The holiday season in New York City feels like stepping into a living snow globe. From the twinkling lights of Rockefeller Center to the charming winter markets at Bryant Park, the city glows with festive cheer. I love strolling past the dazzling department store windows, sipping hot cocoa with the air filled with Christmas music. Whether ice skating beneath the skyline or watching the Rockettes kick up their heels, NYC truly captures the magic of the holidays. Here’s a list of things to do and places to go this holiday season.
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BRYANT PARK CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
Bryant Park’s 2025 Winter Village returns starting October 24, transforming the Midtown green space into a holiday oasis. With one of the city’s rare free-admission ice skating rinks, it invites both locals and holiday travelers to glide beneath twinkling lights. Lined with over 190 seasonal kiosks, the Holiday Shops by Urbanspace offer artisan gifts, festive décor, and gourmet treats in bespoke “jewel box” huts.
New this year, enjoy rinkside igloos, curling cafés, and curated live programming at The Lodge, including holiday performances and family pop-ups. Bryant Park’s Winter Village remains a radiant annual gathering — where skating, shopping, and celebration come together at Manhattan’s heart.
RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
This holiday season, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular returns to New York City with more sparkle than ever, marking the 100th anniversary of the legendary Rockettes. Running from November 6, 2025, through January 4, 2026, this year’s show celebrates a century of precision dance, glamour, and holiday joy. Fans can expect classic numbers like “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and “The Living Nativity,” alongside enhanced digital projections and holographic effects that make the production feel fresh and immersive.
New for 2025, the show features special centennial tributes, exclusive anniversary merchandise, and onsite activations honoring the Rockettes’ enduring legacy. Tradition meets innovation in a dazzling celebration that captures the heart of New York’s holiday spirit
VETERANS DAY PARADE
New York City’s Veterans Day Parade returns on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, marching up Fifth Avenue from 26th to 48th Street beginning at 12:30 p.m. Hosted by the United War Veterans Council, this year’s 106th annual celebration will spotlight the 250th anniversary of America’s military, offering special tributes to the Army, Navy, and Marines.
Grand Marshals include Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha, along with Stephen Peck and retired Navy Capt. Sunita “Suni” Williams. Over 300 marching and vehicle units and some 20,000 participants will take part, representing all service eras. The parade is televised locally on WABC and streamed online — a stirring blend of pageantry, patriotism, and timeless gratitude.
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, running from 8:30 a.m. to noon EST along a 2.5-mile route from Central Park West to Macy’s Herald Square. The celebration will feature the parade’s signature giant balloons, colorful floats, marching bands, dancers, and celebrity performances. New in 2025, the lineup includes character balloons such as Satoru Gojo(from Jujutsu Kaisen) and Warrior Kitty (LEGO), as well as fantasy figures like Trogdor the Burninator, The Arch-illager & Ender Dragon, and Carl The Collector. As always, the parade marks a festive kickoff to the holiday season nationwide.
ROCKEFELLER
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
Each year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ushers in New York’s holiday season, and 2025 is no different. Tradition holds that the ceremony takes place on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving, which in 2025 falls on December 3, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
New for 2025: a VIP indoor gala at 45 Rockefeller Plaza, from 6:00–10:00 p.m., offers an intimate, climate-controlled vantage point complete with gourmet fare and champagne!
DYKER HEIGHTS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Each year, Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighborhood becomes a living Christmas fantasia — starting November 28, 2025, the night after Thanksgiving. For the season, more than 100 homes along 11th to 13th Avenues between 83rd and 86th Streets sparkle with extravagant displays of lights, inflatables, moving figurines, and synchronized musical effects. Tours now mix guided walking and bus experiences that drop visitors off near the most dramatic displays. This year, expect extra evening hours and expanded access to behind-the-scenes insights from homeowners and decorators eager to share stories and festive secrets.
TIMES SQUARE BALL DROP
As 2025 draws to a close, Times Square pulses with excitement for its New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, beginning with the ball’s raising at 6:00 p.m. and culminating in a dramatic 60-second descent at 11:59 p.m.. This year, the event showcases a star-studded lineup including Rita Ora, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, Mickey Guyton, TLC, Megan Moroney, and more performing live across multiple stages. Co-hosts Jonathan Bennett and Jeremy Hassell will guide the evening’s festivities.
The Ball itself gets a refresh: all 2,688 crystal triangles have been replaced with two striking patterns that honor One Times Square’s past and future.