours) of material wealth and rational discourse, the ascetic saints of Christianity held no wide appeal, hut Santa allowed one to give and get and also to believe.

Therein lay the significance of the New York Sun's famous discourse on the spiritual meaning of Santa. In 1897, Virginia O'Hanlon asked a plain question of the editor: 'Is there a Santa Claus?' 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus', came the terse reply. The answer, though, was not a patent fib designed to placate a youngster, but an exposition on belief itself. 'Virginia, your little friends are wrong', the editor wrote. 'They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see'. Without Santa, he argued:

... there would he no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence ... Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

The durability of the American Christmas may, in fact, rest on its ability to bring to our material and scientific world, against daunting odds, a broadly shared hint of the sacred. It is in the brief December season that Americans, using the language and objects of their culture, recapture ideals and act according to their better selves. In this sense, the nation's Christmas truly brings together the culture's two most disparate yet similarly unbounded projects – to seek wealth and to secure salvation.

Penne Restad is a lecturer in American History at the University of Texas in Austin and the author of Christmas in America (OUP, 1995).

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History of Christmas

By: History.com Editors

Updated: December 21, 2022 | Original: October 27, 2009

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

How Did Christmas Start?

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus , early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Christmas in Photos

Saturnalia and Christmas

In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, enslaved people were given temporary freedom and treated as equals. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could participate in the holiday's festivities.

Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

Is Christmas Really the Day Jesus Was Born?

In the early years of Christianity , Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century.

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages , Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion.

On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s Mardi Gras . Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the “lord of misrule” and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined “debt” to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.

History of Christmas Trees

From millions of homes worldwide to the White House, the Christmas tree is a tradition that owes its popularity in part to a popular British queen.

History of the Christmas Carol

Get the facts on the tradition of Christmas carols, and find out how “Jingle Bells” came about.

European Christmas Customs

In some parts of Europe, people still celebrate Christmas customs based on long‑standing folk legends.

When Christmas Was Cancelled

In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.

The pilgrims , English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston . Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

After the American Revolution , English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

How Christmas Was Celebrated in the Middle Ages

In medieval times, Christmas celebrations carried on for multiple raucous days and nights.

How 25 Christmas Traditions Got Their Start

Learn why we decorate trees, swap cookies and hide pickles and elves, among other traditions.

How the Civil War Changed Christmas in the United States

As a divided nation fought, the holiday became more important than ever.

Washington Irving Reinvents Christmas in America

It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s piqued American interest in the holiday?

The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.

In 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent. , a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving’s mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status. Irving’s fictitious celebrants enjoyed “ancient customs,” including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving’s book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended—in fact, many historians say that Irving’s account actually “invented” tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.

'A Christmas Carol'

Also around this time, English author Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol . The story’s message-the importance of charity and good will towards all humankind-struck a powerful chord in the United States and England and showed members of Victorian society the benefits of celebrating the holiday.

The family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children during the early 1800s. Christmas provided families with a day when they could lavish attention-and gifts-on their children without appearing to “spoil” them.

What Was Christmas Like for America’s Enslaved People?

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Dreaming of a White (House) Christmas: 17 Photos

Christmas at the first residence has evolved from an understated, intimate affair in 1800 to an all‑out media event.

7 Latin American Holiday Traditions

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As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed. People looked toward recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards and gift-giving.

Although most families quickly bought into the idea that they were celebrating Christmas how it had been done for centuries, Americans had really re-invented a holiday to fill the cultural needs of a growing nation.

Who Invented Santa Claus?

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around A. D. 280. St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming known as the protector of children and sailors.

St. Nicholas first entered American popular culture in the late 18th century in New York, when Dutch families gathered to honor the anniversary of the death of “Sint Nikolaas” (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), or “Sinter Klaas” for short. “Santa Claus” draws his name from this abbreviation.

In 1822, Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore wrote a Christmas poem called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” more popularly known today by it’s first line: “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.” The poem depicted Santa Claus as a jolly man who flies from home to home on a sled driven by reindeer to deliver toys.

The iconic version of Santa Claus as a jolly man in red with a white beard and a sack of toys was immortalized in 1881, when political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on Moore's poem to create the image of Old Saint Nick we know today.

Christmas Facts

Each year, 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are about 15,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States, and trees usually grow for between four and 15 years before they are sold.
In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today’s Mardi Gras parties.
When Christmas was cancelled: From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston , and law-breakers were fined five shillings.
Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith’s 1607 Jamestown settlement .
Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s.
Rudolph , “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.

HISTORY Vault: the Christmas Truce

World War I was a brutal slog. But on Christmas Eve 1914, something remarkable happened: British and German troops stopped fighting, and came together to share holiday cheer.

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Christmas in New York City (2023): What You Need to Know for a Successful Trip

Christmas in New York City is simply wonderful. The chill in the air is just enough for red noses. The city streets are decked out in shimmering lights and dazzling displays of ornaments, snowflakes, and tinsel. Not a trimming is missed.

Even as a longtime local, a New York Christmas still stirs my holiday spirit as soon as the season’s first decorations are up. You’re in luck, too! If you visit in December, it’s always Christmas in New York.

If you’ve dreamed of visiting during the holidays, this guide has all you need to know for a successful trip. After all, Christmas in New York City is a special time and, undoubtedly, your visit will always hold a special place in your memory.

How to Plan a Successful Christmas in New York City

If it’s your first time in New York City, check out my complete New York City Guide with itinerary ideas, things to do, how to get around, where to stay, and more.

The info in this post will be updated as 2023 NYC Christmas information is available.

What to Know About Christmas in New York City 2023

Rockefeller Center Christmas in New York City

New York at Christmas is magical! It’s on many travelers’ bucket lists with good reason. In order to have a successful trip, though, you need to be in the right mindset.

Absolutely bring your best holiday cheer, but include a dose of reality about what to expect.

