
NYC’s best Christmas events for kids are aplenty, just like the toys in Santa’s workshop. And we’ve generously scoped out the best of the best.
If you’re looking to add some family-friendly fun for your winter bucket list, these offerings will appeal to the young and young at heart: think Broadway shows, ice skating rinks, immersive experiences, and so much more. Truthfully, the North Pole’s got nothing on NYC.
If you want the most wonderful time of the year to live up to its title, we suggest you start here.
1. Meet Santa Claus

Santa’s comin’ to town and spending his time well in NYC. (No surprise there.) If your kiddo has a lengthy list that needs to be checked twice, we’ve uncovered where to see Santa for a holiday meetup, whether at Macy’s Santaland, Bryant Park, etc. Expect photo ops (naturally), fun activities, small bites, and more, depending on where you’re able to catch Kris Kringle.
2. Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
There isn’t a more iconic attraction in NYC come Christmastime than the tree at Rockefeller Center. This year’s Norway Spruce will be a special one, hailing all the way from Massachusetts — the first to do so in 65 years. It’ll arrive on Saturday, November 9th, and if you and the littles want in on the ginormous setup, RSVP on the Rockefeller Center website (required). The event will also feature pics with Santa, storytelling, performances from Rock and Roll Playhouse, and more.
Then, the Rockfeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on December 4th and remain lit early into the new year.
3. Go ice skating
Time to lace up your skates for a loop around NYC’s best ice rinks. For the second year in a row, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s ice rink will return with stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge, while another waterfront ice rink is set to debut in Domino Park. But what we’re most excited for? Those ice bumper cars returning to Prospect Park. Game. On.
4. Walk through Luminosa: A Festival of Lights
Queens Botanical Garden is slated for an illuminating makeover this holiday season, courtesy of Luminosa. This festival will feature 1,000,000 LED lights and 100+ amazing lamp scenes of florals, animals, cultural symbols, and beyond. Make sure your phone is fully charged for the breathtaking selfies that await!
5. Sip hot chocolate
Whether you’re admiring Christmas lights or gearing up to pay Santa a visit, it’s not necessarily required to have a hot chocolate at hand, but it certainly makes the experience all the more satisfying. We’ve uncovered the best places across the city for chocolatey, creamy goodness, and you’re going to want to visit them all.
6. See the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
If you’re looking for an extraordinary experience where Christmas enthusiasts go all-out, a trip to Dyker Heights is a must. Every year, the Brooklyn neighborhood gets completely decked out in holiday decor, and we’re fairly certain you’d be able to see the festive blocks from space. Kiddos will love eyeing each house’s extensive lighting displays, but keep in mind, it gets super crowded over the weekends.
7. Winter Whirl at The Shops at the Oculus
‘Tis the season to lace up your skates. The Oculus’ indoor roller rink, situated amidst festive decor, is the perfect way to ring in the holiday season, especially once the music gets going. Those 8 and up are invited to take a spin around this holiday-themed attraction. Additionally, the rink is ADA-compliant, and wheelchair users are welcome to skate.
8. Catch ‘Elf: The Musical’ on Broadway
Buddy the Elf is bringing his Christmas cheer to the Great White Way! While in search of his human father in NYC, Buddy the Elf learns how to acclimate to life in NYC, which is very different than his norm back home in the North Pole. But perhaps, a little taste of Santa’s workshop is actually what the city needs. Performances kick off on Saturday, November 9th, 2024.
9. Enjoy the Bronx Zoo Holiday Light Show
Ready to see the animal kingdom in a whole new light? (Quite literally!) The Bronx Zoo’s wintertime display sets the attraction aglow with stunning lantern trails of creatures from all over the world — Africa, Asia, America, and the oceans — while providing visitors a chance to get lost in immersive light experiences, enjoy sweet treats, watch ice carvings, and so much more. We give this experience two paws/fins/wings/etc. up. The annual event kicks off on Friday, November 22, 2024.
10. Watch trains go round ‘n round at NYBG
Perhaps as iconic as its florals is The New York Botanical Garden’s annual holiday train show. For a dose of comfort and nostalgia, watch old-school model trolleys and locomotives zip across the Haupt Conservatory as it gets decked out in Christmas decor. Plus, there are displays that pay homage to NYC in the wintertime, and there’s nothing better than that. If you’re keen on leaving the kids home one evening (no judgement) make sure to snag tickets to Holiday Train Nights at NYBG, a fun evening experience for the 21+ crowd. The fun kicks off Saturday, November 16th, 2024.
11. Enjoy dinner at a festive restaurant
Festive restaurants with holiday decor (like Rolf’s) are as close as you’ll get to the North Pole. Why not set up shop in a winter wonderland and feast on cozy, hearty comfort food? Keep in mind that menus at Christmasy establishments like Rolf’s, Oscar Wilde’s, and so on are better suited for older kiddos who aren’t picky eaters.
12. Visit the world’s largest Gingerbread Village, right in NYC

If we didn’t know any better, we’d say the North Pole has some pretty stiff competition in the sweets department. NYC families are able to wander through the world’s largest gingerbread village — made of 700 gingerbread houses (using 1,000 pounds of gingerbread) and 4,000 pounds of candy — at the New York Hall of Science, and it’s a delightful experience for anyone who wants to get an elf’s eye view of holiday happenings. There’s no word yet on the 2024 event, but we’ll be sure to update you as soon as we learn more.
