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36 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC for Kids

Enjoy the Coca-Cola Winter Wonderland experience at the Apollo for free. Photo courtesy of the Apollo
Enjoy the Coca-Cola Winter Wonderland experience at the Apollo for free. Photo courtesy of the Apollo
12/1/24 - By Drew Kristofik

When it comes to holiday gifts, we've got the perfect one for you, dear reader: This list of FREE holiday and Christmas events in NYC. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve are all fast approaching, but between Nutcrackers, family-friendly holiday shows, special meals with Santa, and gift-giving, things can get expensive. So, we've rounded up 36 FREE holiday and Christmas events in NYC to enjoy now through New Year's Eve.

For more things to do in New York City this season, bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday Activities and Christmas Events and our always-up-to-date Family Activity Calendar.

Keep in mind that reservations are required for many of these events, so plan your outings in advance, and be sure to click through to our listings for all the details, including address, time, and recommended ages.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Free Christmas Events in New York City this December

Tree Lighting Skate-tacular at Bryant Park

Midtown West
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park hosts its annual tree lighting, with a stellar lineup of live skate performances, and fireworks!  READ MORE

Madison Square Holiday Tree Lighting

Flatiron District
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Gather around the Madison Square Holiday Tree for the 112th annual holiday tree lighting, complete with photo-ops, baked goods, and live music. READ MORE

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting 2024

Midtown West
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
The 92nd Rockefeller Center Christmas tree illuminates for a national close-up. Families across the US can view the Christmas tree lighting from home, live on the national broadcast “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on NBC. READ MORE

Broadway Under the Stars at the Shops at Columbus Circle

Midtown East
Wednesday, December 4 and Thursdays, December 5, 12, and 19, 2024
Broadway and The Shops at Columbus Circle team up for the annual return of Broadway Under the Stars, a four-week series of free public concerts and performances taking place this holiday season.  READ MORE

28th Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting

Central Park
Thursday, December 5, 2024
See the flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer get lit for the season at this annual Christmas tree lighting. Visitors can meet Santa and friends, watch a live ice-carving demonstration, sing carols on the plaza, and warm up with hot cocoa and cookies. READ MORE

Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibit at the Arsenal

Midtown East
Weekdays from Thursday, December 5-Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Celebrate the holiday season at the 42nd annual exhibition of inventive, unconventional wreaths crafted by a diverse selection of fine artists, designers, and other creative contributors. READ MORE

Traditional Tree Lighting in Historic Richmond Town

Richmond, Staten Island
Friday, December 6, 2024
The return of the free annual tree lighting celebration kicks off with a performance by the Richmond County Orchestra Brass Quintet, followed by joyful songs from the GRACE-ful Glee Choir. Santa Claus makes a special appearance, spreading cheer before the tree lights up. READ MORE

Hasbro Toyland on the High Line

Chelsea
Friday, December 6-Sunday, December 8, 2024
Hasbro invites families to a free holiday pop-up bursting with toys, games, and activities, including photo-ops with Santa and Hasbro characters (Peppa Pig, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and more). Grab a tote bag of goodies, too, while supplies last.  READ MORE

Parade on Rockaway

Rockaways, Queens
Friday, December 6-Sunday, December 8, 2024
Queens' annual Parade on Rockaway provides three days packed with holiday cheer, from the biggest tree lighting in Queens to a gift giveaway (featuring Santa) and a lovely parade of lights on Rockaway Boulevard. READ MORE

23rd Annual St. Nicholas Day Celebration at Wyckoff Farmhouse

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Families are invited to NYC's oldest house for an outdoor celebration packed with craft activities, a tree lighting, and a special visit from St. Nick (who arrives on horseback around 2:45pm). Kids can sip hot cider, try some colonial games, create a holiday pomander, decorate a Dutch clog for Sinterklaas, and dress the tree.   READ MORE

Santa Studio at City Point

Downtown Brooklyn
Weekends from Saturday, December 7-Sunday, December 15, 2024
Capture the joy of the season with a free portrait at the Santa Studio, featuring the jolly man himself in a red suit with a holiday-inspired backdrop.   READ MORE

A Christmas Carol Revisited at the National Arts Club

Gramercy
Monday, December 9, 2024
A small ensemble of talented actors read—and act out—an hour-long version of the classic novella that involves the ghosts of the past, present, and future. The highly original staging is augmented by “scenery” that depicts some of the key events in the story. READ MORE

Calypso, Carols, and Cocoa: The Dumbo Holiday Lighting

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The Dumbo Improvement District hosts its annual Dumbo Holiday Lighting ceremony, with all the trimmings. Enjoy live music, carols, hot cocoa, and an appearance from Santa himself. READ MORE

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s WeBop Holiday Jazz Jam at the Shops at Columbus Circle

Midtown West
Select dates from Friday, December 13-Friday, December 20, 2024
WeBop, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s award-winning, early childhood education program, steps up to the holiday season with interactive, holiday-themed live jazz performances. These festive and free shows invite young music lovers and their caregivers to swing and sing along with talented musicians. READ MORE

Holiday Reading: The Gift of the Magi at Queens County Farm

Floral Park, Queens
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Grab your fleece, hats, gloves, coats, and woolies, and throw on your winter boots! The Queens County Farm Museum hosts a special outdoor holiday reading of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. READ MORE

Winter Wonderland at the Apollo Stages

Harlem
Saturday, December 14, 2024
This festive celebration at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria is filled with holiday-themed activities including photos with Black Santa, live performances, and opportunities to give back to the community with family and friends.  READ MORE

