How To Do Christmastime in NYC Like a Pro (2021 Edition)
/Christmastime in New York City!!
It really IS “the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” I absolutely love the holiday season and there is no where better to celebrate the holiday cheer than NYC. Read on for my favorite ways to get festive in the city this winter! We deserve all of this after Holidays 2020!
Let The Holiday Spirit Wash Over You In Midtown
the Rockefeller Center Tree
Everyone MUST go see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at least once. Last year it was stunningly uncrowded and I don’t expect it to be as quiet for Christmas 2021. Never-ending pandemic notwithstanding, you must see the tree if you truly want to celebrate Christmas in New York. If you’re really feeling brave, come by for the official tree-lighting ceremony the evening of Wednesday, December 1st. Otherwise, I recommend doing a fairly quick stop over - day or night - while also viewing the beautiful holiday windows on Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue Window Shopping
Right near Rock Center, don’t miss the many beautifully decorated windows all along Fifth Avenue - particularly at Saks or Bergdorf Goodman. Both luxury department stores curate gorgeous holiday displays every year. As you walk up Fifth from Saks to Bergdorf, you’ll see plenty more festive décor (and crowds). For example, each December, the Cartier Flagship Mansion gets decked in a huge red bow. It’s iconic New York.
Bounce Between NYBG and the Bronx ZoO For Can’t Miss Holiday Events
NYBG Holiday Train Show
These days, my beloved New York Botanical Garden is home to TWO holiday events. The older of the two, NYBG’s world famous Holiday Train Show, delights hundreds of thousands of visitors each holiday season with beautiful working toy trains and NY-centric scenery. After being on hiatus last year (except for members and Bronx locals), the Holiday Train Show is back open to the public for its 30th season! Timed entries to the show are offered daily through Sunday, January 23rd. Guests of all ages will enjoy the train show. My favorite part is viewing all the models of famous New York City buildings.
Scroll down for info on the second and newer holiday event at NYBG!
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Holiday Lights returns to the Bronx Zoo again for Holidays 2021. Sort of like a winter version of Boo at the Zoo, there will be plenty of fun and festive activities at Holiday Lights, but this time all taking place after regular zoo hours (4:30pm onwards). Sing along with Roaming Carolers, board the Holiday Train, watch professional ice carvers delight crowds and of course, witness tons of illuminated animal shaped lanterns and lights. Holiday Lights takes place weekends in November and then daily through Sunday, January 9th, excluding Christmas and Christmas Eve.
Check Out A Brooklyn Neighborhood well Known For ItS Christmas Lights
Dyker Lights
If MASSIVE Christmas lights displays are what you’re after, head to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn for the neighborhood’s famous holiday light displays (aka Dyker Lights). For the past 30 years, tons of visitors flock to this section of Brooklyn in the month of December to gawk at the crazy Christmas lights and decorative displays put on by homeowners and professionals in the area. Each year, neighbors aim to outdo themselves and their fellow neighbors. There are even bus transportation and guided tours nowadays. Many houses shut off their lights around 9pm so try to arrive on the earlier side to ensure you’ll see everything and to get a head start on the massive crowds. We did this in 2019 via a bus tour and it was orderly and super fun.
Get Your Shopping Done Along with Some Holiday Cheer
Urbanspace Holiday Markets
The weather is usually still perfectly crisp and warm enough in November and early December to be outside. On one such nice day or early evening, it’s lots of fun to roam through one of the three Urbanspace Holiday Markets that pop up in Manhattan during the holiday season.
Located at Columbus Circle (through Christmas Eve), Bryant Park (through Sunday, January 2nd) and Union Square (through Christmas Eve), these markets feature artisan merchants selling festive gifts for your holiday shopping list, as well as all kinds of delicious eats to give you the fuel you need to shop.
In winter Bryant Park is also home to the Bank of America Winter Village, which includes a FREE pop up ice skating rink, a rink-side food court and a whole lot of winter themed events and activities.
cAMP on fifth avenue
CAMP is now a multi-state interactive toy store sensation. This holiday season, come back to where it all started - the original CAMP at Fifth Avenue - and enjoy PRESENT CAMP - a winter wonderland family play zone packed with presents, merry beats, snow slime and a present hunt with Scout the bear.
JUST get lit
NYC Winter Lantern Festival
This year’s Winter Lantern Festival is taking place in THREE different NY metro locations - the original location at Staten Island's Snug Harbor, Queen’s County Farm in Queens and the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, NY. Each Lantern Festival runs through Sunday, January 9th. The Queens (“Illuminate the Farm”) and Staten Island (“Escape”) locations are walk through, while the Long Island version (“A Bug’s Life”) is a drive through attraction.
nybg glow
What began last year as a COVID friendly outdoor alternative to an indoor Train Show, NYBG GLOW is back for a second holiday season. An outdoor color and light experience, GLOW uses thousands of LED lights to illuminate NYBG’s landmark buildings and 1.5 miles of colorful landscape. GLOW is happening select evenings from 5-10pm through Saturday, January 22nd.
LIGHTSCAPE
For the first time ever, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will be illuminated after dark by Lightscape, an enchanting trail animated by over a million lights and a curated soundtrack of tunes. The coolest part about this one is that the event features some site-specific light works by local arts. Lightscape will happen daily through Sunday, January 9th.
Visit the Most Festive Guy I Know at Macy’s Herald Square Santaland
WOO HOO! Santa is BACK to Santaland in Herald Square again this year!
Sure there are Santa sightings all over the city (Ugh SantaCon) but the real Santa(s) live at Macy’s Santaland! I grew up visiting Santaland each Christmas, so it will forever hold a special place in my heart. But even if it’s brand new to you, Macy’s Herald Square flagship is wonderful around the holidays.
During the holiday season, the entire 8th floor of Macy’s Herald Square (151 West 34th) is transformed into a winter wonderland called Santaland, that includes a FREE visit with Santa that is like no other. In the past, the lines to meet Santa here could get atrocious, but Macy’s now offers advanced reservations in New York. Santa is only accessible by advanced reservation for a pre-set time slot online. Spots can be reserved up to 5 days in advance of your visit.
Guests can join the line for Santa at their reserved time. And don’t worry, there are plenty of festive landscapes to enchant you while you wait. The path toward Santa is filled with beautiful holiday displays known as Santaland Village. If you’re in a rush, Macy’s also offers an express line directly to Santa (but I think doing this misses most of the fun).
As mentioned, visiting Santa is totally free, however, professional pictures are available for purchase beginning at $39.99. Also, Macy’s will also do their best to have your children meet a Santa that best matches his or her cultural background - just mention this request to any elf you see.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays!
