Enjoy These Unique Holiday Happenings In New York City

Thanks in part to the countless iconic Christmas movies based in New York City, the Big Apple is the December destination of choice for millions of tourists each year. These travelers come from near and far for a true New York City holiday experience that features the world-famous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, ice skating in Central Park or simply admiring the Christmas window displays at the major department stores. However, in addition to the well-known holiday attractions, visitors can spend days discovering other activities that are sure to please anyone who loves the December sights and sounds of New York City.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is NYC’s newest observation and art experience with 360 degree views of the city and beyond. Located in the crown of One Vanderbilt in Midtown, the story-driven, innovative destination combines unparalleled vistas, curated multi-sensory experiences and cutting-edge technology. Visitors will experience far more than just spectacular views as SUMMIT offers four rooms of unique immersive art installations spread out across three levels. More daring adventurers will enjoy stepping out into fully transparent glass sky boxes called LEVITATION that jut out of the building and suspend guests 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue, as well as ASCENT, an all-glass enclosed elevator that travels up the outside of the building to breathtaking views that soar at 1,210 feet.

Named one of the best holiday markets in the entire United States, the Union Square Holiday Market by Urbanspace returns this year through Dec. 24. The iconic Holiday Market welcomes over 175 vendors featuring unique gifts created by local craftsmen, artists and entrepreneurs – showcasing a dynamic mix of global cuisines, original art, handcrafted accessories and more. Synonymous with the festive spirit of the season, the Holiday Market has been a fixture of Union Square for four decades and is Manhattan’s longest running holiday market.

View the mesmerizing display of colorful lanterns in the Winter Garden at Luminaries, Brookfield Place through Jan. 6, 2023. Conceived by the LAB at Rockwell Group, Luminaries’ glowing canopy consists of 640 twinkling custom lanterns that change in color and intensity. Touchless wishing stations allow visitors to send a motion-activated ‘wish’ into the canopy of lanterns above, prompting a magical display of lights and colors.

Visit Hall des Lumières, Manhattan’s new permanent cultural destination for immersive digital art. Located within the landmarked Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank at 49 Chambers Street opposite Manhattan’s City Hall Park, Hall des Lumières showcases entirely new custom-curated experiences based on the work of different world-renowned artists. This season, experience the wonder of Gustav Klimt: Gold in Motion, a thematic journey through gold and color alongside revolutionary artworks, reimagined through unique, cutting-edge mapping technology.

The Meatpacking District will once again transform into a whimsical winter wonderland with light displays that reflect the neighborhood’s character as a lively cultural center for dining, drinking, shopping and exploring. Running through mid-January 2023, stop by the neighborhood to see larger-than-life snowpeople decked out with accessories, walk through an illuminating colonnade and pose inside giant, mirrored frames for the perfect photo op. Shops and restaurants throughout the neighborhood will also have special holiday offerings from prix-fixe menus to winter cocktails and sales.

Housed in a historic 1881 landmark property and one of New York City’s last architectural treasures, The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel is located at the epicenter of downtown Manhattan’s revitalized neighborhood. Celebrated for its nine-story Victorian atrium and majestic skylight, as well as its glorious Christmas tree and sparkling holiday decor, guests can indulge in The Beekman’s elegantly-appointed guest rooms, including 38 suites and two private penthouses. The Bar Room is set with rich, jewel-toned furnishings delivering stylish ambiance – what gives a cozy library feel, known as the ‘living room of downtown Manhattan’ – and is the perfect place to grab a nightcap. The Beekman also features two upscale restaurants including Temple Court, by Chef Tom Colicchio, hosting specialty holiday programming, and the newly launched Le Gratin led by Chef Daniel Boulud.

The perfect home base for exploring Williamsburg, the Wythe Hotel is celebrating its 10th anniversary as the first hotel to jump start the transformation of the neighborhood. Bar Blondeau, a new bar and restaurant, boasts unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline and a perfect place to enjoy an intimate cozy drink in the winter. New cocktails for the colder months include the Cooper Negroni featuring barrel-aged gin, local vermouth and Italian bitter, as well as the Jamaica Bay featuring apple cider, Jamaican rum and Swedish punch, served hot for cooler weather. Located on the ground floor of the Wythe hotel, French brasserie Le Crocodile became one of the city’s most sought-after restaurants after opening in late 2019

No city celebrates the holidays quite like New York. In order to experience the full flavor of the city, a multi-day visit is in order. Enjoy the high-kicking Rockettes, test your skills at one of the several ice skating rinks throughout the city and take time to visit some of the other attractions that can only be found here.