Search

Things to Do in New York in December 2023

The list of things to do in New York in December is long and varied. From perennial favorites like the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree to the Holiday Train Show at The New York Botanical Garden, it's a magical time of year to be in NYC! Spend December 2023 perusing the holiday windows, catching the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and shopping the many Christmas markets that the city has to offer.

The Big Event

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Photograph: Anthony Quintano/Flickr.

(11/29) The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 29, and you can appreciate its majestic beauty throughout December and into January. The towering tree in Rockefeller Center is a global symbol of the holiday spirit.  rockefellercenter.com

PLUS

Click here for more information on Ice Skating NYC.

(11/17-1/7/24) Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights. Nearly 400 lanterns representing almost 100 animal and plant species will connect you to the real wildlife and wild places that WCS staff works to protect through our field programs around the world, and at our zoos and aquarium in New York. 64 new lanterns representing 9 new animal species will make their debut at this year’s Holiday Lights!

(11/17-1/1/24) Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden Experience the magic of Lightscape! The after-dark, illuminated trail returns to Brooklyn with brand new works of art and promises an even more immersive and magical experience for visitors of all ages. Explore the beauty of the Garden under moonlight while enjoying seasonal treats and festive music. 

(11/17-1/7/24) Winter Lantern Festival at Queens County Farm returns for its third year. Step into a dazzling world of light with over 1000 Chinese lanterns; all handmade by artisans with decades of experience. A whimsical walk-through experience to light up and warm up the holiday season! All ages. 

paleyland

(11/25-1/7/24) With four floors of holiday fun, PaleyLand, at The Paley Center for Media in midtown has entered full-on Christmas mode. You’ll find photos ops with Santa and holiday characters, from Bumble the Snow Monster to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer; a classic model railroad display; and free hot chocolate. Plus, you’ll be able to watch plenty of screenings of holiday films, including Mickey Saves Christmas, a new Disney stop-motion holiday special and screenings of episodes of the new series The Santa Clauses. 25 W. 52nd St., paleycenter.org

winter village bryant park

Image: Colin Miller.

If you’re looking for a kind of all-inclusive holiday experience, head to the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Skate on the 17,000 square-foot rink, or watch an ice show (free admission for both!); grab a snack or a drink at the Lodge Bar + Food Hall; and stock up on gifts at the Holiday Shops, inspired by European open-air markets. There you’ll find artisan-made creations ranging from jewelry to vintage finds, glass ornaments to loose-leaf teas. To up the experience even more: Reserve a private igloo to enjoy your meal; or take on curling in the Curling Café & Bar. Shops open through Jan. 2, 2024. Bryant Park, bryantpark.org

Indulge in the holiday spirit in the winter igloos nestled on the outdoor terrace Sessions  at the Hard Rock Hotel. Enjoy delectable bites, seasonal drinks, and a curated playlist to amplify the festive vibes. Open daily from 4pm-late. Book on OpenTable, all reservations come with a complimentary bottle of Cava. 159 W. 48th St., 212-970-1200, hardrockhotels.com/new-york/sessions.aspxMagic Hour Pink Winter Lodge

Photo: Dan Nilsen Photography

(New! Now through March 2024 ) Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge, NYC’s largest all-season indoor and outdoor rooftop bar with a retractable roof, has officially launched its new winter pop-up, The Pink Winter Lodge: Neon Frost Edition. Known for its photogenic installations, the West Terrace features accents of metallic and neon pink, including metallic fringe, neon walls, and pink trees. The iconic carousel is decked out in metallic pink, offering a unique dining experience. On the East Terrace, an interactive custom snow globe is set with the backdrop of the Empire State Building. New festive cocktails and shareable desserts such as Pink Apple Cider donuts and Stay Cozy Cupcakes will be available.

On the 2nd floor of the Moxy Times Square Hotel, the atrium evoke the alps with a life-size ski lift and a pop-up by Inkloo at Bar Moxy where the Apres Ski pink chocolate will also be served.

(12/7-12/15) Annual Lighting of the World's Largest Hanukah Menorah. This whopping 32-foot-high, two-ton menorah is set up at Grand Army Plaza in midtown (Fifth Avenue and 59th Street), with lightings for the nights of Hanukah December 7th through 14th.

Fever Candlelight Concert Series

(12/13, 12/15, 12/20-21, 12/23) Fever's Candlelight Holiday Concert Series immerses viewers in themed musical programs. On December 13th, St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church will present the best hits and Christmas favorite songs, performed by Vitamin String Quartet, which were popularized by their unforgettable performances in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. From December 15th, the same venue and the Church of the Heavenly Rest will host a program dedicated to The Nutcracker” and More. On December 23rd, The Opera House will have a special show with Holiday Carols on Strings played by the Highline String Quartet. And Arlo Williamsburg will host on December 20th and 21st, a program featuring Holiday Jazz and Soul Classics, including greatest hits from Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole.