From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, New York City can be extremely crowded , especially the areas in and around Times Square and Rockefeller Center. Even if you’ve done crowds in other cities, channel your inner farm animal and be ready to move in a herd.
Give yourself more time for everything . With so many people, everything takes longer. Whenever possible, go underground and travel by subway. Avoid taking a taxi at all, if you can, but especially in the area of midtown. Expect traffic gridlock.

Whether you want to eat and drink at holiday favorites like Rolf’s or Serendipity 3 or any of New York City’s delicious restaurants, reservations are key . If the establishment doesn’t accept them, go at off-peak times to avoid long waits.
NYC is expensive all the time , but New York City at Christmas means even higher prices. Save money by bundling your sightseeing expenses with a New York CityPASS or a Go City Card .
If you’re hoping to take photos without the crowds, go early (crack of dawn early) in the morning or bring something to elevate your camera, like a selfie stick (even if they are a bit outdated), to capture city sights with as little of the crowds as possible.

What to Pack for Christmas in New York City

Be prepared for Christmas in NYC , especially if you’re not used to spending stretches of time outside in colder temperatures. Your light jacket might be perfect for walking from your house to your car and then from your car to someplace warm. But, the icy winds that funnel through NYC will shred that jacket faster than you can run for cover.

Don’t be one of the countless tourists walking through Times Square or Rockefeller Center completely ill-equipped for the elements and clearly not enjoying themselves the way they should.

Most New Yorkers know the NYC mistakes to avoid at Christmas , especially when it comes to winter gear. We know which boots to wear in order to jump over icy, slushy puddles and not fall onto the pavement. We seamlessly switch out coats and layers for 30-degree temperature differences from one day to the next.

Here are a few New York at Christmas time weather and packing tips to keep in mind.

Check and recheck the weather before your Christmas holiday in New York. Early December can be relatively comfortable with temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The closer to Christmas and New Year’s it gets, the more likely you could experience a deeper cold and possible snow and freezing rain.
Wear multiple layers to keep yourself warm or cool depending on the weather and where you are.

sweaters or fleeces ,
base layers (for frigid temps or if you hate being outside in the cold!),
a warm coat , (I always wear a mid-length jacket to cover my legs up to my knees.)
a hat ,
gloves or mittens ,
and warm, waterproof boots with merino wool socks .
If you’re not a hat person, bring earmuffs or a fleece ear band. I can’t tell you how many NYC visitors I see walking with bright red frozen ears!
Use my complete packing guide for what to wear in New York in winter for more tips to stay warm.

The Best Things to Do for Christmas in New York City

New York City at Christmas is such a special time to visit the city. On top of NYC’s most famous sights and experiences, the Christmas holiday ambiance can be felt all over the city. You can immerse yourself in holiday cheer with the many Christmas things to do and see around the city!

1. See the Rockefeller Christmas Tree 2023.

Obvious, I know. But, would you go to Paris for the first time and not see the Eiffel Tower? Exactly. Christmas in New York comes with a visit to the Rockefeller Christmas tree!

In 2023 , the Rockefeller tree lighting ceremony is on Wednesday, November 29th from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Once it’s lit, you can see the tree daily until January 13th at 10 p.m.

To attend the tree lighting ceremony, you’ll need to arrive by 3 p.m. in order to have the best chance to see the tree when the lights switch on.

If you can’t get to Rockefeller Plaza immediately surrounding the tree and ice rink between 48th & 51st streets from 5th or 6th Avenues, try to get a spot in the Channel Gardens between 49th & 50th Streets along 5th Avenue. Otherwise, head to 5th Avenue and stand just at the entrance of the Channel Gardens, with Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store at your back.

To see the musical performances before the tree lighting, you must be within the first few rows of people around the ice rink. If this is your goal, arrive by midday to claim a spot.

Even after the lighting ceremony, Rockefeller Center and the tree are unbelievably crowded during the holiday season. You might even momentarily wonder why you’re shuffling along with hoards of people just to see a Christmas tree.

But, it’s truly spectacular and a New York Christmas holiday must! The decorations inside Rockefeller Center add to the display of lights and festivities. It just wouldn’t be a very New York Christmas if you didn’t see the Rockefeller tree!

Christmas in New York City Rockefeller Center Tree

The absolute best times to see the most famous Christmas tree in Manhattan are at night when the crowds thin and the tree sparkles against the dark night sky. Or if you’re an early bird like me, go just as the lights turn on.

The lights are on from 5:00 a.m. until midnight. If you’re in New York City on Christmas Day, the tree lights are on for 24 hours. Go late in the night and have the tree ( almost) all to yourself! It is New York after all. There’s bound to be a least a couple of other people there, too.

If you’re in New York City for New Year’s Eve, the Rockefeller tree is lit from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.

ProTip: Need a break from the crowds at Rockefeller Center but still want to see Christmas sights? Look for Christmas trees in Lincoln Center, at South Street Seaport, and on Wall Street near the Stock Exchange.

2. Admire the Christmas Windows at the Department Stores in NYC.

Macy's NYC Christmas department store windows

Touring the holiday-themed department store windows is a classic, New York City Christmas tradition. Each year the stores decorate their windows with sparkles and glitz around a particular story or festive theme. Visitors line up to see the most popular displays, especially in the early evening hours and on the weekend.

To see all the popular store windows without backtracking along 5th Avenue go in this order.

Start at 58th Street with Bergdorf Goodman and continue on to Henri Bendel, Saks Fifth Avenue, and finish at Macy’s in Herald Square.

Reverse the order if it makes more sense for your plans, but remember Macy’s Christmas decorations are the only ones along 6th Avenue in Herald Square. Otherwise, it’s a straight route up or down Fifth Avenue.

