Christmas Activities in New York City

New York turns into a very happening city during Christmas. There are many Christmas activities in New York City that can keep you occupied throughout the festive season.

Visit Christmas markets in New York City

Christmas markets are mainly makeshift markets that open several days before Christmas. These markets sell Christmas goodies like chocolates, gifts, small

figurines of Mary and Jesus, crí¨ches, candies, and cookies. Some of the markets you can visit in New York City are –

Grand Central Holiday Fair
Grand Central Terminal,
42nd Street, Lexington Avenue

Bryant Park or Fete de Noel
6th Avenue, 42nd Street

Union Square Holiday Market
14th -18th Street Broadway

Christmas in Little Italy
Between Broome Street and Canal Street
Mulberry Street

Lighting Show tours

Tour the different areas of New York City where the lighting shows take place. Tourists from other cities and towns travel to New York City to catch a glimpse of these spectacular lighting shows. Your lighting tour should essentially include stop over at the following places, else your trip remains incomplete.

Lighting at Empire State Building
Grand Central Terminal Holiday Laser Light Shows
Light show at Giant Snowflake around 57th Avenue and Fifth Avenue

Christmas shows

Christmas celebrations are incomplete without attending the shows and plays during Xmas. Plays take place in different theaters in NYC. Names of few of these theaters are provided below –

Lunt Fontanne Theater
Shubert Theater
Imperial Theater
Foxwoods Theater
Broadhurst Theater
Al Hirschfield Theater
Vivian Beaumont Theater

Christmas fun trips for children

Fun trips throughout NYC are something that every child longs for. In fact, it is equally exciting for the elders. Just pack few sandwiches, cookies, and candies, fill gasoline in your car and set off for a family Christmas getaway trip to the places where Christmas celebrations take place with a lot of pomp and show. Some of these places are –

Wollman Rink (830 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065)
Rockfeller Tree Lighting Ceremony (30 Rockfeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020)
Macy’s Santaland (Macy;s Herald Square, 151 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001)
H2: Dining at food joints in New York City
There are several food joints where you can take your entire family for having a lip smacking dinner or lunch. Few restaurants where you can try different cuisines include –
Fig and Olive Restaurant (416 West 13th Street, New York, contact – 212 924 1200)
Delmonico’s Restaurant (56 Beaver Stret, New York, contact -212 509 1144)
Peking Duck House Restaurant (28 Mott St # A, New York, contact – 212 227 1810)
Fraunces Tavern (54 Pearl Street, New York, contact -212 968 1776)

Spot Santa in New York

Spotting Santa is one of the most exciting and fun filled Christmas activities in New York City that children enjoy and look forward to. Places where you can meet Santa Claus and click photographs with him include –

SantaCon at South Street Seaport
Date – December 11th, 2011

Santa at Central Park
Dates – December 23rd, 2011 and December 24th, 2011 (between 11am and 2.00 pm)

South Street Seaport
Date – December 19th, 2011

World Financial Center
Date – December 11th, 2011 (10.00am -1.00pm, 2.00pm – 7.00pm)
December 12th, and 13th, 2011 (10.00am -1.00pm, 2.00pm -5.00pm)