(12/24) Christmas Eve Services at St. Patrick's Cathedral. 5:30pm and *midnight. (*Free, but tickets required.) 

(12/30) Kwanzaa Celebration: Regeneration at the Apollo Theater, 2pm and 7:30pm. Featuring Abdel Salaam's Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. Since 2006, the Apollo has established an annual show to celebrate this holiday tradition on one day of the Kwanzaa holiday. The Apollo’s celebration is a joyful evening of dance and music honoring the principles of Kwanzaa—family, community, and culture. 

(Ongoing) THE RIDE returns to turn the streets of New York into a stage. You’ll cruise in comfort in a patented $1.5 million traveling theater. Technology galore and floor-to-ceiling glass with side-facing VIP seating provide perfect views to dazzling holiday performances you’ll find along a 4.2-mile journey through Manhattan. Original seasonal music, videos, and hilarious hosts complete the experience, definitely one to remember. 

Things to Do in New York in December: Exhibits

Now-2/24 Spike Lee: Creative Sources at Brooklyn Museum offers a rare glimpse into the world of  Lee, one of the most influential and prolific American filmmakers and directors. Through an immersive installation of objects drawn from Lee’s personal collection, visitors will discover the sources of inspiration that have fueled his creative output. Reverberations can be found between items that have been touchpoints for Lee and the topics he explores on-screen. Black history and culture, Brooklyn, sports, music, cinema history, family, and politics—are explored with more than 400 works drawn from his personal collection. Artworks by prominent Black American artists, including Kehinde Wiley, Deborah Roberts, and Michael Ray Charles, are displayed alongside instruments once owned by legendary musicians, as well as historical photographs, sports and movie memorabilia, and more. 

elephant

 The Secret World of Elephants, a new exhibition now open at the American Museum of Natural History, reveals new science about both modern and ancient elephants—including the titans of the Ice Age, mammoths, and mastodons—and highlights their extraordinary minds and senses, why they're essential to the health of their ecosystems, and inspiring efforts to overcome threats to their survival. The Secret World of Elephants features fossils, casts, and life-size models—including a wooly mammoth, an African elephant, and an extinct dwarf elephant with a dwarf elephant calf—as well as videos and interactive exhibits that will introduce visitors to these massive mammals’ incredible abilities and the environmental challenges they face. amnh.org

Jim Henson

(Permanent) The Jim Henson Exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image celebrates the life and legacy of the famed Muppet creator, exploring both his prolific career and the enduring effect his work has on pop culture to this day. Visitors can expect to learn more about the creation of such beloved works as The Muppet ShowSesame StreetFraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and Labryinth, as well as to discover the cutting-edge experimental works Henson made throughout his career.

(Permanent) The Museum of the City of New York presents NY at Its Core. Ten years in the making, New York at Its Core presents the compelling story of New York’s rise from a striving Dutch village to today’s “Capital of the World.” The exhibition captures the human energy that drove New York to become a city like no other and a subject of fascination the world over. Entertaining, inspiring, important, and at times bemusing, New York City “big personalities,” including Alexander Hamilton, Walt Whitman, Boss Tweed, Emma Goldman, JP Morgan, Fiorello La Guardia, Jane Jacobs, Jay-Z, and dozens more, parade through the exhibition. 

Things to Do in New York in December: Kids

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Express

(11/17-1/25/24) The Holiday Train Show at The New York Botanical Garden. Enchanting model trains zip through a display of 150 landmarks, each re-created with bark, leaves, and other natural materials—all under the twinkling glow of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Marvel at G-scale locomotives humming along among familiar sights such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and Rockefeller Center on nearly a half-mile of track. 

PLUS

(12/2) The NYRR Jingle Bell Jog at Prospect Park. "A Holiday Gift Wrapped as a Race": this festive family favorite is more than just a road race, it's also a celebration and a fundraiser for NYRR's youth programs. Not only does your entry fee snag you a holiday souvenir and post-race hot chocolate, the proceeds from this race fund youth running programs in schools all over the city! 

Santa's Corner Bryant Park

(12/15-18) Santa's Corner at Bryant Park. Santa will be stopping by Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park for photos! Bring your cameras, or you can download images. 10am-12pm. 

