NEW YORK — New York City is known for being a magical place during the holiday season. Every corner of the Big Apple is illuminated by the colors of the era and there are plenty of free and affordable activities to enjoy.
“During the holidays, New York City takes on a unique and special aura, with a wide range of ways to celebrate across all five boroughs,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “We expect to welcome around 7 million visitors between the Thanksgiving and New Year holidays, highlighting that the city offers a series of options for the enjoyment of the whole family, regardless of their interests or budget” .
Here we share some of the free activities and events of the Christmas season.
FREE ACTIVITIES
- Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree will be on display until January 13. The beautiful 80-foot tree has been adorned with 50,000 multicolored LED lights.
- At dusk each night of Hanukkah, the largest menorahs in the world are illuminated (lighting of the world’s largest menorahs) at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza and Midtown’s Grand Army Plaza. The festivities also include live music, latkes, and treats for the little ones.
- Enjoy free New Year’s Eve festivities in city parks, including spectacular fireworks from Prospect Parknot Brooklyn.
- Join the vibrant celebration of the arrival of 2024 in Times Square, where thousands of people from around the world gather to welcome the new year during the iconic New Year’s Eve ball drop or New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in English. Be sure to arrive early to guarantee your spot at this unique event that marks a lifetime experience.
PLACES WITH UNIQUE LIGHTS
- Every year, neighborhood residents Dyker Heights of Brooklyn illuminate their homes with Christmas decorations in style. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and admire the decorations with festive music playing in the background.
- He Dumbo Improvement District features a series of holiday events and activities, including animations projected onto the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The screenings can be seen every day from 4 pm to 10 pm until December 31.
- Shine Bright illuminates Hudson Yards with 2 million twinkling lights in this free celebration. The display includes 725 evergreen trees and 4-meter-high lights in the shape of hot air balloons.
- Take a look around the shops The Shops at Columbus Circle and enjoy Christmas under the stars, Holiday Under the Starswhich consists of twelve 4.5-meter stars hanging from the ceiling.
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OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
- The Rink at Winter Village in Bryant Park offers free ice skating in downtown Manhattan (skates are available for rental). Located between the outdoor Christmas market and food sales, the rink will remain open until March 3, 2024.
- New York’s Open Streets program is back this year, creating a pedestrian zone around Rockefeller Center and on Fifth Avenue from 48th to 59th Streets.
- Enjoy the festive aromas along Fifth Avenue between 46th and 61st Streets: the Fifth Avenue Association joins NEST New York to spread, through a pump system, the Christmas fragrance into the air, Holiday fragrancecharacteristic of the brand.
- On January 1, join hundreds of brave swimmers for an icy dip in the Atlantic Ocean during the New Year’s Day Plunge in the Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge. Participation is free and participants are encouraged to make donations to community organizations.
ACTIVITIES WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY
- New York is the backdrop for many Christmas movies. Whether you want to stop by the Empire State Building to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Elfplaying on FAO Schwarz’s large-scale piano as in Big or visit The Plaza Hotel in honor of the film Home Alone 2, There is something for the whole family to enjoy.
- Meet Santa Claus at Macy’s Herald Square. Reservations are free and can be made up to five days before visiting, with photos available for sale. Santaland will host sensory dawns on certain days of the Christmas season. Email Macy’s for more information.
- He Children’s Museum of Manhattan offers a series of festive programs or public holiday programsthroughout the month of December, which include a singer-songwriter cycle, cultural celebrations, New Year’s Eve programming and much more.
- Wave Hillin The Bronx, celebrates the holidays with a varied program.
- The National Park Service, National Park Service, will hold free Kwanzaa events at the African Burial Ground National Monument from December 26 to 30. Activities for the whole family include doll making, quilting, face painting and more.
- Visit the Battery Park City Public Library on December 18 to enjoy a free Christmas carol show, the Holiday and Christmas Carols Sing Alongdesigned for all ages.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND MORE
- Every year Christmas markets pop up all over the city, offering artisan goods, crafts, food and more, ideal for finding unique New York gifts. The famous Union Square Holiday Market Open daily through December 24, with over 150 festive vendors and food stalls.
- Savings lovers can visit Brooklyn Flea or Dumbo Flea Market, where you’ll find home goods, vintage clothing, antiques, jewelry, crafts and much more.
- Will you be passing through Grand Central Terminal this Christmas? Be sure to visit the Christmas fair or Holiday Fair in Vanderbilt Hall, and note that this year the New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show in Grand Central is free to visit.
- The Long Island City Partnership features a Christmas art market on Thursdays and Sundays through December 17, featuring artisanal works of art, plus complimentary panettone and hot drinks.
- Empire Outlets It is the only outlet shopping center in New York. Accessible via the free Staten Island Ferry, stores include Levi’s Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Nordstrom Rack and many more. The Outlets also offer festive decorations, including a beautiful Christmas tree, perfect for family photos.
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2023-12-15 16:23:40
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