The Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic

Rockefeller Center 45 Rockefeller Plaza,

Experience an immersive wonderland of theatrical confectionery in the trunk of a Christmas tree. Celebrate the holiday season in New York with an abundance of sugary treats. Go on a…

Suggested Ages: All
🎟 $25-$45

Holiday Under The Stars

The Shops at Columbus Circle 10 Columbus Circle,

14-foot stars hanging from the 150-foot ceiling of the glass atrium light up in an array of colors. See a rainbow-colored light show to festive holiday music every half hour from 5 pm to midnight, Select Thursdays at 5 pm, catch Broadway Under The Stars featuring cast members of current Broadway shows on the second…

Shine Bright at Hudson Yards

Hudson Yards 30 Hudson Yards,

Explore over 2 million shimmering white lights illuminating the neighborhood featuring a 32-foot hot air balloon suspended inside The Shops. Lots of fun photo-ops from each level. Take photos with Santa on select December dates. Lots of great food options including Mercado Little Spain plus a Ladurée stand and Dylan's Candy Bar for sweets.

Lantern Festival at American Dream

Queens County Farm Museum 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park

Visit a dazzling world of light full of Chinese lanterns made by artisans with decades of experience, all indoors and weather-proof. Take pictures with dinosaurs and enjoy dino rides plus other kiddie token rides. Make your own paper lantern at an interactive crafting table. For $6, take home a wish lantern, a star-shaped glass container…

Suggested Ages: All, Adult Friendly
🎟 $17/ages 13+, $10/ages 3-12

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Radio City Music Hall 1260 6th Avenue at W 50th Street,

A truly spectacular show for all ages, even toddlers, with fabulous dancing by the talented Rockettes, dazzling costumes, special effects, camels, sheep and Santa Clause (many, many Santa Clauses in…

Suggested Ages: All, Adult Friendly
🎟 $52-$422

Lightscape

Brooklyn Botanic Garden 100 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn

Celebrate the beauty of nature in winter on an enchanting trail animated by over one million dazzling lights. Encounter monumental lighted sculptures, colorful effects on Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s trees, architecture,…

Suggested Ages: All, Adult Friendly
🎟 $24-$39/ages 12+, $12-$19/ages 3-12, free/ages 2 & under

Saks Fifth Ave Windows & Light Show

Saks Fifth Avenue 611 Fifth Avenue,

Saks Fifth Avenue has partnered with Dior for their annual light show, featuring more than more than 600,000 lights on the ten-story-tall facade of the building with a gigantic astrological carousel. The show repeats every ten minutes from 4:30 to 11 pm daily. Watch from Fifth Avenue or Rockefeller Center across the street.

Luminaries

Brookfield Place 220 Vesey Street,

Dance on giant stairs underneath a canopy of 650 ever changing rainbow hanging lanterns in the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place. See cool musical light shows set to holiday songs…

Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection

New-York Historical Society 70 Central Park West at 77th Street,

See historic toy trains, figurines, and miniature models from the renowned Jerni Collection and go inside a cityspace. Look for fun details in a variety of toy train stations dating…

Suggested Ages: All, Adult Friendly
🎟 $22/adults, $13/students, $6/ages 5-13

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

Lincoln Center W 65th Street & Broadway,

Experience the lavish New York City Ballet Nutcracker that started it all in 1954, featuring exquisite costumes, magnificent sets and top-notch dance talent. See twirling snowflakes, leaping candy canes, waltzing…

Suggested Ages: 6 to 14+, Adult Friendly
🎟 $70-$320

Metropolitan Museum Tree & Crèche

Metropolitan Museum Of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street,

A vivid eighteenth-century Neapolitan Nativity scene adorns a candlelit spruce. Gorgeous 18th Century Baroque creche angels hover over an Italian village filled with animals and interesting characters. Look for a…

Suggested Ages: All, Adult Friendly
🎟 $30 (pay-what-you-wish for NY residents), $17/students, free/ages 12 & under

Santa Snow Show

Nordstrom NYC 225 W 57th Street,

Catch Santa and his excited elves coming down the spacious store’s escalator daily at 2 pm & 6 pm . Party among dancing elves, sparkly snow queens and magical in-store…

Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx

ºEmbark on an illuminated safari with animal lanterns, animated sculptures, and colorful designs throughout the spacious Bronx Zoo plus more holiday fun. 🦋 Nearly 400 lanterns represen almost 100 animal…

Suggested Ages: All
🎟 $39.95/ages 13-60. $24.95/ages 3-12, $34.95/ages 61+

Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibit

Central Park Arsenal 830 Fifth Avenue at 64th Street,

NYC Parks welcomes the holiday season with Wreath Interpretations at the Arsenal Gallery, a holiday tradition since 1982. This year's exhibition features more than 30 imaginative, whimsical wreaths handcrafted by…

Peninsula Hotel Decor & Sweet Shoppe

The Peninsula New York 700 Fifth Ave at W 55th Street,

See a spectacular Christmas tree flanked by life-sized nutcrackers and other festive decor in a grand hotel lobby, open to all. Stop by a cute Sweet Shoppe in the lobby…

Studio Skate

About Scott Avenue Associates 99 Scott Avenue, Brooklyn

Skate on a 2,500-sq-ft ice rink activated by a new large-scale commission by artist Christopher Myers, plus browse a curated marketplace and alpine café in a private courtyard. Glide across…

NYBG Glow

New York Botanical Garden 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx

Brilliant color, thousands of dazzling LEDs, pretty installations like rainbow trees, illuminated snowflakes and a chameleon Haupt Conservatory and Mertz Library Building illuminate the already gorgeous gardens, newly expanded for…

Suggested Ages: All, Adult Friendly
🎟 $54/ages 13+, $39/ages 2-12
Event Series Ajkun Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker

Ajkun Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker

New York City Center 131 W 55th Street,

A small local ballet company presents the classic Nutcracker story in a the intimate Rudolf Nureyev Space in the landmark the City Center with seating close to the dancings. New choreography by artistic director Chiara Ajkun features with funny battles with the mice and flavors from a worldwide journey to the Kingdom of Sweets. Includes…

Suggested Ages: 5 to 14+, Adult Friendly
🎟 $59-$76

Lighting of the World’s Largest Menorah

Doris C. Freedman Plaza Fifth Avenue at 59th Street,

See a 32-foot, 4,000-pound menorah being lit each night of Hanukkah with live music, hot latkes and gifts for children. Lightings are at 5:30 pm Monday-Thursday, 3:30 Friday and 8:30 pm Saturday.

Astra Lumina

Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main Street, Flushing

Discover the wonder of visiting stars in am enchanted night walk at Queens Botanical Garden. Projections, lighting, and music transform the garden into a celestial pathway.

Suggested Ages: All, Adult Friendly
🎟 $35-$41/ages 13+, $25-$29/ages 4-12