51st Annual Merry Tuba Christmas at Rockefeller Center

Midtown West
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Hundreds of tenor and bass tuba players congregate at The Rink at Rockefeller Center to play Christmas carols and other crowd favorites. READ MORE

Unsilent Night 2024

West Village to East Village
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Each year, composer Phil Kline leads a massive chorus of boomboxes from the West Village to the East Village in the annual holiday presentation of Unsilent Night. READ MORE

Santa's Photo Corner at Bryant Park

Midtown West
Monday, December 16-Friday, December 20, 2024
Santa stops by Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park for free photo opportunities.  READ MORE

Nut/Cracked at the National Arts Club

Gramercy
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
The Bang Group’s beloved response to The Nutcracker merges tap, vaudeville, ballet, disco, contemporary dance, and genre-nonconforming glee with bubble wrap and Chinese takeout noodles. READ MORE

Brunch with Santa at the Greenbelt Recreation Center

Greenbelt, Staten Island
Saturday, December 21, 2024
NYC Parks hosts a light brunch filled with holiday magic. Visit the Greenbelt's beautiful holiday-themed rooms for family-friendly games, cookie decorating, and arts and crafts.  READ MORE

Make Music Winter Event: The Mobile Hallelujah

Midtown West
Saturday, December 21, 2024
The always popular “Mobile Hallelujah” returns this season, in which the most dramatic four minutes of Handel’s famed oratorio Messiah are distilled into “pop-up” style performances that take place in seven iconic Manhattan locations, including Times Square and Lincoln Center. READ MORE

Holiday Caroling Under the Washington Square Arch

Greenwich Village
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Join The Rob Susman Brass Quartet for a holiday celebration under the Washington Square Arch. The annual Christmas carol event fills the city streets with the sweet sounds of holiday carols. READ MORE

Macy's Santaland

Herald Square
Daily through Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Santa swoops back over to Macy's for visits with his littlest fans! Wander the rainbow road to his workshop, where you'll meet jolly old St. Nick. Share your wishlist before receiving a special gift and posing for a keepsake photo. READ MORE

Free Hanukkah Events in New York City this December

Hanukkah at Brookfield Place

Battery Park City
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Enjoy a live klezmer band performance and therapeutic art-making activity led by art therapist, Tova Speter and create a mini candle holder. READ MORE

The Largest Menorah Lighting: Brooklyn

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Wednesday, December 25, 2024-Thursday, January 2, 2025
Chabad of Park Slope hosts the 32-foot "Largest Menorah" in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza. There's a kick off concert on Wednesday, December 25, and each subsequent night of Hanukkah is celebrated with music, latkes, and gifts.  READ MORE

The World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah: Manhattan

Midtown West
Wednesday, December 25, 2024-Thursday, January 2, 2025
Gather around the 32-foot-high, gold-colored, 4,000-pound steel holiday icon at Grand Army Plaza (Fifth Avenue and West 59th Street, across the street from The Plaza hotel) to kick off the annual Jewish Festival of Lights. READ MORE

Menorah Lighting at Hudson Yards

Midtown West
Wednesday, December 25, 2024-Thursday, January 2, 2025
Visit the Public Square and Gardens in Hudson Yards for a menorah lighting, then snag eight days of special offers from participating shops.    READ MORE

Light Up the Night: 14Y's Downtown Hanukkah Celebration

Union Square
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Celebrate Hanukkah with mesmerizing LED light juggling, holiday-themed crafts for kids, music curated by DJ Jonathan Cohen, a soulful Yiddish music performance by Broadway singer Joanne Borts, and an Insta-Choir experience. READ MORE

Chocolate Hanukkah at the Seaport

South Street Seaport
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Light the menorah and celebrate Hanukkah with crafts for kids and goodies for all. READ MORE

Community Menorah Lighting at Chabad of Windsor Terrace

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Windsor Terrace's annual community menorah lighting features a fire juggling performance, latkes, gifts for children, and the grand gelt drop by an FDNY fire truck!   READ MORE

Hanukkah on Ice under the Brooklyn Bridge

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Monday, December 30, 2024
Chabad of Dumbo hosts a Hanukkah celebration under the Brooklyn Bridge, complete with ice skating and the lighting of the menorah. READ MORE

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Fun for Kids and Families in New York City

New Year's Countdown Party with Fyütch at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library

Midtown West
Monday, December 30, 2024
Grammy-nominated music artist Fyütch pops into the library to perform high-energy songs about social justice and environmental health with affirming chants and dances. READ MORE

New Year's Craft at the South Beach Library

South Beach, Staten Island
Monday, December 30, 2024
Create a party hat and a confetti popper, and design your very own 2025 banner using craft materials at the library. READ MORE

Happy Noon Year at Highlawn Library

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Monday, December 30, 2024
Ring in 2025 with Highlawn Library...in the daylight! Listen to some New Year-themed stories, learn about different cultural New Year's celebrations, have a countdown to noon, do a balloon drop, and dance! READ MORE

New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square

Midtown West
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
America’s go-to annual New Year’s tradition celebrates the year’s very best in music and rings in the new year with more than 5½ hours of dynamic performances. At midnight, the ball drops to welcome 2025. READ MORE

CANCELED: Central Park New Year's Eve Fireworks

Central Park
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Fireworks in Central Park have been canceled this year, due to drought. NYRR is exploring other options. Stay tuned. Central Park's 15-minute-long New Year's Eve fireworks take flight at the stroke of midnight. The show, put on in conjunction with the NYRR Midnight Run, is visible to the general public south of 72nd Street. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Chelsea Market Passage On the High Line
Various locations midtown west
Brookfield Place Hudson Eats
Windsor Farms Market parking lot
Under the Manhattan Bridge Archway
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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