Join photographer Emon Hassan for an exclusive evening at his new exhibit inside a historic Washington Heights church!
From giant menorah lightings to New Year's Day hikes, check out our picks for how to spend the holidays in NYC!
You can own a piece of New Year's Eve history and help prep for the 2025 ball drop!
From giant menorah lightings to New Year's Day hikes, check out our picks for how to spend the holidays in NYC!
The holidays are here! As we mark the shortest day of the year and welcome winter, there are tons of festive ways to celebrate in NYC. Whether you want to see the classic sights or find something to do that’s a little more off-beat, we’ve got you covered with these seasonal activities in NYC:
Besides the public Christmas trees at Rockefeller Center and Madison Square Park, the lighting of the tree under the Washington Square Arch is one of the oldest holiday traditions in the city. Another beloved tradition that takes place there is Christmas Eve caroling! Every year the public is invited to belt out “Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men” and other songs of the season.
You can download the Washington Square Arch caroling songbook on the Washington Square Arch Association’s website. The caroling starts at 5 pm and will be accompanied by the Rob Susman Brass Quartet.
Giant menorahs are a common sight in the parks and plazas of New York City. You’ll find the largest menorah, clocking in at 36 feet tall, right outside the Plaza Hotel. The second largest is in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza.
Every year, the glowing numerals that top One Times Square for New Year's Eve celebrations come down to ground level for a photo op. This year, when you snap a pic with the glowing "2025" sign, you might also get an up-close look at the ball. On December 19th from 11 am until supplies run out, the public is invited to help swap out the 2,688 crystal triangles that cover the New Year's Eve ball. You'll get to keep the old crystal that you remove! The Untapped New York team got to lend a hand in the crystal swapping and preview the light show. Check out our photos!
Start the new year off with a refreshing stroll in one of New York City’s beautiful parks on a First Day Hike! 2025 marks the 14th anniversary of First Day Hikes in New York City, when residents are encouraged to go out and explore their local green spaces.
This year, more than 100 state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, canal trails, and public lands will participate in the family-friendly hikes. The hikes range from 1 to 5 miles. Find a hike near you on the NYC Parks website!
Ready to start a new tradition? This year, you can spend part of Christmas Eve uncovering the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal. You’ll get to admire the giant wreaths and twinkling lights of the terminal’s holiday decorations while learning about the history of this Beaux-Arts masterpiece.
Led by a licensed and expert New York City tour guide, you will uncover hidden features of the building like the private tennis courts on the third floor, the glass walkways accessible only to employees, the secret staircase hidden in plain sight, a major design flaw in the main concourse and much more! For commuters who pass through the station every day, people who have never even visited, and everyone in between, all are sure to learn something new and surprising.
Watch a stunning performance by Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre at The Apollo’s Kwanzaa Celebration: Regeneration Night. This annual tradition celebrates its 19th anniversary this year. The Apollo’s celebration is a joyful evening of dance and music honoring the principles of Kwanzaa – family, community, and culture.
In addition to the New York-based dance company, the show will also feature young performers of Harlem's Forces of Nature Youth Academy of Dance and Wellness. You purchase tickets to this “powerful evening of music, percussion, and modern and African dance” on The Apollo website, The show takes place on December 21st.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, or “La Vigilia”, is a Christmas Eve tradition celebrated by Italian-Americans that commemorates the midnight birth of Baby Jesus. Traditionally, a meal of seven different fishes is prepared, an homage to the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day. For those who celebrate, there are a plethora of fish markets in New York City where you can stock up for the evening!
For the early birds, you can head up to the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx for a fresh catch. Other options can be found along Arthur Avenue, the Bronx’s Little Italy. Baccala, shrimp, branzino, octopus, calamari, mussels, eels, clams, lobster, and more are up for sale at old-school joints like Cosenza’s Fish Market, which has been around for over 100 years, and Randazzo’s Seafood, a family-owned traditional fish market since the late 1920s. Buon apetito!
Around the holidays in NYC, crowds flock to the iconic trees like the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, and Bryant Park, but spread throughout the city there are other creative Christmas trees to admire. At the American Museum of Natural History, you’ll find a 13-foot Christmas tree covered in origami animals and other specimens. At a restaurant in Brooklyn, there is a tree made of lobster traps!
There are so many trees scattered throughout the city, each unique in its own way. Discover alternatives to the Rockefeller Center Chritsmas tree here!
Take in the beauty of the Museum at Eldridge Street’s Main Sanctuary as you enjoy music from The Jazzukkah Project, an ensemble that adds a jazz flair to beloved Chanukah classics like Ma'oz Tzur and I Have a Little Dreidel. There will also be a special candle lighting ceremony with historic menorahs from the remarkable Aharon Ben Zalman Collection on display in the Museum's 1887 Sanctuary. This event is for all ages! Tickets can be purchased online.
There’s tons of holiday cheer lighting up the streets of New York City this time of year! From the over-the-top Fifth Avenue department store holiday windows to the extreme lights of Dyker Heights, it seems everywhere you turn there is a festive holiday display. Some of New York City’s most famous sights including the Bronx Zoo, New York Botanical Garden, and Rockefeller Center all host dazzling displays this time of year.
Want to see the holiday lights from the cozy warmth of your own home and not venture out to fight the bustling crowds? Join us on the evening of December 19th for a virtual holiday stroll through Manhattan with Untapped New York's Chief Experience Officer, Justin Rivers!
Free to Untapped New York Members at the Fan tier or higher!
Along with the holiday decorations, there are tons of holiday markets to check out as well. Find the perfect last-minute gift at the giant Union Square market or grab a gift on your commute through Grand Central Terminal. No matter how you choose to celebrate, we wish you the best of holidays in NYC this year!
Next, check out The Top 10 Secrets of the New Year’s Eve Ball in Times Square
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