Last updated: November 11, 2024
Explore the top festive highlights in Parkchester! Our guide features all the must-see holiday events. For Parkchester aficionados and curious cats, our guide is your ticket to holiday discoveries.
This season, the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dazzles with its elaborate light display, drawing visitors from near and far. In addition, the enchanting Rockefeller Center ice skating rink offers a classic winter experience where skaters glide under the twinkling lights. And the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes is something you definitely don't want to miss. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Contact information and details below.
Customized holiday decoration services for iconic brands and businesses.
American Christmas offers bespoke holiday decoration services, crafting unique and festive lighting designs for iconic brands and businesses.
Where: Yonkers | More Info: Santa's Village at American Christmas
Immersive light display with hand-crafted lanterns and interactive features.
The Winter Lantern Festival at Queens County Farm Museum features over 1500 lights and 80 hand-crafted lanterns, creating an immersive experience across 6 acres of historic farmland. Visitors can explore a luminescent display inspired by Chinese folklore and animals, along with interactive illuminated tunnels, swings, and see-saws. New features include the Bounce House and Sugar Paintings.
Where: Flushing | More Info: Winter Lantern Festival at Queens County Farm Museum
Illuminated forest with interactive light displays.
At Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard, the Festival of Lights transforms the orchard into an illuminated forest with over half a million brilliant lights, featuring whimsical creatures, light-changing orbs, thematic installations, and interactive light displays.
Where: North Salem | More Info: Festival of Lights at Harvest Moon
Wildlife-themed light displays and interactive experiences.
Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo features immersive light displays, animal lantern trails, and interactive experiences celebrating wildlife and wild places. The event includes festive entertainment, seasonal treats, and family-friendly activities.
Where: Bronx | More Info: Holiday Lights 2024 - Bronx Zoo
Interactive holiday light displays with new character Ice Queen.
Westchester's Winter Wonderland is a 1.2-mile drive-thru holiday light extravaganza featuring thousands of lights, new character Ice Queen, a 125-foot pixel wall, and live characters like Santa and elves. The event benefits the Westchester Parks Foundation and offers a safe, memorable experience for families.
Where: Valhalla | More Info: Westchester's Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Light Show Experience
100,000 lights in an Indo-Persian style garden setting.
The Grand Holiday Illumination at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy features over 100,000 lights illuminating the Walled Garden, accompanied by holiday music reflecting various traditions. This event is a Yonkers tradition, open daily from December 8 to January 1, and is free to the public with no reservations required.
Where: Yonkers | More Info: Grand Holiday Illumination - Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
Iconic, elaborately decorated Christmas tree in a prominent public space.
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. It stands as a symbol of holiday joy and tradition in Midtown Manhattan.
Where: New York | More Info: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Interactive holiday window displays with a toy workshop and three-dimensional camera.
Macy's Christmas windows in New York feature beautifully decorated displays with interactive elements like toy workshops and three-dimensional cameras. Each window showcases a unique scene with festive materials such as wrapping paper and champagne glasses, capturing moments of joy and friendship.
Where: New York | More Info: Decorated Shop Windows
G-scale model trains traverse plant-based NYC landmarks in a historic glasshouse.
The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show features G-scale model trains navigating intricate, plant-based replicas of New York City landmarks within the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The event includes both daytime and nighttime displays, with festive food and drink options available during Holiday Train Nights.
Where: Bronx | More Info: NYBG GLOW- New York Botanical Gardens
Historic period setting with actor Michael Muldoon playing Charles Dickens.
A one-hour play recreating Charles Dickens' famous performance tour in 1867, bringing Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim to life in the beautifully decorated Lyndhurst Mansion.
Where: Tarrytown | More Info: Mr. Dickens Tells a Christmas Carol
Interactive event with Santa Claus preparation activities.
Santa Needs Your Help is an interactive event where guests assist Santa Claus in preparing for Christmas by playing games and singing songs. The event also includes a photo opportunity with Santa and a live-reading or short film based on the book "Santa Doesn't Need Your Help."
Where: Pelham | More Info: Santa Needs Your Help
Family-friendly music festival with student ensembles and silent auction.
