Things to do in NYC during the Holidays

New York, New Yoooooork! My favorite time living in New York is (arguably) during the holidays! Everything is super festive, lights and holiday decor fill the streets, and it’s like you can feel the holiday magic in the air (as lame as that sounds 😉 ). But seriously – it’s the best! If you are lucky enough to be in the city around Christmas-time, this post is for you 🙂 I’ve put together the top 10 must-do activities in NYC during the Holidays:

Enjoy the Rockettes Show at Radio City Music Hall.Â I went for the first time last year, and I was obsessed y’all! It is SUCH an amazing show (one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my opinion) – the props and special effects are so elaborate and it’s super entertaining/exciting. I went again this year on opening weekend (great way to bring you some Christmas cheer!), and it did not disappoint. I’m a dancer so I really appreciate this sort of thing, but my BF (who is totally not a dancer, lol) went for the first time this year and loved it! We got our tickets at a discounted rate from Groupon – it’s such a good deal.
Sledding in Central Park.Â Hopefully it starts snowing soon in NYC, because then…it’s time for sledding! Central Park becomes a legit winter wonderland when it snows, and it’s crazy beautiful. If you can deal with the cold temps, head out to the area and take a walk – you’ll see a ton of people sledding everywhere and you will want to join in on the fun! If you don’t have a sled – don’t worry, people always abandon their sledding gear and you can borrow 🙂
Grab a drink at Rolf’s.Â Omg y’all – Rolf’s is THE place to grab drinks during the wintertime. This is probably the most popular bar in December, so try to get there EARLY to avoid waiting in a super long line (but I promise, it’s sooo worth it!). The entire restaurant/bar is decked out in the most colorful, gorgeous ornaments all over the ceiling. It’s a scene like you probably have never seen before and a definite must do.
Go see The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center. What better way to get into the holiday spirit and feel super festive than catching the traditional holiday show that is The Nutcracker? I love ballets and dance so this is definitely up my alley. The Lincoln Center is also a super extravagant venue, so you have an excuse to dress up all fancy/classy and enjoy the show 🙂 Sometimes tickets can be a bit on the pricey side – but worth the splurge if you can.
Shop in Bryant Park Winter Village. I love, love love going to Bryant Park! It’s like a mini version of the Rockefeller Center area with a tree, ice skating, and so many holiday shops! The winter village shops are amazing – they consist of a ton of different vendors and you can find some great gifts here. Best place to shop for peeps that you have no idea what to get them! Also…I saw that my favorite Cookie Do place has a spot there this year, so I will definitely be stopping by (multiple times 😛 ).
Ice Skate in Lakeside (Brooklyn).Â So this is one I actually haven’t done yet, but at the top of my list this year! The location is in Brooklyn, so if you live in the city it may be a bit of a hike for ya – but worth the adventure, right?! The skating rink looks ginormous and so fun. The prices are also super affordable, pricing at $7-10 (depending on what day) and skate rentals at $7.
Walk down Fifth Avenue to catch all the window displays. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a big fan of walking, but in this case…I totally am! I love strolling along fifth avenue during the holiday season – this is where all of the high-end retailers [Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Barney’s, Saks, Lord & Taylor, etc.] decorate their huge windows with the most lavish, elaborate displays. It’s rumored that they spend millions on these displays :O There are even light shows that project on the walls of the buildings every so often…go, go, go!
Visit the Rockefeller Tree. If you missed the Rockefeller Tree lighting on 11/29, it’s okay! The tree remains lit up until the beginning of January. The Rockefeller Tree is super iconic and definitely the world-wide symbol of Christmas in New York – it’s a beautiful sight to see and I can guarantee will put you in the Christmas spirit. Warning: it definitely gets crowded so just be prepared!
See Christmas Lights at Dyker Heights. I haven’t done this one yet myself, but I am so going this year! I’ve heard great things and from the pictures, it looks awesome. If you grew up in the suburbs, you probably miss driving around the neighborhood during Christmastime and looking at all the lights. Well, good news is that you can still live in the city and get to experience that here! 🙂 The houses deck out their yards in over-the-top lights and decorations, and you can walk around to experience it for as long as you’d like.
Participate in SantaCon. If you’re ready to get cray cray, this event is totally for you! Santacon NYC is taking place on 12/9…so mark your calendars! Every where you turn, at the corner of every street, you’ll see some version of Santa – it’s such a funny sight and oh so fun! The bars that participate will be super packed, but it’s definitely worth experiencing. If you aren’t into bar crawls, just make sure to take the subways on this day so you can see all the Santa’s – every kid’s dream right 🙂