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.
Holiday Markets
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.
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
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.
The Grand Central Holiday Fair
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.
Union Square Holiday Market
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.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
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.
Holiday Market at the Oculus
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.
Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market
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 Rinks
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.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center
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.
Bryant Park Rink
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.
LeFrak Center at Lakeside
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.
World Ice Arena
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.
Staten Island Skating Pavilion
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.
Tree Lightings
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
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 hours
New Year’s Eve: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
More information is available at rockefellercenter.com/holidays.
Astoria Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting
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.
DUMBO Tree Lighting
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.
The World’s Largest Menorah Lightings
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.
Grand Army Plaza: Manhattan
Dec. 18, 2022 – Dec. 26, 2022
Hours vary by night, check centralpark.com for more information.
Grand Army Plaza: Brooklyn
Dec. 18, 2022 – Dec. 26, 2022
Hours vary by night, check chabadparkslope.com for more information.
Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration
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.
Apollo Theater
Dec. 30, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $25; more information is available at apollotheater.org.
Holiday Light Shows
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.
NYC Winter Lantern Festival
Oct. 21, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023
Where:
SIUH Community Park
75 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island
Hours:
Friday – Sunday: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
More information is available at winterlanternfestival.com.
Amaze Light Festival
Nov. 18, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023
Where:
Citi Field
41 Seaver Way, Queens
Hours:
Daily: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
More information is available at amazelightfestival.com.
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Nov. 16, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023
Where:
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn
Hours:
Daily: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
More information is available at bbg.org.
New York Botanical Garden Glow
Nov. 25, 2022 – Jan. 14, 2023
Where:
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd, The Bronx
Hours:
Daily: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
More information is available at nybg.org.