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Celebrate the shortest day of the year at Marine Park's Festival of Lights. Photo courtesy of the Marine Park Alliance
Celebrate the shortest day of the year at Marine Park's Festival of Lights. Photo courtesy of the Marine Park Alliance
12/1/24 - By Drew Kristofik

When it comes to holiday gifts, we've got the perfect one for you, dear reader: This list of free holiday and Christmas events in NYC. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve are all fast approaching, but between Nutcrackers, family-friendly holiday shows, special meals with Santa, and gift-giving, things can get expensive. So, we've rounded up 47 FREE holiday and Christmas events in NYC to enjoy now through New Year's Eve.

For more things to do in New York City this season, bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday Activities and Christmas Events and our always-up-to-date Family Activity Calendar.

Keep in mind that reservations are required for many of these events, so plan your outings in advance, and be sure to click through to our listings for all the details, including address, time, and recommended ages.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Stroll down car-free Fifth Avenue on Sunday, December 14. Photo courtesy of the Fifth Avenue Association
Stroll down car-free Fifth Avenue on Sunday, December 14. Photo courtesy of the Fifth Avenue Association

Free Christmas Events in New York City in 2025

Tree Lighting Skate-tacular at Bryant Park

Midtown West
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park hosts its annual tree lighting, with a stellar lineup of live skate performances.  READ MORE

Annual Seaport District Tree Lighting

South Street Seaport
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Kick off the season in New York style at the Seaport District Christmas Tree Lighting. Prior to the big moment, visitors can enjoy holiday crafts, coloring, live performances, and more. READ MORE

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting 2025

Midtown West
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
The 93rd Rockefeller Center Christmas tree illuminates for a national close-up. Families across the US can view the Christmas tree lighting from home, live on the national broadcast “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on NBC. READ MORE

29th Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting

Central Park
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Watch the flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer get lit for the season at this annual Christmas tree lighting. Visitors can meet Santa and friends, sing carols on the plaza, and warm up with hot cocoa. READ MORE

Holiday Lights in Rockefeller Park

Battery Park City
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Kick off the holiday season in Rockefeller Park. The festive evening features lively carols, beverages and treats, and many special guest appearances including a visit from you-know-who!   READ MORE

Calypso, Carols, and Cocoa: The Dumbo Holiday Lighting

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Thursday, December 4, 2025
The Dumbo Improvement District hosts its annual Dumbo Holiday Lighting ceremony, with all the trimmings. Enjoy live music, carols, hot cocoa, and an appearance from Santa himself. READ MORE

NYSE 102nd Annual NYSE Christmas Tree Lighting

Financial District
Thursday, December 4, 2025
The New York Stock Exchange hosts an afternoon that includes performance by the Gay Men's Chorus, Kelsie Watts, and Deborah Cox. Performances begin at 2:30pm, and tree is lit at 5:15pm. READ MORE

Broadway Under the Stars at the Shops at Columbus Circle

Midtown East
Thursdays December 4, 11, and 18, 2025
Broadway and The Shops at Columbus Circle team up for the annual return of Broadway Under the Stars, a four-week series of free public concerts and performances taking place this holiday season.  READ MORE

Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibit at the Arsenal

Midtown East
Weekdays from Thursday, December 4, 2025-Friday, January 2, 2026
Celebrate the holiday season at the 43rd annual exhibition of inventive, unconventional wreaths crafted by a diverse selection of fine artists, designers, and other creative contributors. READ MORE

Traditional Tree Lighting in Historic Richmond Town

Richmond, Staten Island
Friday, December 5, 2025
Historic Richmondtown's free annual tree lighting celebration kicks off with musical performances by local groups. Santa Claus makes a special appearance, spreading cheer before the tree lights up. READ MORE

Parade on Rockaway

Rockaways, Queens
Friday, December 5-Sunday, December 7, 2025
Queens' annual Parade on Rockaway provides three days packed with holiday cheer, from the biggest tree lighting in Queens to a gift giveaway (featuring Santa) and a lovely parade of lights on Rockaway Boulevard. READ MORE

Winter Wonderland at The Bronx Museum

Grand Concourse, the Bronx
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Celebrate the magic of the winter season at The Bronx Museum's annual Winter Wonderland event, with art-making activities, festive music, hot chocolate, and more.   READ MORE

Christmas Party at Washington Market Park

Tribeca
Saturday, December 6, 2025
At this annual Christmas party in Washington Market Park, the big, red-suited guest of honor rides into the park in style: sometimes by pedicab, sometimes peddled by an oversize elf. READ MORE