Hoff-Barthelson Music School's Holiday Music Festival is a family-friendly event showcasing the incredible talents of student ensembles, including choruses, Suzuki groups, jazz bands, and handbells. The event features a variety of musical performances and delicious foods, with a silent auction offering unique gifts and experiences.
Where: Scarsdale | More Info: Holiday Music Festival
Handicap-accessible concert with a sing-along.
Collective Brass presents a joyous holiday concert featuring seasonal favorites, including selections from The Nutcracker and new arrangements of ancient carols, with a sing-along and the Hallelujah Chorus.
Where: Tarrytown | More Info: Collective Brass Holiday Concert
High-kicking precision dance routines by the world-famous Rockettes.
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular features the iconic Rockettes in a 90-minute performance filled with precision dance routines, high kicks, and memorable acts like the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "Living Nativity" scene.
Where: New York | More Info: Radio City Christmas Spectacular (The Rockettes)
World-class ballet with elaborate sets and costumes.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is a treasured holiday ballet featuring Tchaikovsky’s transcendent melodies, intricate sets, and exquisite choreography. The production introduces young Marie as she encounters the fearsome Mouse King and a blustery blizzard, leading to an enchanting Land of Sweets. The entire Company, including 90 dancers, 62 musicians, and over 125 children, come together to create a visually stunning and musically captivating performance.
Where: New York | More Info: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Guided tours showcasing the estate’s history under the glow of twilight.
This event invites visitors to explore the stunning grounds of Boscobel House and Gardens during twilight. As the sun sets, guests can enjoy guided tours that highlight the estate's architecture and the beauty of the surrounding landscape, while also discovering the rich history of the site. The experience is enhanced by soft lighting and the tranquil atmosphere of the gardens at dusk.
Where: Cold Spring | More Info: Twilight Tours at Boscobel
Historic mansion tour featuring elaborate holiday decorations and rarely-seen items.
Explore Lyndhurst Mansion, transformed into an extravagant holiday display with elaborate tableaus and expertly decorated Christmas trees. This one-hour tour visits the main two floors, offering a discussion of history, architecture, and art. The event is not recommended for young children, and families are encouraged to attend the Roam-on-your-Own Weekend.
Where: Tarrytown | More Info: Holiday Classic Mansion Tours at Lyndhurst
Interactive period room exploration with costumed interpreters.
Explore the first floor of the centuries-old Keeler Tavern Museum at your own pace. Costumed interpreters will answer questions and share stories about the site's former residents. Fun activities, including a partridge scavenger hunt and take-home craft, will engage younger visitors as they make their way through period rooms reflecting historic traditions and ways of living from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Where: Ridgefield | More Info: Holiday Stroll Open House - Keeler Tavern Museum
Interactive exhibits and activities for children.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children offers a variety of interactive activities, including the Discovery Station, where visitors can explore edible gardens, colored shadows, and homemade thermometers. The museum also features story read-aloud sessions, fitness activities, and puppet shows, making it an engaging place for children to learn and have fun.
Where: Norwalk | More Info: Worldwide Lights Celebration at Stepping Stones
Hands-on Hanukkah crafts for families.
Celebrate Hanukkah with fun crafts like making your own candles and menorahs, accompanied by latkes and donuts.
Where: Scarsdale | More Info: Get Ready for Hanukkah: Make Your Own Candles and Menorah
Live holiday music and festive decorations on a classic yacht.
Embark on a 1.5-hour holiday cruise aboard a classic yacht, adorned with full holiday decor. Enjoy sweeping views of the NYC skyline, listen to live holiday songs, and savor one complimentary drink along with festive cookies and treats. This traditional New York City Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise offers a cozy and memorable experience.
Where: New York | More Info: Festive Christmas Cruise
Iconic ice skating under the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Ice skating at Rockefeller Center offers a quintessential winter experience under the iconic Christmas Tree, with 60-minute sessions available for general admission tickets starting at $21. The rink also features special events and Après Skate Chalets presented by Balsam Hill.
Where: New York | More Info: Rockefeller Center ice skating