ProTip: Saks Fifth Avenue also has a beautiful light show that illuminates the entire building facade with holiday lights and sparkles choreographed to festive music. The light show runs every 10 minutes once it’s dark, typically around 4:30 pm until 11:35 pm every day. The show is just 5 minutes long so it’s easy to watch as you explore the Rockefeller Center area.

3. Visit a Christmas Market NYC Location.

New York has several holiday-themed markets . The artists and merchants sell food, clothes, spices, artwork, novelty crafts, and gifts in temporary kiosks once a year. While not quite as expansive as the Christmas markets in Europe, the markets are festive and a ton of fun to stroll through looking for gifts and new foods to try.

As you plan which places to visit in New York during Christmas, add these markets to your list.

The Bryant Park Holiday Market is located on 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. The rink in the park is also a great place to ice skate! More details on the ice rink are below. In 2023 , the holiday markets will open on October 27th. Opening at the end of October also makes the Bryant Park holiday market one of the best things to do in fall in NYC !
Union Square Holiday Market is located between 14th and 17th Streets along Broadway. This downtown market is likely to be a little less congested but still full of vendors. Typically, there are more than 150 booths selling food and one-of-a-kind gifts. This Holiday Market is open from November 16th-December 24th. Keep in mind this market is closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Grand Central Holiday Market inside the iconic station on 42nd Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. This is a perfect way to see the iconic constellation ceiling with its lights and get a respite from the cold outside. The market is in Vanderbilt Hall, just off the main concourse in the terminal. It’s open from November 13th-December 24th, except for Thanksgiving Day.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market is situated at 59th street and Broadway, right at the entrance of Central Park. Before or after you shop, head into the park to skate at Wollman Rink and take in the New York City views over the treetops. In 2023, the market will be open everyday from November 28th-December 31st, except on Christmas Day. Shop for gifts Monday – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m and Sundays until 7 p.m. The market also closes early, at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
The Holiday Market at the Oculus at the World Trade Center is on the lower level of the Oculus. It’s a much smaller market than the others listed above. But if you’re in lower Manhattan, it’s a festive place to be! In 2023 , the market is open from November 25th-January 2nd. If you go, walk through nearby Zuccotti Park. It’s a small square with really pretty holiday lights.
The Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market is one of the newer NYC holiday markets! Unlike the markets in Bryant Park or Union Square, this market will feature crafts, vintage items, and antiques. Dates for 2023 have not been announced but in 2022 the market was open from November 28th-December 26th in the beautiful Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 subway lines to Borough Hall or the R train to Court Street. While you’re there, check out the Brooklyn Heights Promenade with spectacular views of Manhattan.

4. Get Festive with New York City Christmas Ornaments.

Plenty of NYC guides urge visitors to get out of midtown and see lower Manhattan . This is all for good reason.

You should absolutely save time for sights like the Brooklyn Bridge and neighborhoods like Chelsea , the Upper West Side , Chinatown , and Greenwich Village .

But, this is the one time of the year that midtown steals the show . From the snowflake suspended over 57th and 5th to the displays of decorations and lights, New York City Christmas ornaments are big and beautiful! Midtown Manhattan (particularly between 42nd and 57th streets from Broadway to 5th Avenue) shimmers and sparkles all holiday season long and it’s the place to be this time of year.

5. Enjoy Ice Skating NYC Style.

Christmas in New York City - Ice Skating at Bryant Park

The setting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the ice rink makes it seem like a perfect place to skate. And if you’re going just for that iconic setting, do it. But, I’d say skip the ice rink at Rockefeller Center if you want to have a good skate. You’ll have a better skating experience elsewhere. The small rink is really expensive and comes with crowds and long lines.

For the quintessential New York ice skating experience , skate at Wollman Rink in Central Park.

But, skating at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park on 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is also a great experience! Skating is free if you have your own skates. If not, rent them there.

You can even make reservations to skip the line to ice skate during peak times. After skating, spend time in Bryant Park’s winter village. It’s spectacular with its lights and kiosks selling artisanal foods and one-of-a-kind gifts from artists and vendors.

6. See Christmas shows in NYC.

Theater is full of magic so better time to see a live theater performance than during the Christmas season. New York City is overflowing with incredible Broadway shows . The lights of the theater marquees and the chill in the air make for the perfect holiday night outing in New York City.

If you want to stick with the Christmas theme, head to Radio City for the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular .

Or, see a classic performance of The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side.

For discounted “day of “Broadway tickets, visit the TKTS booth in Times Square on 47th Street just below the famous red steps. You can even download the TKTS app for free to see what tickets are available for performances that day.

ProTip: If you’re flexible with which Broadway show to see, go to TKTS at 7:15-7:30 p.m. just before the 8:00 shows start. The line will be shorter and the theaters are all within a few minutes from the TKTS booth. Or if you’re feeling lucky, try entering a Broadway ticket lottery!

If you’re spending Christmas in NYC with kids , the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular’s daytime performances often buzz with audience noise and energy. The short show lengths and the loose, easy-to-follow storyline make it a super fun family experience.

7. Enjoy Central Park in December. (Maybe in the snow!)

Everyone loves the picture-perfect white of freshly falling snow. One of the best NYC things to do when snow magic happens is to stroll through Central Park and admire the serene winter setting.

If you enter at 59th Street in Columbus Circle, grab a hot cocoa from the holiday market. Your camera will thank you for the clean white wonderland parkscapes and the tall city buildings rising all around.

8. Book New York City Christmas Tours.

Christmas in NYC Dyker Heights Brooklyn Holiday Lights

The Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour is one of the most popular . This Brooklyn neighborhood goes all out during the holidays, with every last roof shingle and inch of yard space covered in lights and decorations.

Don’t be fooled . These are not your average residents displaying their holiday cheer. The Dyker Heights holiday lights displays are done by the pros, costing tens of thousands of dollars to pull off! The best times to visit are from the middle of December onward through the holiday season from dusk until 9 pm.