Things to Do in New York in December: Food, Music & Nightlife

Bar Car Nights

(12/7, 12/14, 1/5/24) Bar Car Nights at New York Botanical Garden. On these nights exclusively for adults 21 and over, the wintry landscape of NYBG sets the scene for festive outdoor adventures, with an after-dark viewing of the Holiday Train Show® as the centerpiece. Sip a cocktail as you journey through a series of station stops, including pop-up acts featuring some of NYC’s favorite street performers.

Photo by Matthew Murphy/Evan Zimmerman.

(12/7) The Shops at Columbus Circle's welcomes back “Broadway Under The Stars,” offering FREE public performances every Thursday, from some of the City’s most sought after musicals, from 5pm-6pm. Tonight, it's performances from Shucked, Chicago, and Spamalot. Center Bar invites you to raise a glass with a friend while enjoying the shows this season. Guests (age 21+) who purchase a select glass of wine will receive a second, complimentary glass Thursday evenings throughout the Broadway Under the Stars series.

(12/14) The Shops at Columbus Circle's welcomes back “Broadway Under The Stars,” offering FREE public performances every Thursday, from some of the City’s most sought after musicals, from 5pm-6pm. Tonight, it's performances from Lion King and Aladdin. Center Bar invites you to raise a glass with a friend while enjoying the shows this season. Guests (age 21+) who purchase a select glass of wine will receive a second, complimentary glass Thursday evenings throughout the Broadway Under the Stars series.

Vienna Boys Choir

(12/17) Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna at Carnegie Hall. 

(12/23-12/29) Chris Botti's Annual Holiday Residency at the Blue Note Jazz Club.

(12/19) Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden. Tickets are selling fast for this show. Joel will be ending his residency at MSG in 2024.

(12/7-12/28) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, by Cirque du Soleil at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Olivia Rodrigo

via Instagram

(12/8) Z100's Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden will feature performances with Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Pentatonix, One Republic, and more. 

(12/15-12/16) New York Gay Men's Chorus presents Yuletide Gay concert at Skirball Center. With selections of everyone’s favorites and important traditions all our own, this evening of sparkling entertainment shines with the powerful sound of nearly 300 voices. You’ll hear a new world premiere commission, Disney songs, songs by Sara Bareilles, Bonnie Tyler, and Al Jarreau, and one special song from The Wiz to bring it all home for the gayest season of all.

(12/17) Mariah: All I Want for Christmas Is You Tour stops at Madison Square Garden. 

(12/13-12/14) Andrea Bocelli returns to Madison Square Garden. 

(12/9-12/10) Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion 50th Anniversary at The Town Hall. The cast of “A Prairie Home Companion” reunites for a Christmas show all about coming together during these politically divisive times. The Royal Academy of Actors, Tim Russell and Sue Scott, join with the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band, sound effects wizard Fred Newman, writer/host Garrison Keillor, and vocalist Heather Masse to bring you the show you’ve been missing on your radio dial ever since Keillor’s retirement in 2016. Expect witty scripts, parody songs, sweet duets, and of course, the latest News from Lake Wobegon.

(12/26) WWE Live Holiday Tour at Madison Square Garden.

(12/27) Acclaimed pianist Katya Grineva returns to Carnegie Hall for her highly anticipated “A Classical Holiday” concert for one night only, 8p.m. Celebrating her 21st Stern Auditorium appearance, Katya has performed at the venue more than any other female artist

(12/28-12/31) Phish 2023-2024 NEW YEAR’S RUN at Madison Square Garden.

Do It for the Gram: 24 Instagrammable Exhibits in NYC

Things to Do in New York in December: Sightseeing/Markets

Bryant Park Winter Village

Colin Miller.

(Now-1/2/24) Bryant Park's Winter Village returns. Ice skating, shopping, hot chocolate and other tasty treats, and more! Shops open through Jan. 2, 2024.

(11/17-1/7/24) Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights. Highlights will include The Ice Jubilee (Ice Bar, Ice Throne & Ice Slide (December 21 to 31) , nightly ice carving demonstrations , an Ice Carving Competition (December 28), carolers, characters, train rides and lantern safari, and more.

Union Square Market

Union Square Market. Photo: flickr/Shinya Suzuki.

(11/16-12/24) Union Square’s Holiday Market. usqholiday.nyc

(11/17-12/23abc carpet & home is hosting a Holiday Bazaar this year, at its Manhattan Flagship at 888 Broadway. As the premium holiday shopping destination in NYC, the Holiday Bazaar will feature unique brands to shop including Frances GreyHomecourtMon Ami, Sleepy Jones, and many more. Vendor highlights:

  • 12/2 + 12/3: Hand massages + product exhibition from evolvetogether

  • 12/9 + 12/10: Customer hat fittings from NYC-based millinery, Frances Grey

  • 12/16 + 12/17: Hand-making ornament session with Skippy Cotton

(11/18-12/24) The Grand Central Holiday Fair returns to Grand Central Terminal with 40+ artisans in Vanderbilt Hall selling art and home goods; holiday-themed items; bath and body products; toys; and clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. The Holiday Fair is open Monday through Friday, 10am-8pm, until 7pm Saturdays, and 11am-6pm Sundays. Closed Thanksgiving and open 10am-6pm on Christmas Eve.

