Christmas in New York
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! There’s no doubt about it, New York really does have something special in the air during the holidays. For those of us who have been eagerly watching Christmas movies, such as Home Alone, Elf and A New York Christmas with a hot chocolate topped with a mountain of marshmallows since June, Christmas in New York City seems quite the fairy-tale – but, does it live up to the fascination of people around the world?
Fifth avenue
Between unpacking and settling into your new home, you’ll want to get into the true Christmas spirit. Whilst you may not have glittering tinsel hanging off every mirror, a Christmas tree topped with an angel or star, or a ridiculously big red bow on your front door just yet, walking down the street is enough to lift your Christmas spirit and make you feel merry. In fact, one of the popular locations at this time of year is Fifth Avenue. Ever since the iconic fashion clothing and accessories store, Macy’s, changed its window in December for the first time in the 1870’s, high-end department stores throughout Manhattan compete to design the most impressive window display, and despite the crowd, admiring the creativity behind holiday window displays in the heart of NYC never goes amiss.
The tree
If you don’t already know, the magnificent Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a large Christmas tree placed in the Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan each year. Though you might not be in the Christmas spirit until December 1st, you can find this tree taking pride of place in Manhattan from the middle of November to 7th January 2018.
The rink at Rockefeller plaza
Nothing quite says ‘winter wonderland’ like an ice rink, and the rink at Rockfeller Plaza is just one of several you can find in New York. Set up next to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is the infamous Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink, which is yet another of New York’s most celebrated attractions, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, mere metres away from Times Square.
Singing & dancing
Among the fairy lights, oversized baubles and the towering Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, you will find a mass of people singing, dancing and simply having fun in the cold weather. Even if you are unfortunate enough to not get tickets to the Rockette’s famous Christmas Spectacular, you can still find unforgettable displays of singing and dancing around the city, and we highly recommend visiting Radio City Music Hall just around the corner from the Rockefeller Plaza.
Charity events
Luckily, in a city such as New York, there is something to suit all interests and ages. A great example of this is the Penguin-Sponsored event, ‘What the Dickens?’, held at Housing Works Bookstore located in Soho. All proceeds from the event go towards HIV/Aids charities in order to raise awareness of the disease. Don’t worry if you can’t attend this event though, as there are several events taking place throughout December, including the DIY Ugly Sweater Event, Storytime and Singalong for Kids, and the Eat and Be Merry thrift shop.
Spending Christmas in New York is a fantasy many people dream of. Not only is the festive season arguably one of the most exciting times to visit New York City and spend valuable time with family and friends alike, the heart of the city boasts countless Christmas light displays and not-to-miss events, such as the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show throughout December. No matter whether you are spending Christmas alone or surrounded by your loved ones, Christmas in New York is truly spectacular.
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