ProTip: December in New York City is incredibly busy with visitors. If there are any NYC tours or activities you’re interested in doing while you’re here, book them in advance!

Best Things to Do in New York on Christmas Day

New York City is still an active place on Christmas Day. While some sights and restaurants close, there’s still plenty to do. All of the things to do in New York in December for the holiday season listed above will be available on Christmas Day, with the exception of specific tours.

You’ll just have to choose between traditional Christmas activities or making your own NYC Christmas Day memories.

Here are a few ideas to help you plan.

It is NYC, after all! The Empire State Building , Summit One Vanderbilt , and the Top of the Rock are both open.
If you’ve gotten your fill of the Christmas markets and festivities around midtown NYC, visit One World Observation deck . While you’re downtown, walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and eat Chinese food in Chinatown. Nom Wah Tea Parlor has been open since the 1920s and serves delicious dim sum. Or head to my favorite, Wo Hop!
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum are also open on Christmas Day and would be convenient to get to from downtown, as well.
Or maybe you’re spending Christmas in New York with kids . Visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum , stroll Times Square for selfies and a visit to the M&M store, or hop on a New York City Bus Tour.

Pro Tip: If your NYC itinerary includes a lot of sightseeing, there’s no cheaper way to see the main sights than with New York CityPASS or a Go City Card.

St. John the Divine uptown and St. Patrick’s in midtown are open for Mass and visitors throughout the day. If you were hoping to attend Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s, you’ll have to fill out a request for tickets form online.
Continue on with the soulful theme and get tickets to sway along with a Harlem Gospel celebration in Harlem.

If you’re looking for things to do on Christmas Day in NYC that don’t involve moving from place to place, reserve a table at one of NYC’s fabulous restaurants.
Get tickets for a show . Some Broadway shows will have performances, as do the Rockettes at Radio City.
See a movie . This is a classic NYC Christmas Day activity. Some theaters will even show holiday favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life .
Or, get sporty at Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center and catch a New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets game .

Christmas in New York City FAQs

Is Christmas a good time to visit New York City?

Yes! In fact, it’s one of the best times to visit New York City if you enjoy festive activities & shows, holiday markets, ice skating, holiday lights, and of course, all the usual NYC sights! Truly, Christmas in New York City is one of the most special times of the year to visit!

What is there to do in New York City at Christmas time?

Christmas in New York City comes with all the fantastic sights NYC is famous for. But when you visit at Christmas time, you also get to see all the holiday decorations, holiday markets, ice rinks, and the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

Is it expensive to go to New York during Christmas?

New York City is not typically considered a budget destination, however during the Christmas season, it can be even more expensive. In particular, hotel prices are at a peak because of the popularity of visiting NYC at Christmas. The good news is there are many Christmas-themed things you can do for free, like walking through holiday markets, visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral, admiring the department story holiday windows, and seeing all the lights and decorations around the city. Not to mention places like Central Park, Times Square, and the 9/11 Memorial are always free to visit.

Is NYC crowded during Christmas?

Yes. New York City is incredibly crowded during Christmas. You need to allow more time for everything, especially when you’re trying to move around the midtown area where popular sights like Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park are.

Is New York too cold to visit during December?

December weather in New York City is typically in the 40s. It can be slightly warmer and it can be colder. But, the most frigid times of year tend to be in January and February.

Will it snow in NYC at Christmas?

Who doesn’t love a white Christmas! But, in recent years, New York City has gotten little to no snow in December. So even though it’s possible, I wouldn’t count on it.

Is Christmas in NYC worth it?

Christmas in NYC is so worth it. Yes, there will be crowds and cold temperatures but the city sparkles and the holiday ambiance will put even the biggest of Grinch’s in the holiday spirit.

What week is the best to visit New York in December?

The best week to visit New York in December would be the 2nd or 3rd week of the month. While still crowded, it’s between the initial flurry of visitors when the Rockefeller Center tree is lit and before the Christmas school vacation week.

How do I plan a trip to New York for Christmas?

As you plan your trip to New York for Christmas, book ahead as many tours, activities, restaurants, or shows as possible to ensure you can do and see everything you’d like. Logistically group things that make sense. For example, it’s logical to visit Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the decorations and department stores along 5th Avenue leading up to the Plaza Hotel and Central Park because each one is close to the next.

What should you wear in New York in December?

You should dress in warm layers and warm, waterproof shoes or boots. Dressing for New York in December means preparing for longer periods of time outdoors whether you’re walking between sights, at Rockefeller Center, shopping at a holiday market, or enjoying the lights and decorations along 5th Avenue. Use this guide about what to wear in New York in Winter to help you pack for your trip.

Christmas in New York City is an unforgettable experience! When you’re prepared and know how to make the most of your trip, you’ll easily look back and remember your visit for the joyful holiday feelings it stirred inside you.

What questions do you have about Christmas in New York City?

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Christmas in New York Descriptive Writing

Subject: English language learning

Age range: 7 - 18

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

22 February 2018

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15 Festive Things to Do in New York City With Kids During Christmas

By Antonina | Updated: October 5, 2023 | Leave a Comment

Visiting New York City during the holidays with kids will leave you with a lifetime of cherished memories. But let’s get real, adequate planning is crucial because it’s no easy feat!

The expense, noise and crowds can turn the most beloved holidays tradition into a qualifier for Dante’s Inferno if you don’t know which landmines to avoid. That’s where I come in.

I’ve had the chance to experience the holidays in New York City with kids for five years. First with my nieces and nephews and now with my own daughter. Here’s a quick roundup of the best Christmas activities for kids in New York City, based on firsthand experience.

Celebrating Christmas in New York City With Kids

Table of contents: things to do at christmas in new york city with kids, attend the radio city rockettes christmas spectacular, split a frozen hot chocolate at serendipity.

