Your guide to celebrating the holidays in New York City

Oct 06, 2023

The holiday season is right around the corner, and there’s no place like New York City for this time of year.

From the opening of the New York City holiday markets to the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, here’s your guide to the holiday season in the five boroughs.

The holiday markets are pop-up malls full of local vendors, food trucks, holiday activities and more. This year, the usual popular spots – like Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal – will transform yet again. But, there will be a new spot to check out, too.

Oct. 28, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023

Hours:Monday – Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More information can be found at bryantpark.org.

Nov. 14, 2022 – Dec. 24, 2022

Hours:Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More information is available at grandcentralterminal.com.

Nov. 17, 2022 – Dec. 24, 2022

Hours:Monday – Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Christmas Eve: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information is available at urbanspacenyc.com.

Nov. 29, 2022 – Dec. 24, 2022

Hours:Monday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

More information is available at urbanspacenyc.com.

Nov. 26, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023

Hours:Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

More information is available at officialworldtradecenter.com.

Nov. 28, 2022 – Dec. 26, 2022

Hours:Sunday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More information is available at urbanspacenyc.com.

Ice skating in New York City is one of the most iconic seasonal traditions. While some places are open year round, other locations are only up for a short time around the holidays. And if you’re not much of a skater, there’s always bumper cars on ice to look forward to.

Located on Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, the rink opened on Nov. 5 and is expected to remain open through April 2023. The rink is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and tickets are required.

More information available at rockefellercenter.com.

Located inside the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, the 17,000-square-foot rink features free admission ice skating. Skates are available to rent for a fee.

The rink opened on Oct. 28 and will remain open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through March 5, 2023. Select weekend and holiday hours may change.

More information available at bryantpark.com.

The open-air rinks at LeFrak Center are located in Prospect Park with ice skating and ice hockey lessons for all ages. Tickets are required and hours vary for certain activities.

More information available at lakesidebrooklyn.com.

The World Ice Arena is an indoor rink located within the Aquatic Center at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Flushing and are open year-round. Tickets are required, and skating lessons are available on certain dates.

More information available at worldice.com.

This indoor ice arena is open year-round, though public skating is only available on weekends. Tickets are required.

More information available at thepavilion.org.

The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. at Rockefeller Center, located between West 49th and West 50th streets near Fifth Avenue. It will remain lit through the holiday season and will be taken down on Jan. 1, 2023.

The 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce from Queensbury will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity after the holiday season.

How to View: Nov. 30, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023

Hours:Sunday – Saturday: 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.Christmas Day: 24 hoursNew Year’s Eve: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

More information is available at rockefellercenter.com/holidays.

For the 10th year, the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition will host its annual Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting celebration on Sunday, Dec. 5 at Astoria Park’s Great Lawn on 19th Street and 23rd Avenue beginning at 3 p.m.

The event features balloon art and live musical performances before the tree is lit at dusk.

More information is available at nycgovparks.org.

The DUMBO Improvement District hosted the 16th annual DUMBO Holiday Tree Lighting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1. The event featured live music, hot cocoa and other hot food, animated videos projected onto the Manhattan Bridge and more.

The tree was lit at 5:30 p.m. sharp and tree viewing is now available 24/7.

More information is available at artindumbo.com.

Both Grand Army Plaza in Midtown and Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn compete for the title of the “World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorah.” But it’s Manhattan’s that has the official title from the Guinness Book of World Records.

The 32-foot-tall steel menorahs are lit each night of the eight-day holiday, but Brooklyn’s lighting ceremony also boasts live music, hot food and more.

Dec. 18, 2022 – Dec. 26, 2022

Hours vary by night, check centralpark.com for more information.

Dec. 18, 2022 – Dec. 26, 2022

Hours vary by night, check chabadparkslope.com for more information.

The annual Kwanzaa celebration at the Apollo Theater is returning once again this December with the goal of bringing families together to celebrate and reflect.

The evening features intergenerational festivities, dance, music, spoken word and more.

Dec. 30, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $25; more information is available at apollotheater.org.

The holiday season means New York City will transform into a wonderland of holiday light displays right after Thanksgiving. From Staten Island to the Bronx, here’s where to see amazing lights.

Oct. 21, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023

Where:SIUH Community Park75 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island

Hours:Friday – Sunday: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

More information is available at winterlanternfestival.com.

Nov. 18, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023

Where:Citi Field41 Seaver Way, Queens

Hours:Daily: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

More information is available at amazelightfestival.com.

Nov. 16, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023

Where:Brooklyn Botanic Garden990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn

Hours:Daily: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

More information is available at bbg.org.

Nov. 25, 2022 – Jan. 14, 2023

Where:New York Botanical Garden2900 Southern Blvd, The Bronx

Hours:Daily: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

More information is available at nybg.org.