Last updated: November 11, 2024
Ready for a magical holiday season in Flatlands? Let our guide show you the best festive activities! For Flatlands experts and novices alike, our guide is your compass to seasonal celebrations.
Popular events abound during this enchanting time of year. Experience the joy of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, where stunning performances and dazzling choreography fill the stage with holiday cheer. The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a stunning centerpiece, draws visitors to marvel at its twinkling lights and towering height. And don't forget the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, where vibrant displays illuminate the streets in a showcase of festive creativity. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Flatlands Holiday Light Displays
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- What to Expect
- Iconic 80-foot-tall Norway spruce decorated with 50,000 LED lights and a Swarovski crystal star.
- Description
- The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a towering Norway spruce adorned with over 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and topped with a 900-pound Swarovski star featuring 3 million crystals and 70 spikes. The tree is a symbol of the holiday season in New York City, attracting millions of visitors each year.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
- What to Expect
- Over-the-top home decorations by local residents.
- Description
- Dyker Heights Christmas Lights features elaborate home decorations, including life-size Nutcrackers and animatronic displays, creating a spectacular holiday display in Brooklyn.
- Where
- Brooklyn | More Info : Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Central Park Holiday Lighting
- What to Expect
- Holiday lighting and caroling event with Santa.
- Description
- Celebrate the holiday season at Central Park with caroling, hot cocoa, and a visit to Santa. The evening culminates in the lighting of a flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Central Park Holiday Lighting
Christmas Window Displays
- What to Expect
- Interactive holiday window displays with cutting-edge designs.
- Description
- New York City's iconic department stores transform their windows into spectacular holiday displays featuring intricate designs, interactive elements, and festive animations. Each store offers a unique theme and visual experience, making the city's holiday window displays a must-see attraction.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Christmas Window Displays
Christmas Lights Bus Tour of Dyker Heights
- What to Expect
- Unique holiday light displays in a Brooklyn neighborhood.
- Description
- Explore the world-famous Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, known for its extravagant and over-the-top Christmas light displays. Our guided bus tour includes a walking tour through the most celebrated homes, showcasing the best of holiday decorating traditions.
- Where
- Brooklyn | More Info : Christmas Lights Bus Tour of Dyker Heights
Flatlands Holiday Markets and Shopping
Bryant Park Winter Village
- What to Expect
- NYC's largest free-admission ice skating rink with diverse holiday activities.
- Description
- Bryant Park Winter Village offers a 17,000 square foot free-admission ice skating rink, high-quality rental skates, and free skating shows. The event also features over 180 holiday shops, cozy igloos, and a Curling Café. Visitors can enjoy festive food and drinks at The Lodge, and special events like bumper cars on ice add to the excitement.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Bryant Park Winter Village
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
- What to Expect
- European-style holiday market with diverse artisanal goods.
- Description
- The Columbus Circle Holiday Market is a bustling outdoor market at the southwestern corner of Central Park, featuring over 100 artisans and designers selling unique gifts, special foods, handmade jewelry, art, and home goods. Visitors can enjoy a variety of treats like bureks, tacos, fancy doughnuts, and bratwurst.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Columbus Circle Holiday Market
Union Square Holiday Market
- What to Expect
- Unique gifts created by local craftsmen and artists.
- Description
- The Union Square Holiday Market is a premier holiday destination in New York City, featuring the city's largest Greenmarket with 150 vendors, dozens of award-winning restaurants, and numerous retailers. The market offers a curated Local Gift Guide and an interactive Holiday Map to help you find the best gifts and dining experiences.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Union Square Holiday Market
Flatlands Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
- What to Expect
- High-energy precision dance with live animals and drone integration.
- Description
- The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an annual holiday performance featuring the Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The show blends festive dance, music, and comedy, with intricate choreography and innovative technology. It includes iconic scenes like "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "The Living Nativity," and features live animals and drone performances.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Broadway Holiday Shows
- What to Expect
- High-energy dance performances by the legendary Rockettes.
- Description
- The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is a holiday show featuring the world-famous Radio City Rockettes, blending iconic moments with breathtaking technology. The show includes aerialists, synchronized dance sequences, and heartwarming tunes, telling the story of two brothers searching for a Christmas gift that leads them to the North Pole.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Broadway Holiday Shows
New York Knicks Christmas Game
- What to Expect
- Basketball game with holiday decorations at Madison Square Garden.
- Description
- The New York Knicks Christmas Game is a special event where the Knicks take on an opponent in a festive atmosphere, with the iconic Madison Square Garden decorated for the holiday season. Fans can enjoy the excitement of live basketball amidst the holiday cheer.
- Where
- New York | More Info : New York Knicks Christmas Game
New York Rangers Game
- What to Expect
- Defending Presidents' Trophy winners face off against a historic rival.
- Description
- The New York Rangers Game is a high-energy hockey event featuring the defending Presidents' Trophy winners as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 99th season. The game promises intense action, skillful plays, and a thrilling atmosphere at Madison Square Garden.
- Where
- New York | More Info : New York Rangers Game
Christmas Candlelight Concert
- What to Expect
- Live music in a candlelit setting.
- Description
- A Christmas Candlelight Concert features a variety of musical genres performed in a candlelit setting, creating an intimate and memorable experience.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Christmas Candlelight Concert
Flatlands Other Holiday Activities
Ice Skating at Wollman Rink
- What to Expect
- Iconic winter experience with breathtaking city skyline views.
- Description
- Ice skating at Wollman Rink offers a quintessential New York winter experience, with breathtaking views of the city skyline and a welcoming environment for skaters of all ages and skill levels.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Ice Skating at Wollman Rink
New York Giants American Football
- What to Expect
- Historic team with multiple Super Bowl wins.
- Description
- The New York Giants are a professional American football team competing in the National Football Conference (NFC) East division of the National Football League (NFL). Known for their rich history and iconic players like Eli Manning and Lawrence Taylor, the team has won several championships, including Super Bowl XXI. They are based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and play their home games at MetLife Stadium.
- Where
- East Rutherford | More Info : New York Giants American Football
Menorah Lighting at Central Park
- What to Expect
- Largest menorah in the world, designed by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam.
- Description
- The world's largest menorah, certified by Guinness World Records, is lit at Grand Army Plaza in Central Park. This annual event, organized by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, features a menorah-lighting ceremony, live music, and Chassidic dancing. Free donuts are provided on Sunday, and singer Eli Marcus performs on Monday.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Menorah Lighting at Central Park
Menorah Lighting at Prospect Park
- What to Expect
- Annual Hanukkah celebration with live music and traditional foods.
- Description
- Thousands gather at Grand Army Plaza to celebrate Hanukkah with live music, hot latkes, and the lighting of Brooklyn's largest menorah, a 32-foot tall structure that has been a New York City landmark since 1985.
- Where
- Brooklyn | More Info : Menorah Lighting at Prospect Park
Santacon
- What to Expect
- Full-body holiday costumes and charity-driven pub crawl.
- Description
- SantaCon is a charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to fund art and spread absurdist joy. Participants dress in full holiday-themed costumes, visit numerous bars, and engage in festive activities while respecting the city and its laws.
- Where
- New York | More Info : Santacon