Bronx Little Italy’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Belmont, Bronx
Saturday, December 6, 2025
The beloved annual tree-lighting ceremony is back at Ciccarone Park. Attendees can get into the holiday spirit by meeting Santa and an elf, singing along with holiday carols, and enjoying Italian cookies and hot chocolate from local businesses. READ MORE

23rd Annual St. Nicholas Day Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Families are invited to NYC's oldest house for an outdoor celebration packed with craft activities, a tree lighting, and a special visit from St. Nick (who arrives on horseback around 2:30pm). Kids can sip hot cider, try some colonial games, create a holiday craft, and dress the tree.   READ MORE

Holiday on the Hudson at West Harlem Piers

West Harlem
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Hudson River Park's annual holiday tree lighting party invites families to celebrate the season with winter arts and crafts, hot chocolate, and live music. READ MORE

Annual Park Avenue Tree Lighting at Brick Church

Upper East Side
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Park Avenue's illuminated trees—dotting on the Park Avenue Malls between 54th and 97th Streets—switch on for the season.  READ MORE

Holiday Tree Lighting at Carl Schurz Park

Upper East Side
Sunday, December 7, 2025
This cherished family tradition features carols, the Cantori choir, Orbital Brass, candlelight, candy canes, and hot chocolate. ​ READ MORE

Santa at the NY Stock Exchange

Financial District
Monday, December 8, 2025
Early birds can meet up with Santa Claus at the New York Stock Exchange and watch him roll into the financial district on a John Deere Tractor! The team at John Deere (and Santa) host a side street celebration with free coffee and hot chocolate, goodies from Santa, live music, and photo opps.   READ MORE

Madison Square Holiday Tree Lighting

Flatiron District
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Gather around the Madison Square Holiday Tree for the 112th annual holiday tree lighting, complete with photo-ops, baked goods, and live music. READ MORE

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s WeBop Holiday Jazz Jam at the Shops at Columbus Circle

Midtown West
Wednesdays and Fridays from Wednesday, December 10-Friday, December 19, 2025
WeBop, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s award-winning, early childhood education program, steps up to the holiday season with interactive, holiday-themed live jazz performances. These festive and free shows invite young music lovers and their caregivers to swing and sing along with talented musicians. READ MORE

Winter Wonderland at Williamsbridge Oval

Norwood, the Bronx
Friday, December 12, 2025
Williamsbridge Oval hosts an evening of celebration with the lighting of the holiday tree, arts and crafts, caroling, and a visit from St. Nick.   READ MORE

Lenfest Kids: Klaus

Morningside Heights
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Netflix's 2019 Santa-origin-story shines on the big screen. Stick around after the movie for entertainment and fun hosted by Columbia Artist/Teachers (CA/T)! Activities may include storytelling, poetry, songwriting, and maybe clowning around with Loony Lenny.   READ MORE

Sutton Seasonal Sing Along

Midtown East
Saturday, December 13, 2025
The Sutton Place Parks Conservancy hosts its fifth annual seasonal sing-along. All are invited to lift their voice in song, lift a cup of hot chocolate, lift their eyes to the twinkling light show, and lift your spirits. READ MORE

Cookies, Crafts and Cocoa with Santa at McDonald Playground Field House

West Brighton, Staten Island
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Enjoy a warm cup of hot cocoa while you customize sugar cookies with colorful toppings and sprinkles and create holiday keepsakes to hang on the tree at home. Make sure to bring your phone or camera to get a picture with Santa Claus!   READ MORE

Merry Tuba Christmas at Rockefeller Center

Midtown West
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Hundreds of tenor and bass tuba players congregate at The Rink at Rockefeller Center to play Christmas carols and other crowd favorites. READ MORE

Holiday Open Streets on Fifth Avenue

Midtown East
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Fifth Avenue showcases spectacular lights, holiday decor, live entertainement, and one of a kind activities. Entertainment includes performances from the LaGuardia High School Show Choir, The New School, Brooklyn United, Sing Harlem, and choirs from Fifth Avenue Presbyterian, The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. READ MORE

Unsilent Night 2025

West Village to East Village
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Each year, composer Phil Kline leads a massive chorus of boomboxes from the West Village to the East Village in the annual holiday presentation of Unsilent Night. READ MORE

Santa's Photo Corner at Bryant Park

Midtown West
Monday, December 15-Friday, December 19, 2025
Santa stops by Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park for free photo opportunities.  READ MORE

A City Singing at Christmas at St. Patrick's Cathedral

Midtown East
Thursday, December 18, 2025
The Young People's Chorus returns for this holiday tradition, singing carols in the majestic setting of St. Patrick's Cathedral and welcoming everyone to join in.  READ MORE

