How To Do Christmastime in NYC Like a Pro
/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!
IN MANATTAN
the Rockefeller Center Tree
Everyone MUST go see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at least once. Yes it can be cold and crowded but 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, November 29th. Otherwise, I recommend doing a fairly quick stop over - day or night - while also viewing all the beautiful holiday windows along Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue Window Shopping
Right near Rock Center, don’t miss the many beautifully decorated windows 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.
the candy cottage of christmas magic
Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic is making its debut at Rockefeller Center this holiday season.The experience invites guests to discover an immersive, candy-coated wonderland before setting off on a magical scavenger hunt through Rockefeller Center’s campus. Upon completion of the scavenger hunt, guests are encouraged to return to the cottage, which has been completely transformed, to receive a gift magically produced out of thin air with a personalized message.
We went to a media preview of this event. The cottage that guests start in is very cute but it’s just one small room. From there you’re thrown back out into Rockefeller Center amongst tons of holiday tourists and crowds to ask busy storekeepers for a scavenger hunt prize. It’s a really odd set up and we decided against it pretty quickly. Two of the spots we were tasked with visiting on our map were actually closed during our experience.
Urbanspace Holiday Markets
The weather is usually still crisp and warm enough in November and early December to be outside. On a 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 December 31st), Bryant Park (through 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 eats to give you the fuel that you need to shop.
Bryant Park is also home each winter 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.
grand central holiday fair and ny transit museum annex
I have been a regular commuter out of GCT for 15 long years now and in that time, the iconic landmark train station has really solidified a place in my heart. Come November, commuters and New Yorkers alike can visit GCT for the Grand Central Holiday Fair. And for the first time since 2019, the New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show is BACK in Grand Central for 2023 - albeit now with a $5pp price tag!
the gingerbread city
Brand new for 2023! London’s The Gingerbread City has come overseas to The SEAport! Guests of all ages can explore a fantastical world of imagination and innovation as gingerbread becomes a canvas to create a city! With professionally built cityscapes by some of the finest architectural minds, The Gingerbread City is a sweet delight for everyone!
Macy’s Herald Square Santaland
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.
IN BROOKLYN
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 over 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.
GLIDE at brooklyn bridge park
Glide at Brooklyn Bridge Park is the first-ever ice rink positioned beneath the historic Brooklyn Bridge, offering enthralling views of Manhattan, an expansive food and beverage selection, and an unforgettable ice-skating experience this holiday season. Located at the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Glide will be open daily all the way through March 1, 2024.
IC ICE RINK at industry city
I LOVE Industry City. It combines commerce, art and culture in a really nice, relaxed and “real” feeling way. Industry City is known for - among other things - doing year-round seasonal decor in Courtyard 4 and they’re starting to also become known, come November, for their chic IC Ice Rink in Courtyard 5/6. This ice skating rink may be small in size but it packs quite a vibrant punch. And your local rink surely doesn’t have rink-side waffles and cocoa from the Frying Pan Brooklyn, does it?
LIGHTSCAPE
For a few years now the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become illuminated after dark each holiday season via Lightscape, an enchanting trail animated by over a million lights and a curated soundtrack of tunes. I absolutely loved this event last year and would suggest it to any art enthusiast or any adult looking for out of the box holiday cheer. The kids were confused by the lack of inflatable Santas at this event, but I was blown away by everything I saw as an adult. Catch Lightscape on select evenings through January 1, 2024.
IN THE BRONX
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. Timed entries to the show are offered daily through January 15, 2024. Guests of all ages will enjoy the train show. My favorite part is viewing all the models of famous New York City buildings.
nybg glow
What began as a COVID friendly outdoor alternative to the usual, indoor NYBG Train Show, NYBG GLOW is here to stay . 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. On select evenings through January 13, 2024, guests can ADD GLOW to their NYBG Holiday Train Show experience.
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Holiday Lights returns to the Bronx Zoo again for Holidays 2022. 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. 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 January 7, 2024, excluding Christmas and Christmas Eve.
IN QUEENS
NYC Winter Lantern Festival
Winter Lantern Festival is back at Queen’s County Farm as a walk through attraction of Chinese lanterns through January 7, 2024.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays!
