New York City Tourism + Conventions, the City’s official destination marketing organization and CVB, is spotlighting a selection of free and affordable things to do in the five boroughs this holiday season.
“New York City feels extra special during the holiday season, and there are so many ways to celebrate across the five boroughs,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “We expect to welcome roughly 7 million visitors between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and the City offers something for the whole family to enjoy—no matter your interests or budget.”
Give the Gift of NYC
Reservations are now available for NYC Hotel Week, offering 24% off stays at 160 hotels from 3 Jan to 4 Feb. Also enjoy prix-fixe restaurant menus; 2-for-1 Broadway tickets; and 2-for-1 tickets to attractions, museums, tours and performing arts as part of NYC Winter Outing.
In addition, Tryphavana Cross and the team at NYC Tourism + Conventions have provided a list of free and affordable activities for travellers heading to NYC this winter season.
Free Annual Celebrations
- The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is on view through January 13. The 80-foot Norway spruce is covered in 50,000 multicoloured LED lights.
- The lighting of the world’s largest menorahs takes place at sundown on each night of Hanukkah at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn and Grand Army Plaza in Midtown. These feature live music, latkes and children’s gifts.
- Enjoy free New Year’s Eve festivities in city parks, including spectacular fireworks in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
- Ring in 2024 at the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Times Square. Arrive early to save your spot!
Festive Lights
- Residents of Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighbourhood light up their homes with over-the-top Christmas decor. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and take in the decorations with festive music in the background.
- The Dumbo Improvement District is presenting a series of holiday events and activities, including animations projected on the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The projections are on view from 4–10pm daily until 31 December.
- Shine Bright illuminates Hudson Yards with 2 million twinkling lights in this free celebration. The display includes 725 evergreen trees and 16-foot-tall lights in the shape of hot air balloons.
- Wander through The Shops at Columbus Circle and enjoy Holiday Under the Stars, which features twelve 14-foot stars hanging from the ceiling.
Get Outdoors
- The Rink at Winter Village at Bryant Park offers free ice-skating in the heart of Midtown Manhattan (skates are available to rent). Sitting among the open-air holiday market and dining offerings, the rink is open through March 3, 2024.
- NYC’s Open Streets program returns this year, creating a pedestrian-only zone around Rockefeller Center and on Fifth Avenue from 48th Street to 59th Street.
- Enjoy festive scents along Fifth Avenue between 46th and 61st Streets: the Fifth Avenue Association is partnering with NEST New York to pump the brand’s signature Holiday fragrance into the air.
- Join hundreds of brave swimmers on January 1 for an icy dip in the Atlantic Ocean during the Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge. Participation is free though people are encouraged to donate to community organizations.
Family Entertainment
- NYC is the backdrop of many beloved holiday films. Whether you want to stop by the Empire State Building to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Elf, play on the large-scale FAO Schwarz piano as in Bigor visit The Plaza Hotel in honour of Home Alone 2 – Fun in New York, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.
- Meet Santa Claus at Macy’s Herald Square. Reservations are free and can be made up to five days before your visit, with photos available for purchase. Santaland will host sensory-friendly early mornings on select days throughout the holiday season—email Macy’s for more information.
- The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is offering a series of public holiday programs throughout December, including a singer-songwriter series, cultural celebrations, New Year’s Eve programming and more.
- Wave Hill in the Bronx is celebrating the holidays with a variety of programming. On December 14, make winter-inspired crafts during the free Family Art-Palooza.
- The National Park Service will hold free Kwanzaa events at the African Burial Ground National Monument from December 26–30. Family-friendly activities include doll-making, quilting, face painting and more.
- Visit Battery Park City Public Library on December 18 for a free Holiday and Christmas Carols Sing Along for all ages.
Holiday Shopping
- Every year, holiday markets pop up across the City, offering artisanal products, crafts, food and more, ideal for sourcing uniquely NYC gifts. The famous Union Square Holiday Market is open every day through December 24, with more than 150 festive vendors and food stalls.
- Thrifting fans can visit Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo for housewares, vintage clothing, antiques, jewellery, crafts and more.
- Traversing through Grand Central Terminal this holiday season? Be sure to check out the Holiday Fair in Vanderbilt Hall—and note that a visit to the New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show in Grand Central is free this year!
- The Long Island City Partnership is presenting a Pop-Up Holiday Art Market on Thursdays–Sundays through December 17, offering handcrafted art pieces, complimentary panettone and hot drinks.
- Empire Outlets is NYC’s only outlet shopping destination. Accessible via the free Staten Island Ferry, shops include the Levi’s Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Nordstrom Rack and more. The Outlets also offer festive decorations including a beautiful Christmas tree—perfect for family photos.
ITTN Top Tip
Between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s holidays, New York City expects to attract approximately 7 million visitors. The City welcomed 56.7 million travellers in 2022 and remains on track to welcome more than 63 million visitors this year.
It remains a must-see city with so much to offer visitors. My five favourite free activities in NYC are strolling through Central Park and up to the Rockefeller Christmas tree (pause and watch the ice-skaters on the rink), walking the High Line from Chelsey Market to Hudson Yards and crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on foot.
As a movie buff, one of my favourite attractions is the Museum of Moving Image in Queens which offers free admission on Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm. In addition, if you are a Harry Potter fan, the Harry Potter New York store is a wonderland to stroll around even if you aren’t buying anything (which may prove difficult). Equally, the Lego Stores have amazing structures and are worth a peek!
For More on NYC Check Out
For more on New York City, check out ITTN’s exclusive video series, in conjunction with NYC Tourism + Conventions on top activities and places to stay in NYC, see https://ittn.ie/travel-news/ittn-interviews-nyc-tourism-conventions/ and https://ittn.ie/videos/
