It’s December once again in New York City, so you know what that means – holiday festivities galore. But even with giant Christmas trees and celebrations of all kinds flooding the city, it can be easy to let the season pass you by. This is New York, after all, life moves pretty quickly.
So, what can you do to embrace the holiday season before time runs out? At the law firm of Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, our legal team is looking for the best holiday experiences in the city.
Let’s move past Christmas trees in your living room and hanging the stockings by the chimney with care, we’re focusing on making this a real New York Christmas!
One-of-a-Kind Holiday Shows
This all depends on how much you want to spend, but there are countless shows through the city that are here only during the holiday season.
Of course, The Rockettes at Radio City and Christmas in New York go hand in hand, but it’s not for everybody. The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show is also a local staple, with dozens of model trains traveling through a meticulously detailed tiny version of New York City. This season at the Guggenheim, a new interpretive dance version of “Peter and the Wolf” is happening.
The 34th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration is also happening on December 19 and 20 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, boasting beautiful music in a gorgeous setting. The Brooklyn Flea moves temporarily to 185 Wythe in Williamsburg for the Gifted Holiday market, offering countless holiday gifts from more than 175 vendors. Finally, The New York City Ballet continues their tradition of putting on a faithful production of The Nutcracker, keeping the holiday classy through the beginning of January.
Christmas Light Tour
You may need to make a lengthy trip for this one, but there are some neighborhoods throughout the boroughs that are absolutely worth it. Dyker Heights in Brooklyn is known for being one of the go-to places for a holiday lights show in New York. The Holiday Light Spectacular in Brooklyn’s South Slope, Santa’s Corner in Queens, and the Garabedian Family’s Christmas House in Baychester are all prime destinations as well.
For a trip that doesn’t make you plot out your evening and go hunting, you can also jump on A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours’ Christmas Lights and Cannoli Tour. This three and a half hour tour goes through the best parts of the borough and ends in treats.
The Best Christmas Trees in the Country
Of course, Rockefeller Center’s tree is iconic, with ice skating and other holiday activities making it a prime spot for anybody looking to embrace the season. But there are plenty of other Christmas trees throughout New York City that aren’t swarmed by tourists.
The American Museum of Natural History displays a giant tree made up of origami figures every year. The year’s theme is “The Power of Poison,” showing off some of the museum’s most venomous animals. The 20-foot spruce at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the opposite of the Rockefeller tree, this one is decorated with 18th century Neapolitan angels and crèche figures. There’s also the Madison Square Park tree (America’s 1st community Christmas tree), the fir under the Washington Square Arch, and the Norway spruce at Bryant Park, with a no-admission skating rink nearby!
Whatever you want to do, bring along friends and family to have fun and make the most of the season!