13. Watch the Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Radio City Hall is a must-visit during the holidays, largely thanks to the Rockettes and their iconic dance moves. Seeing the iconic March of the Wooden Soldiers in-person is unforgettable. The show kicks off for the 2024 season on Friday, November 8th.
14. Listen to Christmas carols and more by candlelight
Taking your kids (8 years old or older) to a Candlelight concert this holiday season is the perfect family plan for creating lasting memories. These holiday shows offer a magical atmosphere, with beautifully lit venues and live music that features a mix of Christmas classics, from traditional carols to jazz standards like Ella Fitzgerald’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
With a variety of venues and concerts to choose from, it’s a wonderful way to introduce your little ones to the magic of live music while enjoying the festive spirit together.
15. Go on a hot cocoa crawl
What’s more fitting in the winter than a cup of hot cocoa? (One with marshmallows, whipped cream, and syrup, obviously.) We’ve rounded up our favorite delicious sips across the city that are not required by highly encouraged before embarking on seasonal festivities. If you’re hunkering down at home, be sure to watch those Christmas movies with a sweet treat: and fortunately, we learned how to make Glace’s viral s’mores hot chocolate at home.
16. Reserve a time to visit Bryant Park’s Curling Café
There’s plenty to do at Bryant Park during the holiday season, and curling is one of the fun activities New Yorkers gravitate towards to get them in a festive spirit. What’s more, there are heated domes included with your curling reservation, so after a good game, you can refuel. This is especially helpful, considering you wouldn’t want to walk around Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park without a little taste of all the offerings: shops, skating, food concessions, Christmas tree selfies, and more.
17. Go shopping at NYC’s holiday markets
Snacks and goodies abound at NYC’s best holiday markets. Whether you’re craving something sweet or are on the hunt for a special gift, these local vendors offer a lot to love. Even better? There’s a new market headed to Herald Square this holiday season, giving you and the littles ample opportunities to find some good buys. Fair warning: their Christmas wishlists are likely to double.
18. View NYC’s holiday window displays
Take a stroll along the iconic Fifth Avenue — and beyond — to see NYC’s chichest retail stores dressed to the nines for the holiday season! The elaborate window displays at Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s are perfect to snap seasonal photos of your little elves.
18. Stop by the Coney Island Frost Fest
Back for a second year, the winter extravaganza turns everyone’s favorite summer hangout into the North Pole. On select days from November 23rd, 2024 to January 5, 2025, families can enjoy ice skating, pics with Santa, a market, and rides on select amusement park attractions, including the iconic Coney Island Cyclone and the Aeromax. This year’s new addition is the Candy Cane Chute, “an exciting rapid slide to deliver a rush of holiday cheer.”
19. Marvel at “Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off”
The third annual “Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off” is officially underway at the Museum of the City of New York showcasing the work of 20 bakers across the city who’ve put a very NYC spin on their holiday houses. From the Macy’s storefront to rides at Coney Island, each creation is a representation of the place we call home.
20. “WINTER WONDER: The Northern Lights Express” At Rockefeller Center
If a trip abroad to see the Northern Lights seems a little hectic with the kiddos, we have the next best thing! With an immersive sneak peek at Aurora Borealis, a hot cocoa chalet, and a life-sized gingerbread house, “WINTER WONDER: The Northern Lights Express” At Rockefeller Center is the perfect holiday outing for all ages. The 13,000 square-foot experience has 11 rooms of wintery goodness to work through and includes fun activities: story times for the tots, trivia nights, bingo, and happy hours for the 21+ crowd (for when you decide to leave the littles at home).
21. Take a trip to Westchester’s Winter Wonderland
For an enchanting wintertime experience just outside of NYC, Westchester’s Winter Wonderland is an illuminating 1.2-mile drive-through via the Bronx River Parkway filled with thousands of lights and festive decor that you and the littles will love: a 175-foot Transporter Tunnel, a glowing string tunnel, Rudolph’s Runway and colorful light tubes, and a sparkling, 40-foot Christmas tree.
22. Hop aboard the Metro-North Railroad’s first-ever holiday lights train
The Metro-North is getting into the holiday spirit to make commutes a little more festive, and for that we’re eternally grateful — especially when traveling with kiddos. For the first time, the MTA will bedazzle trains with lights that are en route to and from NYC. The lines participating in the fun are as follows:
- The Hudson Line between Grand Central Terminal (GCT) and Croton-Harmon
- The Harlem Line between GCT and Southeast
- The New Haven Line between GCT and New Haven
23. Ride a vintage NYC train
Locomotives-obsessed little ones will be in awe when stepping aboard an old-school, vintage train car. What better way to celebrate the holiday season that with a ride from yesteryear? Allow us to help you hop on a 1930s train with our guide to the schedule, route, and everything else you need to know.
24. Take a trip to the most festive house in Brooklyn
Dyker Heights might get all the credit, but a sparkling Bay Ridge residence with 50,000 twinkling lights is worth visiting. The Jensens have started their tradition 35 years ago, and it’s only grown more extravagant and eye-catching in that time. Considering it takes the family about two weeks to set everything up, you can rest assured you’re in for a treat.
25. Visit a Christmas tree farm
Pick out your annual fir or spruce, Clark Griswold style (minus the hijinks) and bring it back for an evening of decorating. What’s better than a live tree during Christmastime? We can smell the pine just thinking about a trip to these tree farms!
So, what’s on your list this year? A little bit of everything? Ditto!