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Holiday Break in NYC: 35 Things To Do Between Christmas and New Year's Eve

Come nose to nose with some wild-inspired lanterns at the Bronx Zoo's Holiday Lights. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher/WCS

12/18/22 - By Jody Mercier

Few places rival New York City for holiday activities and the upcoming holiday break offers families plenty of free time to sample them all. We’ve rounded up 35 of our favorite Christmas break activities, most of which can be accessed with the swipe of a MetroCard. Fill your vacation with awesome museum outings, live stage shows, fancy meals, and magical must-do holiday experiences. My family even braves the crowds at popular tourist attractions like the Rockefeller Center tree and department store holiday windows.

NYC public school students are on winter break from Monday, December 26, 2022, through Monday, January 2, 2023. If you need more fun things to do over the holiday break in NYC, bookmark our Family Activity Calendar, which is continuously updated as we learn about new, kid-friendly happenings.

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Best Things To Do With Kids on Holiday Break in NYC

1. Go to Governors Island

See Governors Island in a whole new season and explore its Winter Village, with festive activities including a 5,000-square-foot ice skating rink, lawn games, fire pits, sled and bike rentals, and cozy food and drink options. Read our review of the experience for more details.

2. Run Away to the Circus

Watch jugglers toss flags and flames in the air to the sounds of '70s funk and modern-day Ethio-pop at Circus Abyssinia: Tulu—a thrilling showcase of the athleticism and artistry of the Ethiopian circus. Or, mark the 45th anniversary of the Big Apple Circus with a trip to see high-wire king Nik Wallenda and his talented family along with comic daredevil Johnny Rockett, the Kiriku Brothers, aerialist Alan Silva, and more. Find more picks on our list of the best holiday shows in NYC for families in 2022.

3. Take in a Train Show

Though the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show is the main event; you can also see trains at the New-York Historical Society.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: Winter Colorland.
Sit on a ski lift through a confetti snowstorm at Winter Colorland. Photo courtesy of the Color Factory

4. Get Colorful

Color Factory, the interactive modern art museum transforms into Winter Colorland this holiday season. Explore the new picture-perfect installations including a ski lift through a confetti snowstorm and indulge in plenty of sweet seasonal treats.

5. Be Amazed

Admire the dazzling sights at the Amaze Light Festival. Stroll through larger-than-life installations from colossal teddy bears and reindeer to candy canes and ornaments.

6. Watch the Animals Shine

Visit the animal-inspired lanterns at the Bronx Zoo. The much-loved holiday tradition returns, lighting the grounds with wildlife-themed LED displays, custom Asian lanterns, and animated light shows.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: A Christmas Carol.
Young ones will delight in a one-hour performance of A Christmas Carol at the Merchant House Museum. Photo courtesy Summoners Ensemble

7. See a Christmas Classic

Enjoy this captivating one-hour performance created from Dickens’ own script of A Christmas Carol—all while surrounded by 19th-century holiday decorations, flickering candles, and richly appointed period furnishings.

8. Be Enchanted by The Nutcracker

Catch a live performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Theater.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: Lightscape
Enjoy the illuminated tunnel at Lightscape with hot chocolate in hand. Photo by Ros Muggeridge

9. Be Bright at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Lightscape shines brilliantly for a second consecutive year with the return of dazzling installations like the Winter Cathedral and Fire Garden, along with lots of new installations.

10. Fall Down the Rabbit Hole

Explore the hand-painted landscape that is Wonderland Dreams, a 30-room, Alice in Wonderland walk-through in Midtown.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience
Hagrid and Fang keep watch at the edge of the forest in the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience just north of NYC. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar

11. See the Forbidden Forest

Search for Hagrid, Magical Creatures, and even a unicorn at the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience in FDR State Park.

12. Get Creative

Sign the kids up for a Holiday Break Art Activities Class with Arty Party. Kids explore a variety of mediums including paint, pencil, cray pas, watercolor, and more. Sign up for one day or multiple days!

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: Kwanzaa festivities at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.
Participate in Kwanzaa festivities at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

13. Celebrate Kwanzaa

Head to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation's 15th annual Kwanzaa celebration. Learn about Kwanzaa’s seven principles with live performances, workshops, art projects, and festive cuisine each day.

14. Play Tourist

If you haven't been to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island lately, it's time to make the trek. The Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened in 2019, is worth the visit alone. Pro tip: Head there straight from the boat while everyone else beelines for the statue, and you'll have the run of the place.