Enjoy Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Experience Macy’s Santaland

Visit the new york botanical garden, go shopping at fao schwarz, go ice skating.

Admire the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show

Check Out the Bronx Zoo Holiday Light Show

Attend the nutcracker ballet.

Hop Aboard the North Pole Express
Experience Dyker Heights
Explore Central Park

Celebrating Christmas in NYC with Kids (Some Advice)

Helpful (related) links.

Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay ( yet ) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The 10 Best Neighborhoods for First Timers & 3 to Avoid) . Don’t have time? Here’s my favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.

The talented Rockettes have been performing at Radio City Music Hall since 1930. It’s hard to think of a more iconic holiday tradition in New York City at this point. Expert choreography coupled with wildly talented dancers performing gravity-defying kicks, the 90-minute performance is leaves children awe-struck from beginning to end.

I highly recommend catching the performance if you’re visiting New York City during the holidays with kids. I took my 4-year-old niece to see the show last year and she raves about it to this day.

There’s no shortage of great holiday treats to enjoy while visiting New York City for Christmas. One of my personal favorites is the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate (not a typo) from Serendipity.

Dating back to 1954, this iconic restaurant was a frequent hangout for celebrities like Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe and Joan Rivers. Heck, Jackie Kennedy once tried to buy the trademarked frozen hot chocolate recipe for a party at the White House.

I make time to enjoy the popular holiday treat every holiday season and always recommend it to my own family and friends. It doesn’t feel like Christmas in New York without one of these treats, indulge away!

Interested in holiday-themed restaurants? Read 15 Epic NYC Christmas-Decorated Restaurants Everyone in the Family Will Love.

Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Visiting a botanic garden might not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking for the best things to do during Christmas in New York City with kids, but skipping Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden would be a mistake.

Seasonal treats and festive music are par for the course, everyone in the family will feel the holiday spirit in no time. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the best Christmas experiences in New York City for kids, my five-year-old niece has a blast every time.

Address: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Note: Tickets sold out last year, be sure to book well in advance .

A cherished holiday tradition dating back to 1862, the entire 8th floor of Macy’s at Herald Square is transformed into a mesmerizing winter wonderland, giving families a chance to wander through whimsical winter villages and meet Santa in person (for free)

Santaland kicks off the day after Thanksgiving and runs until Christmas Eve, experiencing the event is a must for anyone visiting New York City with kids. Read: Complete Guide to Macy’s Santaland in NYC (Tips for Keeping Your Sanity).

Good to Know: Attracting 170,000 visitors a year, Santaland is one of the most popular free activities in NYC for kids, so make reservations in advance.

Home to more than 12,000 plant species from around the world, the New York Botanical Garden is a sight to behold year-round, but the holidays feel extra special. From mid-November through the end of the year, the 250-acre garden is illuminated with some of the best Christmas lights in New York City .

Billed as New York City’s largest outdoor holiday light experience, you’ll be privy to synchronized light shows and festive art installations throughout the evening.

The best part? The epic Holiday Train Show features model trains running through replicas of famous NYC landmarks built from natural materials, it’s bound to keep your kids entertained for a while.

Address: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY

It’s not every day you get a chance to pick out a toy from the oldest toy store in the country. Founded in 1862, FAO Schwarz is the most famous toy store in New York City. The original location closed in 2015 before reopening in a 20,000-square-foot location at Rockefeller Plaza.

Thankfully, all the top attractions made the move, from the popular dance-on piano (made famous by Tom Hanks in Big ) to the beautiful clock tower. FAO Schwarz sparks the imagination and encourages families to participate in free daily activities like book readings, magic shows and music performances.

Anyone visiting New York City during the holidays with kids should make this iconic shop a priority.

You Might Enjoy Reading: 15 Charming New York City Toy Stores Locals Love

If your kids are anything like my six-year-old niece or nine-year-old nephew, they give the Energizer Bunny a run for his money. Sometimes you need to find creative ways to burn off some energy while keeping sane, thankfully there’s no shortage of stunning ice skating rinks to choose from.

I always recommend adding an ice skating rink to the itinerary when visiting New York City during Christmas with kids. The kids will tire out and you’ll get tons of great photos to share with family and friends, it’s a win for all.

If you’d like my personal roundup of the best rinks in the city, read: 10 Impressive Ice Skating Rinks in New York City (Local’s Guide) . Spending some time on the ice makes for an unforgettable family trip to New York City during Christmas, highly recommend!

Of all the impressive lights you’re bound to see while celebrating the holidays in New York City with kids, nothing tops the Saks 5th Avenue Light Show where synchronized lights play in tandem with classic Christmas music, dazzling children and adults alike.

To keep things interesting, Saks Fifth Avenue changes the display every year. In 2023, the department store collaborated with Dior to create the Carousel of Dreams, a unique display centered around the twelve zodiac signs.

I’m curious to see what the designers have up their sleeves in 2024! Most folks stick around and enjoy a few rounds of this popular Christmas light show in New York City, so prepare for crowds, especially after sunset.

At 265 acres, the Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the country, reason alone to visit. But if you need an extra nudge, the zoo’s holiday show is among the best Christmas light displays in NYC. Visit during Holiday Lights to see the zoo’s beloved animals celebrated through festival handmade lanterns.

The roster is a roll call of everyone’s favorites, you’ll find lions, walruses, giraffes and penguins (to name a few). In addition to the breathtaking display of lights, there’s tons of entertainment, seasonal treats and a chance to ride the holiday train!

The interactive displays and animated light shows guarantee a great night, which is why many locals consider this one of the best Christmas activities in New York City for kids.

Address: 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY

Experiencing George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is a timeless NYC holiday tradition many locals consider sacred. The enchanting production brings Tchaikovsky’s classic score to life with exquisite choreography, lavish sets and elaborate costumes.

