Yule love it!
10 NYC holiday events to make your spirits bright
There’s no place like New York City for the holidays.
Must-do activities include ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza, ambling through the vendor stalls at the Bryant Park Holiday Market, watching the harmoniously synchronized Radio City Rockettes or enjoying the tree-lighting ceremony outside 30 Rock.
But a list of a few of our other favorite things includes:
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Baby, it’s cold outside — so, bundle up and take the trek to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the third annual Lightscape spectacular.
Nestled in Prospect Park, the gardens become home to a dazzling display of lights across 18 installations from an array of international light artists.
“Nowhere else in the city will you find a more mesmerizing way to spend a winter night, celebrating the season and joining with friends and family to experience New York’s new contemporary classic for the holidays,” Brooklyn Botanic Garden president and CEO Adrian Benepe said in a statement.
Cozy up inside an igloo
You can get the best of both worlds this winter: Dine outdoors while shielded from the cold in a private, heated igloo.
The seasonal spheres are available to book around the city — from more tourist-centric hotspots like Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center to more luxe locations such as the rooftops of PUBLIC Hotel or Salon de Ning.
Watch “Elf ” at the Empire State Building
Kick up your boots and lounge 80 stories up while watching Will Ferrell star in the Christmas classic “Elf.”
While there may not be spaghetti with syrup served during the showing, visitors can experience the New York City landmark and take in the 360-degree views before the film begins.
“The Nutcracker” at the New York City Ballet
It wouldn’t be a traditional Christmas without heading to the New York City Ballet, where audiences are transported to the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.”
The captivating performance — which employs 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands and more than 125 children — features an awe-inspiring Tannenbaum, which looms 41 feet over the audience at its tallest.
And this year is extra special as City Ballet celebrates its 75th anniversary.
See the world’s largest menorah
A colossal — 36 foot tall — menorah will be illuminated each night of Hanukkah on Fifth Avenue this year, weighing, at least in past years, a whopping 4,000 pounds.
The seasonal candelabrum rivals the one at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, which has competed with the Manhattan menorah for the title of “World’s Largest.”
Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Pier 15
Not to be confused with “Disney’s The Santa Clauses’ Winter Wonderland” at Pier 17, this equally enthralling experience at the Watermark offers an array of lit-up trees, festive photo opportunities, holiday eats, glass houses to lounge in and even a visit from Santa himself, all while taking in the breathtaking view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic
Get a taste of North Pole magic right in the heart of Midtown with the Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic, an immersive experience where visitors are equipped with a personalized itinerary for their captivating scavenger hunt.
Santa’s Secret
If you’re looking to get on the naughty list, spice up your holidays by attending Santa’s Secret, a seasonal variety show hosted in Hudson Yards.
The ticketed, 18+ experience features eight immersive installations, a vintage bar serving up festive cocktails and a risqué cabaret show — ranging from ballet to burlesque — with a different kind of pole.
Gingerbread Lane at Chelsea Market
For something more familyfriendly, take a trip down Gingerbread Lane and view the delectable town — a sweet tooth haven — composed of nearly 1,000 droolworthy houses. If it’s anything like years past, which were made from 1,000 pounds of gingerbread and 4,000 pounds of candy, the impressive feat of engineering is a must-see.
The world’s largest gingerbread village, which takes a year to build, previously took place in Essex Market, but will be on display in Chelsea this year until Jan. 7, 2024.
Frosty’s Christmas Bar
Pop into Frosty’s for a drink at the season’s best pop-up bar located in Times Square.
With a brilliant decor display — nutcrackers, tinsel, ornaments, oh my! — Frosty’s serves up many festive beverages under the glow of holiday lights.