What better way start off your Christmas season than to spend it in NYC. Whether its catchings a show, taking part in a parade, or walking the festive streets of the city. You’ll find numerous events to take part in to get in the holiday spirit in New York.
1)Santaland at Macy’s Herald Square
Take a trip to the North Pole right in the Big Apple at Macy’s! Santaland is an indoor walkthrough of a winter wonderland with animatronic toys & train displays right before you get to see Santa. The best part of it all is that its all FREE unless you buy a photo package. Visit Santaland from November 29 to Tuesday, December 24! Just make sure you make your FREE Reservations online before you go. (macys.com/santaland)
2)Take part in the annual Christmas tree lighting in Rockefeller Center
on December 4 at 8 pm-10 with live performances. If you can’t make it to the lighting ceremony, don’t worry, the tree remains lit and can be view until January 17, 2020.
3)Thanksgiving Parade
Take part in the world-famous 93rd Thanksgiving Parade! You need to arrive at 6 am to stake out your spot, but the thrill of celebrities, colorful floats, massive balloons, and marching bands are worth it! The balloon inflation starts on Wednesday, November 27. The Thanksgiving Day parade is Thursday, November 28, at 9:00 am.
4)Santa Con
Join the thousands of people dressed in Santa costumes that walk through the streets spreading good cheer on Saturday, December 14. Santa Con is an annual pub crawl that lasts all night around the city! You won’t just find over 1,000 Santas but also a ton of other Christmas characters running around with joy!
5)Holiday lights
What better way to shed some light on the holidays than to take a stroll through a LED light display. The lanterns are accompanied by live performances, festive tunes, a variety of holiday vendors, Christmas carols, and train rides. Its everything you will ever need to experience a magically Christmas.
Heres a few to visit around the city...
NYC Winter Lantern Festival in Snug Harbor, Staten Island from Wednesday, November 20 to 2019–Sunday, January 12, 2020.
Lumino City Light Fest on Randalls Island from Saturday, November 23, 2019, to Sunday, January 5, 2020.
Holiday Lights in the Bronx Zoo from Thursday, November 21, 2019–Sunday, January 5, 2020
Hello Panda Lantern Festival at Citi Field, New York from December 6, 2019- January 26, 2020. To see more pictures and details on Hello Panda click the link.
6)New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
Celebrate the NYBG 28th annual train show Saturday, November 23 to Sunday, January 26, 2020. Although there are many other displays of trains throughout the city during the holiday season, the NYBG is like no other! This year's edition showcases Central Park! Tickets are required to be purchased in advance so don’t wait last minute!
7)Watch a live Holiday Show
You can’t come to New You and not experience a live show performance. It's just unheard of! During this enchanted time of year, you will find a doze of holiday shows like the nutcracker, Twas the night before Christmas, Frozen the musical,Disney on Ice, A Christmas Carol, Jingle Ball, the famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and much more.
8)Department store windows
Walk down the famous 5th Avenue for the festive window displays for the holidays! The holiday walking tour begins at Bloomingdales down to Macys 34th st. Each department windows theme changes where it tells a holiday story! You surely won't be able to witness this anywhere else in the world! Holiday windows Unveil November 21 at 6pm.
9)Ice staking rinks in New York City!
If you want to prance around on ice with the sparkling skyline of New York, make sure you add ice skating to your holiday itinerary.
Ice rink at Rockefeller Center is a popular tourist destination from October 12, 2019 - April 2020, TBA.
Will man rink at Central Park in one of the most iconic New York city skate spots from November 11, 2019- March 29, 2020.
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park from October 31, 2019 to March 1, 2020. If you want to beat the crowds and pricey tickets, avoid the last weeks of December close to Christmas! Its free to stake but a fee for rental stakes and a locker($12USD) to hold your belongings. If you bring your own lock, the locker is FREE! If you do decide to stake in Bryant Park during the weeks closer to Christmas you can either choose to pay an express stake fee for $15 USD per person or get to the rink early or you'll be forced to wait over an hour just to stake even with a ticket!
Lasker Rink located at the end of Central Park below the neighborhood of Harlem from November 11,2019 to March 29,2020.
Lefrak Center at Lakeside Pospect Park from November 2019- late March 2020.
"Tis' the Most Wonderful time of year."
Happy Holidays!
-With love Travel With Meko