(11/28-12/31) Nestled into a corner of Central Park, in the shadow of the glittering Time Warner Center, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market, now in its 19th year, may be the most festive New York holiday market of of all. Horse-drawn carriages clip clop past, and if you're still hungry after browsing the market’s 100 vendors, you can indulge in a Michelin-starred dinner at nearby Jean Georges or Per Se.  Monday-Saturday, 10am-8pm, Sunday, 10am-7pm. 

City Experiences Cruises

Throughout December, *City Cruises offers a series of Christmas Eve/Day Signature Brunch/Dinner cruises, as well as New Year's Eve/Day cruises, departing from Chelsea Piers.  cityexperiences.com

A Slice of Brooklyn Holiday Lights Tour

Throughout month of December, check out A Slice of Brooklyn's Holiday Lights Tour, which goes through Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, a neighborhood full of eye-popping displays. Offered every day except Christmas Day. Stock up on holiday treats and gifts on A Slice of Brooklyn's Chocolate Tour as well, offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

Things to Do in New York in December: Shows

Christmas Spectacular with Radio City Rockettes

(11/8-1/5/24) Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes® returns to dazzle for another holiday season! The 90-minute show features more than 140 performers and an original musical score and combines singing, dancing, and humor with traditional scenes.

nutcracker nyc ballet 2017

Photo credit: © Paul Kolnik

(11/24-12/31 ) Tchaikovsky's beloved melodies transport viewers to a world where mischievous mice besiege a battalion of toy soldiers, and an onstage blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at nycballet.com.

Things to Do in New York in December: Ongoing

rock center rink

flickr/Peter Cruise.

The iconic Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink, now in its 87th year, is the most famous patch of ice in the world. Take advantage of a package deal, like Après Skate (appetizers and drinks) or a Starlight Skate on the night’s last session.

Things to Do in New York in December: New Year's Eve

ball times square new year's eve

Image: Anthony Quintano/Flickr.

(12/31) There is no minute of the year quite as exciting as 11:59pm on December 31st in Times Square. The Times Square New Year's Eve Celebration and Ball Drop is easily the most famous NYE celebration in the world. A million people join together to celebrate this event, and over a billion people will watch it on television. If you’re planning to go, dress warmly, bring something to eat, and be sure to get there early (before 5pm). Times Square is the most famous destination, although the sheer number of participants can make it a bit of a headache (you need to get there hours early and there's no alcohol allowed). There are many, many alternatives. 

City Cruises NYE

(12/31) Ring in the New Year with City Cruise's New Year's Eve Cruise.

(12/31) NYRR Midnight Run 2023Kick off the New Year at the Midnight Run! Join the fun and celebrate with music and dancing (starting at 10pm) as 2023 comes to a close. With a countdown to midnight beginning at 11:59 p.m., the four-mile run will begin on the stroke of midnight, as will a spectacular fireworks display to light up the night and the start of 2024. nyrr.org

(12/31) St. John the Divine's New Year's Eve Concert for Peace. Founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1984, the annual New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace is a signature Cathedral event, gathering old friends and new for more than a quarter of a century. The music, the candles, and the spirit of peace send audiences out into the chill January night with renewed hope for the world we share.  General admission free tickets required.

Make sure to check out our favorite 10 Seasonal Pop Up Holiday Bars in NYC.

things to do in new york in december

Image: Anthony Quintano/Flickr.

New York Weather in December

Winter solstice in New York takes place on December 21st, 2023, but the last three weeks of autumn leading up to the season change tend to be pretty brisk. Days have gotten short, with the 21st roughly coinciding with the longest night of the year. Lows average around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, with average highs around 43. You can expect some outlier days, warmer or colder, with extremes of weather (wind, snow, sleet, freezing rain) becoming more likely as the month goes on. You will want to pack your heaviest jacket, as well as gloves, hats, scarves, and maybe a (stylish) pair of boots, too. A white Christmas? The chance for an inch of snowfall on December 25th is exactly 10%.

Bringing a group to NYC? Free planning services

Let us know what you are looking for and we will try to connect you directly and get discounts.

Enter the code: 3972

More Articles