Tickets clock in at $100-200 a piece, but considering the New York City Ballet is a world-class dance company the price is justified. Despite my initial skepticism, the performance left me awestruck. I consider The Nutcracker a must-see holiday performance while visiting New York City during Christmas with kids.

Address: 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY

If your kids need a break from all that walking, consider booking tickets for The North Pole Express, a bus tour of Midtown Manhattan’s iconic Christmas light displays. Santa himself makes an appearance while you sip on hot chocolate and admire the dazzling decorations around you.

When it comes to the best Christmas decorations in New York City, Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighborhood takes the cake. Outlandishly decked out for the holiday season, more than 100 houses participate in the annual tradition. Homeowners spare no expense trying to outshine (pun definitely intended) their neighbors.

You can opt for a professional tour of the neighborhood, but I don’t think that’s necessary. Try to visit during a weekday to avoid the crowds since this is one of the most popular things to do with kids in NYC for Christmas (especially for locals).

If you’re visiting New York City for the holidays with limited time, I’d say skip this event because it’s quite the trek! Traveling to Dyker Heights from Midtown Manhattan takes up to 1.5 hours each way, so it’s only worthwhile if you have time to spare.

Want more information? Check out Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2022 (Everything You Need to Know)

Although snow isn’t guaranteed during Christmas, if you’re one of the lucky few who sees snow in the forecast during your trip, make a beeline for Central Park. Central Park is magical any time of year, but especially so during the first snowfall of the year. Throw snowballs, sled, and just enjoy the scenery!

If you’d like some guidance, here’s a roundup of the 20 Best Things to Do in Central Park .

Things to Do with Kids in New York City at Christmas (Post Summary)

Catch The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
Check Out the Spectacular Bronx Zoo Holiday Light Show
Visit Macy’s Santaland
Experience the Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden
Get a Souvenir at FAO Schwarz
Burn Off Some Energy Ice Skating
Hop aboard the Holiday Nostalgia Train
Split a Frozen Hot Chocolate
And the City’s Most Iconic Christmas Tree
Take Your Kids to the New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker

Book ahead: Christmas is the most popular time to visit the Big Apple so popular events are known to sell out. If you’re visiting NYC at Christmas with kids book activities, restaurants and events to advance to avoid disappointment.

Remember, “kids are kids .” It’s easy to stress every detail because you want the trip to be perfect . Give yourself some grace and remember that kids don’t care about details as much as adults. Relax and let us do the heavy lifting for you, we’ll keep this list focused on fun family memories everyone will enjoy.

Christmas in NYC with Kids (Map)

20 MAGICAL Things to Do (And 5 to Avoid!)
What to Wear in New York City in the Winter (+Packing List)
15 Charming Christmas Shows in New York City (2023 Guide)
20 Free Things to Do During Christmas in New York City
New York Christmas Decorations: Where to Find Festive Decor in NYC
The Complete Guide to Macy’s Santaland in NYC (Your Kids Won’t Want to Leave!)

Well that was a lot! I hope you found the article helpful and you’re better prepared to celebrate Christmas in NYC with kids. Until next time, happy holidays!

About Antonina

Hi there! I'm Antonina. Like so many folks, living in New York City was always a dream of mine. Now it's my reality! I started New York Dearest as a means to share my passion for NYC with locals and visitors alike.

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Guest Essay

Christmas Is Weird

By Esau McCaulley

Contributing Opinion Writer

When I was growing up, one toy captured my imagination: a Power Wheels Jeep. It was the Christmas present that seemed out of reach of my family’s limited finances. The commercials during the Saturday morning cartoons were a constant reminder of what I would never have. In those 30-second segments, the tiny Jeeps and Corvettes were driven by blond kids zooming through neighborhoods filled with green grass and nice homes.

But every Christmas, I woke up to find that we were still, in fact, poor and I would not be driving my Power Wheels through the hood. Until the Christmas that changed everything. One year my mother, my siblings and I made our way to my grandmother’s house to enjoy Christmas dinner with our extended family. As we approached the home, I saw a red and blue Power Wheels Jeep sitting in the driveway with a red bow attached.

My grandmother had a gambling addiction and played the illegal lotto that operated in the Black neighborhoods of Huntsville, Ala. This particular year, things had apparently gone quite well. She had used her winnings to buy many of her numerous grandkids the gifts of our dreams. That is how I got my Power Wheels.

I have always considered that lottery a Christmas miracle, evidence that God had not forgotten the little Black boys and girls in my corner of the world. But as I have aged, I have been tempted to reconsider. Are these merely the pious memories of a naïve child looking for hope wherever he could find it? Is it wrong to see God’s presence in a gift bought with money of questionable origins?

When my doubts about my Christmas miracle surge within me, I am somewhat comforted by the story of the Magi, the wise men who visited Jesus sometime after he was born.

Scholars are divided on just who these Magi were, but there is unanimous agreement (a rarity among scholars) that they were not Jews or worshipers of the God of Israel. They seemingly had no business anywhere near the holy child.

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My Christmas in New York

Where Christmas Happens

Child under the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York during the Holiday Season

Welcome to My Christmas in New York

This is My Christmas in New York , your go-to portal for discovering all that the Holiday Season has to offer in NYC. Join Marco and his Christmas Team to explore the details of our exclusive Holiday Lights Tours in New York, which have already thrilled over 6,000 participants during the Christmas Season 2023. We will discover together the Holiday Lights of Dyker Heights… and much more!

Each tour is personally organized by me, Marco, the founder of My Christmas in New York. Follow me on Instagram to know everything about the Holiday Season in NYC.

For those seeking a complete experience, I recommend checking out our Group Trip Packages , which include hotel stays and a variety of activities to make the most of New York during the holidays. You will also find the best all year round city tours , carefully selected and monitored by Marco, owner of My Christmas in New York.

Don’t miss the opportunity to consult my E-Guidebooks and follow my Blog : essential tools to plan your next Christmas trip (and more) to the Big Apple!

