1. A fairly obvious one is the famous Rockefeller Tree. It is located at Rockefeller Plaza on 49th St and 5th Avenue and is viewable 24/7, but lit 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. through January 7th (with the exception of all day on Christmas Day and 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on NYE). While you’re there, check out how beautifully the shops on Fifth Avenue are decorated, especially Saks Fifth Avenue, whose window displays usually include animatronic parts and an entire light/sound display across the storefront at night.
2.
In fact, here is a complete list of holiday window displays! Get some Starbucks/Godiva hot chocolate and begin at the bottom of Central Park to check out these: Barneys (660 Madison Avenue between 60th and 61st Streets), Bloomingdale’s (59th Street and Lexington Avenue), Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Avenue at 58th Street), Tiffany & Co (727 Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets), Cartier (653 Fifth Avenue at 52nd Street), Lord Lord & Taylor (424 Fifth Avenue at 39th Street), and Macy’s* (Sixth Avenue and 34th Street). While you’re at Macy’s, join the Macy’s Believe Campaign. Bring your stamped letter addressed to “Santa at The North Pole,” and drop it in their special letterbox, or send it online at macys.com/believe (as a bonus, for every letter received Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1,000,000!). Further, Sixth Avenue (or Avenue of the Americas itself) is decorated beautifully for the holidays, from oversize tree ornaments to giant colored lights, all located between 34th and 59th Sts while you’re checking out the shops. Finally, don’t forget to look up at the Empire State Building, decorated red and green for Christmas. *If you’re looking to shop at Macy’s, for the three days leading up to Christmas the store is open 24/7 and is nearly empty if you go late or early. Take advantage of the lack of crowds in an NYC store right before Christmas.
A unique way of seeing all of these is through a scavenger hunt of NYC store fronts.
3.
A lesser-known Christmas tree lighting in NYC is the one in Washington Square Park. This year it was on December 6th at 7 p.m., where you can enjoy hot broth and sing Christmas carols with a relatively small crowd. For me especially, it is the preferred option of tree lighting ceremonies as you don’t have to arrive hours in advance and there is a more intimate group.
4.
The Union Square Christmas Market (as well as the ones at Columbus Circle and Grand Central Station).
5.
Ice skating in Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park (which also has their Winter Village), or Central Park.
6.
If you only go uptown, you’re missing out on Little Italy’s Christmas decorations, as well as those in the Soho stores on Broadway from Broome St to Houston, and the year-round “Christmas in New York” store in Little Italy (133 Mulberry St).
7.
Dyker Heights lights in Brooklyn are a must-see: the residents of this neighborhood take their holiday decorating very seriously.
8.
If you’re looking for Christmas shows to see, look no further than the Radio City Christmas Spectacular or the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center.
9.
Visit the Gingerbread Village in Madison Square Garden (23rd St and 5th Avenue in the Flatiron District).
10.
Finally, the Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show, as 23-year-old tradition in which you can watch model trains zip through the miniature version of the city, and tiny landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center. Make advance reservations, however, since the event is incredibly popular (2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx). As a bonus, when you’re riding the subway, please try to remember to enjoy the free vintage train ride the MTA offers, occasionally accompanied by period bands (which this year occurred on the 18th of December).
Happy Holidays!
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