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What Is Open on Christmas Day 2025 in NYC?

While most businesses close on Christmas day, many essential stores like grocery stores, pharmacies and bodegas remain open. Many family attractions are also open, possibly with reduced hours, because not everyone celebrates Christmas. 

What Can Families Do on Christmas Day in NYC? (Fun Activities That Are Open)

1. Winter Village at Bryant Park

This outdoor winter wonderland is open on Christmas Day. Go ice skating, sip on hot chocolate, and take in the magical decorations.

2. See A Christmas Day Showing of Chicago – Midtown

While most Broadway shows are closed on Christmas Day, you can catch Chicago or Wicked on stage.

3. Attend a Religious Service

If you weren't able to go on Christmas Eve, churches are, of course, open on Christmas Day.

RELATED: 49 NYC Holiday Activities Every Kid Should Try Once

Experience the immersive observation deck at Summit One Vanderbilt. Photo by Jody Mercier

4. See the Wax Figures at Tussauds – Midtown

Times Square's Madame Tussauds is open on Christmas Day. If you'd rather play games, the arcade/restaurant Dave & Buster's is open, too. 

5. See the Big Apple Circus – Upper West Side

The Big Apple Circus plays two shows on the day. Pop over to Lincoln Center to see the beloved hometown troupe's ode to NYC, Hometown Playground.

6. Visit the Rockefeller Center Tree – Midtown East

It might be crowded, but why not begin a unique family tradition with a photo in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree on Christmas Day? The atmosphere is guaranteed to be festive.

7. Celebrate with the Rockettes – Midtown

Enjoy a New York Christmas tradition and see the iconic Rockettes perform their annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular. They'll be high-kicking through four performances on the holiday!

8. See a Movie

Many movie theaters are open on Christmas Day so you can catch family-friendly recent releases like the much-anticipatedWicked 2 or the SpongeBob Movie. Prefer to stay home? We've got picks for family-friendly Christmas movies. Of course, TBS returns with its 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon.

9. Visit the Zoo or Aquarium

Although the Bronx Zoo is closed for the holiday, the Queens, Central Park, and Prospect Park zoos are open, along with the New York Aquarium at Coney Island.

10. See Spectacular Holiday Houses

Take a drive through some of the outer boroughs to see magnificent light displays.

RELATED: 38 Things To Do Over Christmas Vacation in NYC​​

Gaze at the iconic Christmas tree as you glide around the Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink. Photo courtesy of Rockefeller Center

11. Go Ice Skating

The rinks at Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, Prospect Park, Brookfield Place, Central Park's Wollman Rink, Brooklyn Bridge Park's Roebling Rink and Glide are all open on Christmas Day, weather permitting. The indoor rink at World Ice Arena in Queens also has public ice skating on Christmas Day.

12. Visit a Winter Wonderland – South Seaport

Santa's Winter Wonderland is open on the holiday, offering festive eats, fun attractions, and beautiful, seasonal photo-ops.

13. Visit a Jewish Museum – Crown Heights, Brooklyn

The Jewish Children's Museum is one of the few museums open on Christmas Day. It's got a ton of activities like mini-golf, a ball pit, wall-climbing, and interactive exhibits to help children learn about the Jewish religion and culture. You can also see a winter concert of Jewish klezmer music at Eldridge Street.

RELATED: Restaurants Open on Christmas in NYC

14. Experience Pinkmas at the Edge – Midtown

Museum of Ice Cream’s beloved Pinkmas celebration takes to the sky for the first time ever — only at the Edge. Step into a whimsical world of vibrant pink installations, life-size ice cream pints, and a hanging banana jungle — all set against Edge’s breathtaking backdrop. 

15. Gawk at the Holiday Windows – Midtown

We make our annual trek to see the holiday windows right after Thanksgiving. But time is swiftly running out to see these awe-inspiring displays before they come down for the season.

16. Go Sightseeing

Climb aboard the TopView Sightseeing Bus for a roving tea party or ride the North Pole Express to peep Christmas lights galore.

17. Go Bowling

Several of the city's bowling alleys are open on Christmas, including Bowl 360 in Astoria and Gravesend, Brooklyn. Abbreviated hours may apply, so call ahead.

18. Take a Stroll

Enjoy a quiet Christmas stroll through one of the city's green spaces. Central Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and all other NYC parks are open on Christmas.

19. Experience the Best Views 

Play tourist and take in the stunning views from the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, and Summit One Vanderbilt.

Stores Open on Christmas Day for Last-Minute Gifts or Essentials

H3: Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid

(Why they’re great for small gifts, batteries, cards, and wrapping paper.)

H3: Continue with big local stores families like that are open on Christmas

H2: Are Any Grocery Stores Open on Christmas Day 2025 in PLACE?
H3: Major Chains That Are Open in PLACE (with hours)

Include note that hours vary by location — always call ahead. Can bullet these two H3s

H3: Grocery Stores Typically Closed

H2: Are Walmart, Target, and Costco Open on Christmas Day?

Include: when they reopen, last-minute options (online pickup, convenience stores, or gas station marts nearby). Explicitly address each brand name and provide updated info:

H3: Is Walmart open on Christmas? (suburban regions only; NYC can remove from subhead above as well)

H3: Is Target open on Christmas?
 

H3: Is Costco open on Christmas?

This post, originally published in December 2009, is updated annually.