NYC & Company, the City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, is encouraging visitors to take advantage of the holiday season’s hidden treasures, in addition to the well-known events throughout New York City’s five boroughs. This holiday season there are a number of events in New York City, including the popular 86th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show and Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular. Lesser-known, but equally fascinating events include the Christmas lights of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, Annual Holiday Family Day at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in the Bronx and the Queens Historical Society annual Historic Holiday House Tour. With something to offer everyone this winter, the unique events and programming throughout the five boroughs provide visitors the opportunity to experience the City’s holiday season like a local. To plan your travel itinerary, use NYC & Company’s Save the Date planning tool at nycgo.com/savethedate.
“We encourage visitors to take advantage of the many holiday events in all five boroughs and to experience the holiday season like a local,” said NYC & Company’s CEO, George Fertitta. “With five cities in one, New York City has so much to offer visitors this holiday season, ensuring everyone captures the true spirit of the holidays.”
While a full listing of holiday activity throughout New York City can be accessed at nycgo.com/press/2012holidayseason, here are a few highlights from the five boroughs of the City that visitors often overlook.
THE BRONX:
A cherished New York City holiday tradition, the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden features model trains that ride through more than 100 replicas of NYC landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium and the George Washington Bridge. Handcrafted by award-winning designers, the set is made from natural supplies such as orange slices, cinnamon sticks, bark and pinecones. The exhibition will be on display between November 17, 2012 and January 13, 2013 (nybg.org).
During the holidays at Wave Hill, a public garden and cultural center, visitors can create one-of-a-kind gifts and holiday decorations inspired by the gardens and galleries during the Holiday Craft Weekend on December 8 and 9, 11am-3pm (wavehill.org).
For over 25 years, Brooklyn has been coming alive for the holidays with the Christmas lights of Dyker Heights. Truly a sight to behold, the spectacle attracts thousands of visitors during the holiday season. The best displays can be seen on the blocks between 83rd and 86th Streets from 11th to 13th Avenue in this small neighborhood between Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst. Enjoy the holiday light displays and sample desserts from an authentic Brooklyn neighborhood pastry shop with A Slice of Brooklyn’s Christmas Lights and Cannoli Tour. Prices for the tour are USD$55, adults; USD$45, children (asliceofbrooklyn.com).
Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After, at the Barclays Center gives a new twist on fairy tale fun. Performances run from November 27 to December 2 (barclayscenter.com).
MANHATTAN:
The City is full of with holiday spirit, particularly as its famed stores and iconic hotels strive to outdo the previous year’s celebration. Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s spruce up their window displays with elaborate holiday-themed décor that continues to attract visitors year after year. The shops at Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, Union Square and Grand Central Terminal are a must-go for shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind gifts created by local artists and venders.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is one of the most popular draws for holiday visitors from around the world. The annual tree-lighting ceremony has been a tradition for decades, and has evolved from an effort to celebrate the holidays during the Great Depression to a star-studded televised event. The lighting takes place on November 28 at Rockefeller Plaza, between West 48th and West 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues (rockefellercenter.com).
Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular continues to amaze both visitors and residents alike. This year, the Christmas Spectacular will be celebrating the 85th anniversary of the Rockettes performing in New York City From November 9 to December 30, experience the joy of Christmas with outstanding performances by the world-famous Rockettes. Ticket prices start at $46 (radiocitychristmas.com).
Discover the magic of Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday story as it comes to life on stage in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas at The Theater of Madison Square Garden. From December 13 to December 30, audiences will have the opportunity to celebrate the holidays with this classic tale that will entertain the whole family. Tickets go on-sale to the general public on Monday, August 13th at 12pm (theateratmsg.com/grinch).
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker presented by the New York City Ballet will perform one of the season’s favorite annual productions. Featuring marching toy soldiers, a glowing one-ton Christmas tree, crystalline snowflakes and some of the most glorious dancing the City has to offer, the show is truly a magical experience—whether it’s a family tradition or once-in-a-lifetime event. The show runs from Nov. 23 to Dec. 30; tickets will be available in September (nycballet.com).
The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be offering a variety of Christmas concerts, presented in front of the museum’s Christmas tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche, on display November 20, 2012 – January 6, 2013. A Chanticleer Christmas, performed by the renowned vocal ensemble, celebrates the mystery and wonder of Christmas with traditional carols, Medieval and Renaissance sacred works, and new holiday music, will take place November 27 and December 2, at 6:30 and 8:30pm. The Cathedral Choir of St. John the Divine led by Kent Tritle will perform O Magnum Mysterium: O Great Mystery, on December 9 at 6:30 and 8:30pm (metmuseum.org).
An annual Museum tradition, the Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History has marked the start of the holiday season at the Museum for more than 30 years. Volunteers begin folding in July to complete the 500 creations that will be displayed on the tree, November 19-January 6, 2013 (amnh.org).
Twelve 14-foot color-lighted stars will “dance” to holiday music in the Great Room with 150-foot ceilings at the Time Warner Center. Not only is the show enchanting, but it is also the largest specialty crafted display of illuminated color in the world. For that extra special holiday experience, be sure to join Inside the Circle for free information about culinary and fashion events, special promotions, giveaways and prizes (theshopsatcolumbucircle.com).
Le Parker Meridien will host its fourth annual Gingerbread Extravaganza. This year, local pastry chefs will create large-scale confectionary creations highlighting monuments from around the world, on display from December 1 to January 3, 2013. For USD$1, visitors can vote for the best gingerbread design and enter to win a prize. All proceeds will benefit City Harvest, an organization that rescues food to feed hungry New Yorkers (parkermeridien.com).
QUEENS:
Also in Queens, the Queens County Farmhouse will be offering free tours of the decorated farmhouse, a craft activity and mulled cider at the Holiday Open House on December 26, 27, and 28 from 12 to 2pm. (queensfarm.org).
STATEN ISLAND:
In Staten Island, visitors can see the sights and sounds of Historic Richmond Town at its festive best. On December 2, from 10am to 5pm, Historic Richmond Town will host Christmas in Richmond Town, sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary. The day’s activities will close with a tree lighting at 5pm. Get more of Richmond Town with the annual Candlelight Tours, December 14 and 15, when the town will be lit by candles, oil lamps and blazing fireplaces. Prepaid reservations are required; call 718-351-1611, ext 281, for tour times and reservations (historicrichmondtown.org).
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