15. Climb to New Heights

Brave the lines at one of the soaring observation decks in NYC to get a new perspective on the city.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: Disney Encanto experience at CAMP
Spin on the merry-go-round in Isabella's picture-perfect room. Photo by the author

16. Shop and Play

Explore Camp, which now has four city locations; its flagship Flatiron store is currently hosting an interactive Disney Encanto experience or head to its City Point Brooklyn outpost. The complex is an action-packed destination in its own right.

17. Have a Spot of Tea

Dress up together as a family and head to one of our top picks for the best places for high tea in NYC.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: IC Ice Rink
IC Ice Rink welcomes all to come for an iconic winter experience. Photo courtesy of Industry City

18. Explore Industry City

Browse everything Industry City has to offer including the alfresco ice skating rink, the curated book collection at Powerhouse@IC, and the indoor games room. Visit on Thursday, December 29 to take advantage of a special Mommy Poppins skate-and-play package. Book your tickets online in advance to nab ice time, skate rentals, and unlimited gameplay in the game room.

19. Explore NYC's Only Farm

Visit the Queens County Farm Museum and check out the new nature-inspired light display, Illuminate the Farm.

20. Day Trip to American Dream

Dedicate a day to exploring the massive American Dream Mall in New Jersey, which is packed with family-friendly destinations like a theme park and a water park.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: LeFrak Center
Glide through the holiday break on the ice at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of The Prospect Park Alliance

21. Hit the Ice

Check out one of NYC's outdoor ice skating spots, including a new FREE rink at the South Street Seaport.

22. Bring History to Life

Immerse yourself in the multi-sensory experience Beyond King Tut, which brings the Egyptian King's story to life. It closes on New Year's Day!

23. Get Your Ski On

Now's the time for a quick snow tubing, snowboarding, skiing, or other winter sports adventure.

RELATED: Best of December: 38 Awesome Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: The Sloomoo Institute
The Sloomoo Institute offers plenty of sensory fun. Photo by the author

24. Have a Slimy Good Time

Get messy during a visit to the Sloomoo Institute in Soho for an over-the-top sensory experience.

25. Check Out a Museum

There are plenty of exhibitions and programs to explore at the American Museum of Natural History, plus a full roster of events at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Find even more options in our Museum, Galleries, and Exhibits Guide.

26. Make Some Memories

Start working through our roundup of 100 things to do in NYC with kids before they grow up.

Things to do in NYC over holiday break: Bronx Children's Museum.
Tons of movable pieces let kids redirect water at the 35-foot-long water table at the Bronx Children's Museum. Photo by the author

Fun Free Things To Do on Holiday Break in NYC

27. Bronx Children's Museum

Have a been-there, seen-all-the-museums kind of kid? They'll be wowed by the brand new Bronx Children's Museum in the South Bronx.

28. Enjoy Kids Week

The Urban Park Rangers are putting on fun, FREE programming in all five boroughs all week long. So, bundle up and get outside to enjoy everything from eagle watching to campfire chats and more.

29. Be Dazzled in Dyker Heights

Take a trip to the outer boroughs to check out over-the-top holiday light displays, including Brooklyn's famously decked-out houses in Dyker Heights.

30. Snap a Photo Beneath a Christmas Tree

Rockefeller Center isn't the only go-to spot. You can find a stunning tree in Bryant Park and countless other Christmas trees around town.

31. Sing Your Holiday Heart Out

Go caroling on Christmas Eve in Washington Square Park, where The Rob Susman Brass Quartet leads a traditional sing-along.

32. Stroll the Windows

Take a holiday windows walk and marvel at stunning department store Christmas windows and other awesome seasonal sights in Midtown Manhattan.

33. Breathe the Fresh Air

Bring the whole family to the winter recess program in Prospect Park, which features seasonal discovery stations and nature-themed activities that introduce families to the plants, insects, and animals that call the park home.

34. Catch Some Culture (For Free!)

Reacquaint yourself with a favorite museum or discover somewhere new when you use your library card to get into 66 NYC museums and gardens free of charge.

35. Find More Free Things

We made a list, so you can check it twice: How many of our free things to do in December have you checked off your list?

This article, originally published in December 2012, is updated annually.

Christmas/Hanukkah Holidays Winter Activities Uptown New York City Downtown Brooklyn Queens Bronx