My 2024 Christmas Lights Tours

Dyker Heights Tour Christmas in New York Lucy Spata House

Dyker Heights & DUMBO Christmas Lights Tour

Join the most famous 4-hour guided bus tour to discover the best Christmas lights in Brooklyn , New York. This round-trip tour departs from Times Square and includes two stops: Dyker Heights (1 hour), the world-famous neighborhood known for its spectacular Christmas-themed houses, and D.U.M.B.O. (30 minutes), where you can take amazing pictures of the NYC skyline at night. Both stops are fully guided: Every year, Marco from My Christmas in New York and his team design a walking path in Dyker Heights that allows you to visit all the most famous houses and the brightest new displays. The tour guide, both on the bus and during the walk, will entertain you with plenty of information about the most beautiful Christmas traditions in NYC. During the 2023 holiday season, Marco and his team welcomed over 6,000 guests on this Christmas Lights Tour

A girl inside Papillon Christmas Restaurant in New York City during the morning tour

My Christmas Morning in Manhattan Tour

The best Morning Christmas-themed tour in New York. With your tour guide aboard a minibus , you will discover all the best Christmas decorations in Midtown Manhattan. During the tour, we will make several stops : Plaza Hotel Christmas Tree, Peninsula Hotel Christmas Tree, Macy’s Holiday Windows, 5th Avenue with its lights and decorations, and the Lotte Hotel with its Christmas tree and gingerbread house. The tour ends at Papillon Christmas Restaurant where, exclusively in the New York tourism market, we will enter 30 minutes before everyone else and you can sit down for lunch without waiting in line. Papillon Bistro & Bar is the most famous Christmas-themed restaurant in all of New York, with the line at the entrance sometimes reaching two hours. Don’t miss the opportunity to join my tour, which not only visits the most famous Christmas landmarks in Midtown Manhattan but also allows you to skip the line at Papillon.

Hudson Yards and its 2 million Chrismtas Lights and the Hot Air Balloon in the Shopping Mall

Holiday Spirit in Manhattan Evening Lights Tour

Do you dream of visiting all the best, less touristy Christmas lights in Manhattan but don’t know how to reach them quickly? My “Holiday Spirit in Manhattan” tour allows you, in just 4 hours, to make three stops outside of Midtown Manhattan to admire the most famous Christmas decorations in New York. Alongside your tour guide, you will visit the Union Square Holiday Market, the Wall Street Christmas Tree, Zuccotti Park, the Oculus with its Christmas lights, the 9/11 Memorial at night, Hudson Yards and the Vessel decorated with over 2 million lights, and much more. The tour ends at the Rooftop Bar 230 Fifth , where we have an agreement that allows us to skip the line at the entrance .

Christmas in New York 2024 in Dyker Heights Brooklyn

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Join my exclusive “Thanksgiving & Christmas Lights” Group Tour, a magical week (from November 24 to 30, 2024 ) discovering the Christmas & Thanksgiving wonders of New York alongside Marco from My Christmas in New York on Instagram. Experience a unique 6 nights and 7 days , immersed in the festive atmosphere, with a program full of activities , tours, and memorable experiences.

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Are you planning a Christmas Trip to New York? Get my (FREE) Ultimate E-Guide on the Best 10 Things to Do in NYC this Holiday Season. The list is personally curated by Marco from My Christmas in New York.

