Christmas in New York is the most beautiful time of the year as the tree-lined streets of downtown and around town become adorned in lights and other festive displays, from popular musical shows to parades holiday-themed markets. Here are some things to do on Christmas Day in New York:
Holiday Light Tour
It is a free tour by foot and covers everything from Lincoln Center to Lord and Taylor to the Rockefeller Tree. Don’t miss this chance to see all of the holiday decorations and traditional window displays.
Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
The tree lighting is a significant celebration in the city. Although the tree is raised in mid-November, lighting does not take place until the end of November. The live concerts take place in front of the Prometheus Statue and feature various artists who come to perform. The building also surrounds the ice skating rink.
Eat Out
Eating out is always a great thing to do on Christmas Day in New York. Many restaurants are open on December 25th. These include many Indian, Thai, and Chinese restaurants, and not forgetting some American ones too. The top restaurants are, Industry Kitchen, Chinese Tuxedo, RedFarm, Tikka Indian Grill, Kitchen 79 restaurant and many others. If you have a favorite Indian or Chinese restaurant, call and confirm if they’re open and make your booking.
Christmas Musical and Shows
New York City entertains various Christmas and winter holiday-themed musicals and plays, plus other performances from late November until the beginning of January. There are almost 20 wonderful Holiday, and Christmas themed musicals, ballets, shows, and other performances taking place in New York City.
The two famous shows are the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Nutcracker. The number of shows per day differs, but it is usually 4 or 5. The times also differ depending on the show schedule for that day.
Ice Skating in New York City
New York provides plenty of ice skating options during the holidays. After considering the price and the location, you can then make your selection. Rockefeller Center and Central Park can get a bit crowded especially during the holidays, so it is advisable to book in advance or be ready to pay up for quick access.
Christmas Markets
There are many Christmas markets in New York where you can purchase festive treats, decorations, and gifts. Examples of these popular markets that offer fun and unique way to shop during the holidays are the Union Square Holiday Market, Bryant Park’s Winter Village, Grand Central Holiday Fair and many more.
To sum it up, Christmas is always a magical time of the year and is filled with fun festival events. There are many activities to engage in for an afternoon or all day on Christmas day for the solo participant or a group.