Cookies, Cocoa, and Crafts with Santa at DeMatti Park

Silver Lake, Staten Island
Friday, December 19, 2025
Unleash your inner artist and decorate delicious sugar cookies with a variety of colorful toppings and sprinkles, get crafty and create unique ornaments, enjoy a warm and comforting cup of hot cocoa, and meet Santa Claus himself and take a picture.   READ MORE

Make Music Winter Event: Harmonica Holiday Jam

West Village
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Harmonica virtuoso Jiayi He leads a crash course in how to play the harmonica and then leads participants in a jam session to showcase their new skills with performances of holiday classics such as Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Here Comes Santa Claus, Silent Night, and more.  READ MORE

Winter Solstice Festival of Lights in Marine Park

Marine Park, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Celebrate when our hemisphere tilts furthest away from the sun, making the shortest day of the year. Dress warm in layers. Bring binoculars and a telescope if you have them to view Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. READ MORE

Holiday Caroling Under the Washington Square Arch

Greenwich Village
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Join The Rob Susman Brass Quartet for a holiday celebration under the Washington Square Arch. The annual Christmas carol event fills the city streets with the sweet sounds of holiday carols. READ MORE

Macy's Santaland

Herald Square
Daily through Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Santa swoops back over to Macy's for visits with his littlest fans! Wander the rainbow road to his workshop, where you'll meet jolly old St. Nick. Share your wishlist before receiving a special gift and posing for a keepsake photo. READ MORE

Free Hanukkah Events in New York City in 2025

Hanukkah in Marine Park

Marine Park, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Rabbi Heidi Hoover shares the story of a miracle and its eight-day celebration. Enjoy holiday festivities and sing-alongs. READ MORE

The World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah: Manhattan

Midtown West
Sunday, December 14-Monday, December 22, 2025
Gather around the 32-foot-high, gold-colored, 4,000-pound steel holiday icon at Grand Army Plaza (Fifth Avenue and West 59th Street, across the street from The Plaza hotel) to kick off the annual Jewish Festival of Lights. READ MORE

Menorah Lighting at Hudson Yards

Midtown West
Monday, December 15-Monday, December 22, 2025
Visit the Public Square and Gardens in Hudson Yards for a menorah lighting, then snag eight days of special offers from participating shops.    READ MORE

The Largest Menorah Lighting: Brooklyn

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 14-Sunday, December 21, 2025
Chabad of Park Slope hosts the 32-foot "Largest Menorah" in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza. There's a kick off concert on Sunday, December 14, and each subsequent night of Hanukkah is celebrated with music, latkes, and gifts.  READ MORE

Hanukkah in Lego Land at the Seaport

South Street Seaport
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Chabad Jewish Center of FiDi welcomes the holiday with a 6-foot-tall Lego menorah, latkes, face painting, cotton candy, hot cocoa, a Lego master workshop, and more.  READ MORE
Prospect Park is packed with musical fun and a fabulous fireworks show to ring in the new year. Photo courtesy of the park
Prospect Park is packed with musical fun and a fabulous fireworks show to ring in the new year. Photo courtesy of the park

Free 2025 New Year's Eve Fun for Kids and Families in New York City

Noon Year's Eve 2026 Celebration at the Adams Street Library

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Monday, December 29, 2025
Celebrate 2026 a few days early at Adams Street Library with a Noon Year's Eve celebration that includes a countdown, craft, and dance party. READ MORE

Make Noisemakers at the South Beach Library

South Beach, Staten Island
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Prep for New Year's Eve by creating noise makers. READ MORE

NYE Origami Fortune Cookies at the Stavros Niarchos Library

Midtown West
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Teens can set their goals for 2026 by making origami fortune cookies with inspirational messages for the New Year. READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve Family Celebration at the Tremont Library

West Bronx, the Bronx
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Children's staff at the Tremont library host a special family-friendly celebration of the New Year that includes a special storytime, followed by crafts, snacks, and a countdown to noon to rival even the biggest midnight ball drop. READ MORE

New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square

Midtown West
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
America’s go-to annual New Year’s tradition celebrates the year’s very best in music and rings in the new year with more than 5½ hours of dynamic performances. At midnight, the ball drops to welcome 2025. READ MORE

Prospect Park Fireworks

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
The annual fireworks display includes live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist starting at 10pm. Fireworks begin at midnight, lighting up the skies above Brooklyn’s Backyard. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

New York Stock Exchange
Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center
Austin J. McDonald Playground Fieldhouse
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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