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Gather for Holiday Celebrations in NYC: A Host of Options

By M+E Staff

(Almost) season’s greetings! It’s the time of year when we’re all thinking of ways to celebrate the holidays—whether that means arranging a gathering for groups or planning an activity to show your appreciation to your team and clients. New York, always a magical holiday destination, has a host of ways to get into the holiday spirit, with iconic performances and events. Here are some ideas:

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 30

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center has been a tradition for more than eight decades. The lighting ceremony will feature performances and classic Christmas songs by soon-to-be-announced artists, and the tree will be on view through mid-January.

Lighting of Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah, Dec. 18-25

Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza will light the borough’s largest menorah on each of the eight nights of Hannukah, with live music and the promise of hot latkes.

Big Apple Circus, Nov. 9-Jan. 1

The Big Apple Circus is back for its 45th season. For eight weeks, Big Top at Lincoln Center will be home to imaginative wonders and daring acrobatics. The theme of this year’s performance is a fitting mantra for how we’re all feeling about events returning in 2023: Dream Big!

Christmas Spectacular at Radio City, Nov. 18-Jan. 2

The beloved holiday tradition, featuring the Radio City Rockettes, returns to Radio City Muscic Hall. To enjoy the high-kicking fun, book your tickets early.

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker Presented by New York City Ballet, Nov. 25-Dec. 31

The annual performance of this magical ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s stirring score returns to Lincoln Center. On Nov. 27, TDF Autism Friendly Performances will present the first-ever autism-friendly version of the production.

Amateur Night Holiday Show at The Apollo, Dec. 10

The holiday showcase features young alumni from the theater’s Apollo Stars of Tomorrow program. 

The Magic Flute Holiday Presentation at the Met Opera, Dec. 16-Jan. 6

The Met Opera’s abridged, English-language version of Mozart’s magical fairy tale is a classic holiday treat for audiences of all ages.

The New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Dec. 24

A favorite of Carnegie Hall audiences for more than 50 years, the New York String Orchestra returns for its annual Christmas Eve concert conducted by Jamie Laredo, featuring some of that country’s most celebrated young musicians performing alongside guest artists.

Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration at The Apollo, Dec. 30

The Apollo Theater will host its annual Kwanzaa Celebration featuring Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theater.

Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden, Nov. 19-Jan. 16

A beloved holiday tradition for more than three decades, the Holiday Train Show returns to the Bronx. Visitors will watch model trains zip through an enchanting display of more than 190 replicas of New York City landmarks, each recreated from natural materials such as birch bark, lotus pods, and cinnamon sticks.

NYC Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East, Oct. 21-Jan. 8

Back for its fourth year, the NYC Winter Lantern Festival will transform a new venue, SIUH Community Park in Staten Island, into an immersive world of light. Visitors will enjoy over eight acres of luminescence, a live DJ, food vendors, and more.

 

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