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Insider Tips for Families Enjoying Holiday Fun in NYC

There's no denying the holiday season in NYC is magical—and the stuff of holiday bucket lists for many. That means it's also ultra-crowded! Whether you're a local looking to make annual memories or visiting from out of town, take note: These holiday attractions are often crowded! Our best advice: Pack patience, plenty of snacks, and embrace the experience of a magical seasonal outing. For ticketed events, the sooner you can book, the better availability and pricing you'll find.

In general, weekdays bring smaller crowds than weekends. The first two weeks in December are a sweet spot for locals looking to check things off their holiday bucket list. Once the tourists descend, it's more difficult!

Off-hours can be super cool at popular sites, however. For example, my teen and I arrived at a deserted Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at 5am, when the lights turn on, for an all-to-ourselves, only-in-NYC selfie session last season, and didn't regret it one bit!

We've got tons more visitor tips in our 3-day itinerary for a magical NYC holiday getaway.

Nothing says Christmas in New York like seeing the Rockettes at Radio City. Photo courtesy of MSG Entertainment

FAQ's for Christmas Events in NYC

What are the best Christmas events in NYC for kids?
We've outlined our favorites below—drawn from my 20 years of raising wee New Yorkers, plus covering every holiday outing! Your favorites may depend on your kids' interests, but perennially popular picks include the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden, the Bryant Park Winter Village (and its FREE ice skating rink), the classic Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, and the stunning Dyker Heights Christmas Lights. You'll find more top picks in our NYC Kids' Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Holiday Fun and NYC Family Activity Calendar.

Where can kids see Christmas lights in New York City?
Christmas lights in NYC are a little different than in surburban settings! Many of the most popular Christmas lights are big, commercial displays like the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show, Holidays Under the Stars at Columbus Circle, and, of course, all the sparkling window displays along Fifth Avenue. If holiday houses are what you're searching for, bookmark this guide to the best Christmas lights in NYC.

What holiday activities are FREE in NYC?
We've put together an entire list of FREE holiday activities in NYC and will update it as we learn of more fun things to do. Some of our favorite freebies include visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, taking in The Nutcracker at Brookfield Place, and visiting the Bryant Park Winter Village.

Is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular good for kids?
Absolutely! This is one of my family's favorite annual shows, and the first season we booked our tickets, my son was just 2. It's got a compact 90-minute runtime, and between the lights, effects, music, and projections, there's always something to hold even the littlest audience members' attention!

Where can we meet Santa in NYC?
For my money (and, actually, it's FREE unless you purchase pictures), the one-and-only Santa resides at Macy's Santaland in the company's flagship 34th Street store. We've found Kris Kingle in plenty of other corners of the city, though, and rounded up our favorite spots to meet Santa in NYC here.

Columbus Circle flips on its Christmas lights and holiday activations on Monday, November 10, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Shops at Columbus Circle

Best Christmas Events and Holiday Activities for Kids in NYC

1. Holidays Under the Stars – Columbus Circle

Debuts Monday, November 10
We're longtime fans of this light installation at the Shops at Columbus Circle, the centerpiece of which is 44 illuminated stars tantalizingly dangling in the entrance atrium, which put on a choreographed light-and-music show every half hour, but the beautiful display is just the tip of the fun here. Thursday evenings mean it's time for Broadway Under the Stars, where casts from popular Broadway shows belt out showtunes with the glittering lights as their backdrop. Columbus Circle is also hosting a series of ornament and wreath-making workshops on select weeknights all season long. Be sure to book your tickets in advance! As if that wasn't enough, Santa Claus is taking up residence here, too, with Passport to Santa, which brings the North Pole to this midtown shopping destination, complete with ball pits, bouncers, carnival games, and, of course, time to share your wish list with the star of the season.

2. New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show – Bronx Park, the Bronx

Saturday, November 15, 2025-Sunday, January 11, 2026
While there are other holiday train displays in and near NYC, none compare to NYBG's annual show. You'll see motorized trains zip past nearly 200 well-known NYC landmarks inside and out. More than 25 model trains, including Thomas the Tank Engine, go whizzing by the botanical architectural wonders painstakingly crafted from acorns, twigs, bark, berries, and leaves. Fans who have seen it all before can search for the newest addition: a model of the brilliantly remodeled Delacorte Theater. Book your tickets for this Christmas activity in advance—and take note: It's really sparkly during Holiday Train Nights. If your kids can't handle the crowds this show draws, we love that the garden is adding sensory-friendly morning hours.

3. Rawther Fancy Tea at The Plaza – Midtown East

Tuesday, November 18-Wednesday, December 24, 2025
There's something about the holiday season that makes us want to don a frilly frock and raise our pinkies for a lovely afternoon tea, and The Plaza's Palm Court raises the bar with its daily afternoon tea featuring themed sweets and treats. Keep your eyes peeled for Santa, who makes his rounds in the lobby and dining room, and he just might stop by your table to lend an ear if you'd like to share your list!

4. Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show – Rockefeller Center

Debuts Monday, November 24, 2025
This beloved holiday tradition, which lights up the facade of the iconic Fifth Avenue department store, went dark in 2024 due to budget cuts, but we've seen the details being anchored into place already—gold, glittering, jewel-shaped ornaments—and can't wait to see the lights switched on. The show's debut coincides with the unveiling of Saks' holiday windows. We suggest grabbing a cup of cocoa and striking out to experience the magic of these bright holiday spots together. The best bet to avoid the crowds: Visit on a weeknight in early December. If you wait until after Wednesday, December 3, 2025, you can get the Christmas light trifecta: a brilliantly lit Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree (which, pro tip, is best viewed from the Channel Gardens, anyway), plus the Saks Light Show and holiday windows. If you walk up mid-show, don't worry: It replays about every 10 minutes all evening long, and a countdown is usually visible on the facade. FREE

5. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade & Balloon Inflation – Upper West Side to Midtown West

Balloon inflation: Wednesday, November 26, 2025; Parade: Thursday, November 27, 2025
We definitely don't need to sell you on this world-famous NYC tradition, which turns 99 this year! The only thing that isn't family-friendly about this procession of pop-culture-inspired floats and giant balloons is the fact you need to arrive around 5:30am to stake out your spot. Unfortunately, there is no secret to snagging a good viewing location unless you're willing to splurge on a hotel room overlooking the route (and by now, they're probably sold out!) Plan to arrive early or watch from way in the back. You'll still see something. Or, find a friend (or a friend of a friend) who lives on the route. Wherever you watch from, expect a thrilling lineup of celebrities, marching bands, colorful floats, kooky clowns, and massive balloons, including old favorites, such as Pikachu, and new additions, like Mario. FREE

Visiting Macy's Santaland is a holiday tradition for many families—including my own. Photo by the author

6. Santaland at Macy's Herald Square – Midtown West

Friday, November 28-Wednesday, December 24, 2024
Yes, there are lots of places to hang with Kris Kringle in the Big Apple. But for an immersive seasonal spectacle, you can't beat Macy's Santaland. The famed store mounts a 13,000-square-foot North Pole Christmas village complete with live elves, an enchanted forest featuring animatronic toys, and a train display. At the end, of course, you get to visit with the one true Santa. Visits with the big red guy are by reservation, so be sure to go online to choose a time slot up to five days in advance. FREE unless you buy a photo package (and who can resist?).

7. Christmas Caroling in a Classic Location – Multiple Locations

Multiple dates
What better way to celebrate the season than belting out a joyful tune with fellow revelers? New Yorkers have several opportunities to sing, beginning with the Calypso, Carols, and Cocoa event during the Dumbo Holiday Lighting on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The soaring St. Patrick's Cathedral hosts The Young People's Chorus on Thursday, December 18, 2025, and all are invited to join in the chorus. And, on Christmas Eve, revelers famously gather under the Washington Square Arch for a beloved holiday sing-along. FREE

8. Hanukkah Family Day at the Jewish Museum – Upper East Side

Sunday, December 14, 2025
The Jewish Museum has just debuted a sprawling new gallery dedicated to families and education, and it's set to celebrate its first Hanukkah season in the new space. Usher in the first night of the Festival of Lights with this fun event. Families are invited to construct colorful sculptures inspired by the museum's collection—including 130 Hanukkah lamps on display in the new gallery—design collage cards, create light-inspired mobiles, and enjoy a concert from Grammy-winner Joanie Leeds.

Circus Oz brings a zany, holiday-tinged show to the New Vic in December. Photo courtesy of the New Victory Theater

9. Merry Mayhem at the New Victory Theater – Midtown West

Friday, December 5-Sunday, December 28, 2025
It's an explosion of circus fun from Down Under when Circus Oz brings this circus confection to the stage at the New Victory. Expect a multi-colored masterpiece featuring a multi-generational circus troupe. Performing to a live rock-tinged soundtrack, these tricks are far from ordinary. Circus Oz has wowed New Victory crowds before, but they haven't been here in more than a decade, so this high-flying show is not to be missed. Pro tip: Be sure to arrive early for pre-show fun, where you just might learn some circus tricks of your own!

10. Winter Concert at the Museum at Eldridge Street – Lower East Side

Thursday, December 25, 2025
The beautiful Museum at Eldridge Street hosts an annual Christmas Day concert. This historic Lower East Side synagogue-turned-museum celebrates the season with an afternoon of klezmer music. Yale Strom and his band, Hot Pstromi, headline the affair, bringing a mix of classic Yiddish tunes and original compositions to life in an incomparable destination.

11. Visit a Holiday Market – Multiple Manhattan and Brooklyn Locations

Multiple dates
From Bryant Park (already open for the season) to the brand new Williamsburg Winter Village, NYC's small businesses take up residence at Christmas markets citywide each December, and we love perusing stall-after-stall for handmade goodies, vintage finds, and only-in-NYC gifts. UrbanSpace sponsors markets in Bryant Park (through Sunday, January 4, 2026), at Macy's (through Saturday, January 3, 2026), in Union Square (Thursday, November 13-Wednesday, December 24, 2025), and at Columbus Circle (Tuesday, December 2-Wednesday, December 31, 2025). You can also find a twinkling holiday market in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal from Monday, November 10-Wednesday, December 24, 2025—and bonus: this one is completely sheltered from the elements! Williamsburg's brand-new addition promises to fulfill the wishes of everyone on your list, plus offer a chance to sample local eats and enjoy family-friendly events on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays all December long.

12. Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – Midtown West

Daily through Monday, January 5, 2026
I've written before about my family's love for this classic holiday show, and this season marks a big milestone for those high-kicking precision dancers: The Radio City Rockettes celebrate their centennial anniversary in 2025! From Santa's grand entrance to the snowflakes that dust the audience members, this show is pure holiday magic. I'm partial to the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” but no matter how many times we've seen it, every showing leaves me with a sense of awe and a feeling that the Christmas season has, officially, arrived. Be sure to arrive when the doors open so you can explore the lobby activations celebrating the Rockette's big milestone, including archival displaces and costume retrospectives.

A version of this post was first published in 2015; it is updated annually.