It is holiday season in New York City. Window displays are full of spirited decorations, the Rockefeller tree has arrived and is waiting to be lit, and on stages across the city, performances of “The Nutcracker” are taking place. Here’s a guide to events over the next month.
Rockefeller Tree Lighting and Ice Skating
The Norway spruce tree from East Greenbush, N.Y., has arrived at Rockefeller Center. The tree will be lit, with more than 50,000 multicolored lights, during a live broadcast, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” on Dec. 3.
The tradition dates back to 1931, when employees at Rockefeller Center chipped in to buy a Christmas tree. At the time, it was a 20-foot balsam fir. Today’s tree is 11 tons and 75 feet tall.
The ice rink has also been a holiday tradition for decades. The Rink at Rockefeller is open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Midtown Window Displays
After a brief hiatus, the Saks Fifth Avenue light show will return. The show repeats every 10 minutes after sunset until 11 p.m.
Other classic holiday window displays include: Macy’s, featuring the department store’s memorable moments, like their first window display in 1874; Bloomingdale’s, where medieval guards are wrapped in Burberry plaid scarfs; and Bergdorf Goodman, where the theme is “The Bergdorf Soirée.”
Bryant Park Winter Village
Bryant Park has transformed into a winter village with over 50 vendors in an open-air market, private igloo dining rooms and an ice rink. The annual tree lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2.
The rink offers free admission to skate, with paid rentals available. The Lodge food hall and bar overlooks the rink and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. until March 1. Tickets can be reserved online.
Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular
It’s the 100th anniversary of the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular. For the centennial, the Rockettes will be back at Radio City Music Hall, through Jan. 5, with exclusive merchandise and videos online to celebrate the event.
The Nutcracker
A Christmas tree will grow onstage at the David H. Koch Theater through Jan. 4 with daily performances of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” by New York City Ballet.
For two weekends in December, the Brooklyn Ballet will also perform their own rendition, featuring ballet, hip-hop and other genres of global dance for a new spin on the classic at the Theater at City Tech in Downtown Brooklyn.
The Magic Flute
At the Metropolitan Opera, Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” takes on its own rendition, with puppets and a family-friendly performance. The show runs Dec. 11 to Jan. 3.
Before the matinee performance on Dec. 14, ticket holders are invited to attend the Met’s Holiday Open House. At the Open House, musicians, actors, dancers and staff will do musical demonstrations for families and children.
Carnegie Hall
The New York Pops will play two performances on Dec. 19 and 20, featuring a medley of holiday classics and carols. The Oratorio Society of New York will perform Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 22 and on Christmas Eve, the New York String Orchestra will continue their tradition of a holiday performance, with an all-Mozart concert at 7 p.m.
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic will also play Handel’s “Messiah” from Dec. 10 to 13, followed by “Sounds of the Season,” a matinee concert of holiday music on Dec. 13 and 14.
“Home Alone in Concert” will feature music, performed to a screening of the movie, from Dec. 17 to 20.
Jazz at Lincoln Center
From Dec. 16 to 21, Big Band Holidays will take the stage at the Lincoln Center, performing a compilation of holiday classics with jazz vocalists Shenel Johns and Kate Kortum leading the show.
Hanukkah Events
Menorah lightings will take place across the city with two particularly large displays in both Manhattan and Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plazas. Each menorah is 32 feet tall and weighs 4,000 lbs. In Brooklyn, live music, latkes and gifts will also accompany the lighting and a kickoff concert will begin at 4 p.m. on the first night of Hanukkah (Dec. 14).
Kwanzaa Events
Celebrate Kwanzaa from Dec. 26 to 30 at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, with candle lightings, holiday drumming and art workshops.
At Hudson Hall, a free afternoon of crafts, dancing, drumming and a candle lighting will take place on Dec. 20.
Holiday Trains
The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden runs through Jan. 11, where model trains weave through replica city landmarks.
At Grand Central Station, miniature trains will also run through February. This year’s display features artwork from James Yang and Erin K. Robinson and the trains include replicas of vintage subway cars and the Polar Express.
The New York Transit Museum also offers rides on train cars from the 1930s, which are free with a paid subway fare. Every Sunday in December from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Holiday Nostalgia Train departs from the Second Avenue station on Houston Street on the uptown F line and the 96 Street station on the Q line.
Michaela Towfighi is a Times arts and culture reporter and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for early career journalists.
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