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Christmas Celebration in New York City
Christmas Celebration in New York City Essay. Christmas is a holiday season which is celebrated on 25 th of December every year. It is a wonderful time of the year for many Christians around the world. Christmas was first celebrated three centuries ago with the main intention of displacing the pagan Saturnalia jubilations of the winter solstice ...
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Dec. 18, 2015. Updated at 10:15 a.m. Good morning on this breezy Friday. New York can't quite take credit for Christmas, but apparently, several seemingly timeless holiday traditions were ...
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1 The best things to do during Christmas in New York City. 1.1 Browse the windows. 1.2 Browse the Christmas markets in Bryant Park, Columbus Circle, and Union square. 1.3 Have a drink at the Christmas pop-ups. 1.4 See the Nutcracker.
A Short History of Christmas for New Yorkers
Clement Clarke Moore first published his poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night before Christmas …) in The Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823. This was almost 200 years after the Dutch first began celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas in Rensselaerwyck and Fort Orange. Moore's poem was probably not authored by him but he ...
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But New York is a different kind of Christmas. It is incredibly, indisputably traditional. Unbelievably, I had somehow never experienced Christmas in New York all this time, ... On my mind was an essay written by David Sedaris in which he describes a friend of a friend's disastrous visit to New York. She was from a small town in the south and ...
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Mix the blueberry with the sour cream for some classic blue and white Hanukkah deliciousness.". Prospect Park. "A few years ago, my wife and I did a festive 5K through Prospect Park, put on by New York Road Runners. Everyone dresses up in costumes and it's a wonderful way to stay fit during the holiday season.
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For a time, Sancte Claus was associated with the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. It wasn't until New Yorker Clement Clarke Moore penned what authors Burrows and Wallace refer to as "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American," that St. Nicholas became a part of the Christmas holiday. A friend of Moore's sent "A Visit from ...
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24. Astra Lumina in Queens. In Queens, there's the Astra Lumina walk, a mile long stretch of beautiful lights at Queens Botanical Garden, known for its picture-perfect lighting displays. Other fun festive things to do in Queens include…. Astoria Christmas Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting.
The ultimate NYC Christmas itinerary for 1, 2 and 3 days
1 Day in NYC at Christmas: Afternoon-Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo Holiday Market. For the afternoon of your 1 day NYC Christmas itinerary, you'll want to squeeze in some Brooklyn sights. Luckily, the Oculus is within walking distance to the famous Brooklyn Bridge.
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Oscar Wilde. This bar, which pays homage one of the most prolific writers of the 19 th century, has been around since 1933 and feels like a bar from a bygone era - Victorian décor, high ceilings, a plethora of oil paintings and clocks adorning the walls, and it also has New York City's longest bar at 118.5 feet (36 meters!). For the Holidays, it adds dazzling Christmas decorations and ...
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Add to myNY. The Nutcracker is one of the world's most famous ballets and enjoys great popularity among visitors and locals. It is performed by the New York City Ballet and is one of the most important things to do during Christmas in New York. The ensemble includes 90 dancers and 62 musicians - it's truly magical!
Christmas in NYC
They take place throughout the day; you can browse times and book your RIDE Entertainment Experience Ticket online. Address: In Front of Patrick's Restaurant, 259 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, New York, NY 10018, United States. Hours: Operates daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Price: Starts at $78.00 per person.
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R.H. Pease, a printer and variety store owner who lived in Albany, New York, distributed the first American-made Christmas card in the early 1850s. A family scene dominated the small card's centre, but unlike its English forerunner (itself only a decade older), the images on each of its four corners made no allusion to poverty, cold, or hunger.
15 Prompts for Talking and Writing About the ...
Nydia Blas for The New York Times. By Natalie Proulx. Dec. 19, 2022. Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, ... Each of these prompts was inspired by a New York Times article, essay or image, and many ...
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Back in 1966, WPIX-TV in New York City aired a continuous 17-second loop of a fireplace for three hours along with holiday music. Today, you can view the yule log on demand, on YouTube and more.
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As you plan your trip to New York for Christmas, book ahead as many tours, activities, restaurants, or shows as possible to ensure you can do and see everything you'd like. Logistically group things that make sense. For example, it's logical to visit Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the decorations and department stores along 5th Avenue leading up to the Plaza Hotel and ...
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There's No Place Like Sin City for the Holidays. After a pandemic hiatus, my family was finally back in Las Vegas for Christmas, and we were up $1.25. The world was ours. It Won an Oscar in 1987 ...
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JPG, 48.41 KB. docx, 13.65 KB. Christmas in New York Descriptive Writing. A sophisticated Christmas descriptive writing lesson based on images from New York and scenes Woody Allen's masterpiece Manhattan. Students fill in the senses sheet, watch and briefly analyse the opening of Manhattan (resources and links provided) before writing their ...
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Tickets clock in at $100-200 a piece, but considering the New York City Ballet is a world-class dance company the price is justified. Despite my initial skepticism, the performance left me awestruck. I consider The Nutcracker a must-see holiday performance while visiting New York City during Christmas with kids.
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Welcome to My Christmas in New York. This is My Christmas in New York, your go-to portal for discovering all that the Holiday Season has to offer in NYC. Join Marco and his Christmas Team to explore the details of our exclusive Holiday Lights Tours in New York, which have already thrilled over 6,000 participants during the Christmas Season 2023.

Christmas Celebration in New York City Essay

Works Cited

Your insider guide to celebrating Christmas in New York by a New Yorker

The best things to do during Christmas in New York City

Browse the windows

Browse the Christmas markets in Bryant Park, Columbus Circle, and Union square

Have a drink at the Christmas pop-ups

See the Nutcracker

Cozy up to enjoy the Christmas spirit at the Queens County Farm House

See the Rockefeller Plaza tree

Enjoy the light spectacle at the Bronx Zoo

Enjoy the neighborhoods with houses decorated with Christmas lights

Do a candlelight tour in Historic Richmond Town

See the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Drop by Macy’s to say hello to Santa!

Go Ice Skating at New York’s rinks

Christmas Eve in New York

Christmas Day in New York

Any questions about Christmas in New York?

About Karen Turner

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A Short History of Christmas for New Yorkers

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On Christmas in New York

Where was your most unusual Christmas?

How to do the holidays in NYC like a New Yorker

See the lights in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Tony’s favorite NYC holiday spots:

Support local makers

Jonah’s favorite NYC holiday spots:

Take part in new (and old) Hanukkah traditions

Harrison’s favorite NYC holiday sps:

Travel back in time

Concetta’s favorite NYC holiday spots:

Your go-to guide for winter travel

Christmas Traditions with New York State roots

Electric Christmas Tree Lights

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Santa Claus

The Night Before Christmas and Santa's Reindeer

More Genealogy Reading

25 Magical Things to Do During the Holidays & Christmas in New York City

Save this List of New York Christmas Things to Do!

1. Admire the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree & Skating Rink

2. Decorations Around Radio City Music Hall

3. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

4. Decor and displays on 5th Avenue

5. Saks on Fifth Avenue Light Show

6. Bryant Park Winter Village

7. North Pole Express

8. Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market

9. Empire State Building

10. Macy’s Herald Square

11. Times Square Holiday Market & Shops

12. Festive Highlights in Central Park

13. Columbus Circle (and its Holiday Market)

14. Lavish Hotel & Home Facades Around Central Park

15. Festive Events at the Edge

16. Hudson Yards Shops & Restaurants

17. Chelsea Market & its Gingerbread Way

18. Union Square Christmas Market

19. New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree

20. Festive Events at the Oculus

21. Festive Events at the Seaport District

22. Dyker Heights in Brooklyn

23. New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show & Glow

24. Astra Lumina in Queens

25. Staten Island Festivities

Did I Miss Any of Your Favourite New York City Christmas/Holiday Activities?

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The Ultimate Guide to Christmas in New York City: The best Christmas-themed bars, restaurants, activities, pop-ups and Holiday shows (2023 Edition)

The best things to do for Christmas in NYC: Bars, Restaurants, Shows, Holiday Markets, Christmas Lights and More (updated for Christmas 2023)

The best Christmas-themed bars and restaurants

Miracle on 9th

Lillie’s Victorian Establishment

Grinchy’s at Roberta’s

Miracle on Union