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what is there to do on christmas eve

Hudson Yards holiday lights
Photo: Courtesy @letsgochimi for Hudson Yards

The best things to do on Christmas Eve in NYC

Nosotros've institute the best things to practise on Christmas Eve in NYC—aside from binging cookies and cheesy holiday movies

Shaye Weaver

'Twas the dark before Christmas and all through Gotham, New Yorkers were actually stirring. That's correct, at that place are still plenty of things to do on Christmas Eve in NYC. Don't just laze around your apartment watching Christmas movies (every bit fun as that sounds). Instead, check out one of the many restaurants delivering Christmas dinner or do some terminal-minute shopping at vacation markets in NYC that remain open up on Christmas Eve. Pro tip: Haggle like you mean it; well-nigh are endmost up shop for the season and it is the season of giving, isn't information technology?

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in New York

All-time things to do on Christmas Eve

1. Go ice skating

Information technology's time to lace upwards your skates—the all-time water ice skating rinks in NYC are waiting for you. As one of the most beloved cities to spend the holidays in, NYC has plenty of indoor and outdoor rinks where you can glide and practice your toe jumps. To help narrow down your options, we've ranked the top places to become, from the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center or lower-cardinal rinks at NYC parks similar Central Park.

2. Marvel at the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights brandish has definitely earned its stripes as ane of the all-time New York attractions. What's not to beloved about all that razzle-dazzle to get you in the Christmas spirit? The Brooklyn neighborhood is home to the most over-the-top Christmas light decorations with life-sized Santas, sleighs, snowmen and some houses even bump Christmas carols from loudspeakers. Crowds of all ages flock to the Kings County neighborhood to wander downwards the multiple blocks and avenues and experience one of the top things to do in NYC in the winter.

3. Visit the Rockefeller Center Tree

Take a nostalgic stroll to the Rockefeller Tree on Christmas Eve. This tree is ane of the top New York attractions to visit in person and is lit daily from 6am-midnight. On Christmas Day, the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year'due south Eve information technology is lit from 6am to 9pm.

4. Become inside Brooklyn Botanic Garden's first-ever vacation lights evidence

Brooklynites finally have their own vacation low-cal show at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. For the get-go time in its history, the BBG is welcoming visitors between November 19 and January 9 to its very own light installation called "Lightscape," presented in partnership with Sony Music. Lightscape is not a Christmas-centric spectacle—it'due south a celebration of calorie-free that incorporates art and music that people from all cultures and beliefs can bask, especially equally the days become shorter. The colorful low-cal displays highlight the garden's trees, landscapes and architecture with more than 18 distinct works of art, including a serial of works by local artists in the Plant Family unit Collection. All in all, in that location are near one million lights featured in the evidence. Visitors can grab hot chocolate or apple cider to enjoy on their walk and can make their ain s'mores. (The apple cider as well comes spiked, if you lot so desire.)

5. Encounter the city from Meridian I Vanderbilt

Summit One Vanderbilt sits atop the new 67-floor One Vanderbilt super-tall—a 1,401-pes-loftier—skyscraper. Every bit the city's 4th-tallest edifice subsequently I World Trade Center, Central Park Tower and 111 West 57th Street. Afterward a trip through a mirrored hallway with its own immersive elements, visitors accept an lift up to the 91st flooring, where they're 1,000 anxiety over the streets and sidewalks of NYC. Kenzo Digital has created a totally mirrored infinity room called "Air" that reflects the heaven and city views over and over, making you lot experience like you're walking in the sky or on some other plane of existence. Looking above you lot and below you in this 2-story infinite, you see your reflection repeating forever.

vi. Visit the Banking concern of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bryant Park's Winter Village by Bank of America is dorsum in NYC with holiday festivities and shopping and food at its holiday shops. Its 17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink that'south gratuitous to utilise (if you bring your own skates) is ever the highlight, but its Wintertime Village in all its holiday spirit is a close 2nd. This year more than than 170 kiosks will be in that location to peruse—all at 1 of the all-time NYC parks.

seven. Come across the twinkling vacation lights beyond NYC

Since New York City transforms into a magical wonderland with millions of holiday lights right after Thanksgiving, information technology's adept to know where to detect the best Christmas lights in NYC. We'll see over-the-top inflatable Santas and reindeer constitute at the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights in Brooklyn to more iconic New York displays, such as in Central Park, Rockefeller Centre and at Saks Fifth Avenue. Take it all in and get set to "ooh" and "ahh" at these landmarks, holiday markets and neighborhoods that create the nigh picturesque holiday lite displays during the holiday flavor.

eight. Go on Circle Line's Vacation Sightseeing Cruise

Spend your Christmas Eve in a festive and memorable style—with a dinner cruise aboard Circle Line. The Christmas Eve Dinner Prowl serves up an Italian-way buffet dinner with Chicken Parmigiana, Eggplant Rollatini, Antipasti, and Caprese Salad, and with a plethora of desserts. There volition also a standard open bar pouring beer, vino, cocktails and more than, and a DJ spinning anybody'southward favorite holiday tunes. In that location will also be a piano thespian and singer to pb y'all in Christmas carols as yous float along NYC's waterways. $199 per person includes cafe dinner, standard open bar, beer, vino, soft drinks. Children under 12 are $179. Children under 3 are free. One cruise only, Friday, December 24, 2021, sailing in rain, snowfall or moonlight, as necessary. Tickets: Adults $199; children ages 3-12, $179; children under 3 are free. Boarding at 6:30pm, departure at 7pm from Pier 83 in Midtown; 2.5 hours total, returns at 9:30pm. All passengers must bear witness proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

9. Check out the nearly stunning Christmas window displays in NYC

One of the best holiday attractions in NYC is its Christmas and vacation window displays at its department stores. Tourists aren't the just ones who can enjoy these festive showcases in Herald Foursquare and Fifth Avenue—even for locals, they hold a dreamy nostalgia that only comes in one case a yr. These ornate vacation windows decked out with hundreds of Christmas lights and more winter wonderland decor are and then impressive, they can be reason plenty to stroll through midtown. Just wait until later on the majority of tourists have gone to bed to you tin can encounter upwards-close for yourself. For all the information you demand to know nigh this year's Christmas windows, read on...

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Source: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/things-to-do-on-christmas-eve