It’s officially the coziest activity-filled time of the year here in New York for visitors and residents alike – from Manhattan to Brooklyn, New York is ready and decorated for the holidays. In the spirit of the season, here are some fun holiday activities to look forward to this December.
Winter Village at Bryant Park
With kiosks and a free ice skating rink, Winter Village has all your winter holidays packed into one at Bryant Park. The Winter Village will be open until March 3, 2024 so there is plenty of time to bring your ice skates, and friends to enjoy the small shopping stands, food kiosks and skating rink.
Lightscape at Botanical Gardens
After dark the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens lights up their garden with an immersive lighting experience. Using illuminated lights they create various pieces of artwork you can enjoy with festive foods and drinks while walking around the garden.
Ralph’s Christmas-Themed Coffee Truck
Located by the Rockefeller, Ralph’s Christmas Coffee truck is there for all coffee and hot chocolate needs on a cold day in Midtown. This year they are making their classic signature holiday drinks starting with peppermint hot chocolate and their classic aromatic espressos.
Christmas Market at Union Square
From November 16th until December 24th, the Christmas Market at Union Square is open to the public. If you are looking for gifts anywhere from kids to pets, Union Square kiosks have it all.
Dyker Heights Christmas Display Tour
If you are looking for a suburban feel, Dyker Heights Brownstones boasts Christmas light displays during the holiday season. With neighbors filling their front yards with grandiose Santas, snowmen, reindeer and other holiday-themed decorations, it has become one of the must see experiences in New York during the winter starting mid-December.
Ice Skating at Wollman Rink
The most popular location to skate in New York during the winter is at Wollman Rink in Central Park. The rink is open until early April with many activities and options to rent private igloos that have heating and comfy seating served with delicious food.
MTA’s Nostalgia Train
This year the MTA is continuing its annual tradition by running the Nostalgia Train’s from 1930s R1/9. The trains depart from the F line’s 2nd Avenue station and 145th on the downtown D line station.
Holiday Menu at The Standard Hotel
Every year The Standard Hotel does a themed holiday dinner menu with 2023 being no exception. This holiday their theme is Partridge illuminates nostalgia for their guests with glittery details. A must-try on the menu is their chicken schnitzel alongside a festive cocktail with spiced custard tart to end the meal.
Lafayette at Nolita – French Restaurant
Lafayette, a French restaurant located in Nolita, builds private igloos for guests to enjoy their meals with loved ones during the holiday season. Their menu is a re-imagining of traditional dishes that pay homage to France’s Provence region and the neighboring Mediterranean coasts. A great way to start the evening is with some oysters followed by lobster bisque and duck confit accompanied by their French 75 cocktail.
Nutcracker at David H. Koch Theater
Part of the Lincoln Center, the David H. Koch Theater, is the theater for ballet and similar forms of dance performances. During the holidays, it is the best time to go see Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker and feel transported to the 1960s with the Postmodern Architecture interior.
Amaze Light Festival
Located in Queens, the Amaze Light Festival is for families to enjoy with their kids. The immersive light show will transport visitors into a fairytale book. Throughout the duration of the show, two characters will guide the guests through the lit decorations ranging from gingerbread men to cups of hot chocolate. The show offers guests food and drinks while they tour the decorative lights.
Fifth Avenue Holiday Sculpture Trail
During the winter Fifth Avenue shops are decorated with various traditional decorations and lights. New Yorkers can find life-size decorations inspired by the city such as illuminated taxis on the streets. Alternatively, the streets are decorated with lit up teddy bears, dreidels and snowmen. Best to view at night, it is the ultimate New York experience after going ice-skating at the Rockefeller.
If you’re interested in renting or buying a property that’s close to one of these gorgeous holiday events that take place in the city annually, reach out to Platinum Properties today to connect with an agent who can help kick off your home search.
