December is a festive time in New York City with a dazzling array of holiday shows, menorah lightings and caroling events happening throughout the month. If you need a change of pace from the seasonal cheer, take advantage of the fact that the City’s museums don’t take a holiday break, nor do its sports teams. Use our day-by-day planner to keep yourself busy until the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.
December 1: The Nutcracker at Brookfield Place
December 2: Lighting the World’s Largest Menorahs in Manhattan and Brooklyn
December 3: John Legend – A Legendary Christmas at Madison Square Garden
December 4: Ice-skating in Bryant Park
December 5: Frozen on Broadway
December 6: Jewelry: The Body Transformed at the Met Fifth Avenue
December 7: Ailey 60 at New York City Center
December 8: Shop at the Etsy Holiday Handmade Cavalcade
December 9: Yeti, Set, Snow! at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre
December 10: Broadway Under the Stars (Mean Girls and Wicked) at the Shops at Columbus Circle
December 11: Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color at the Museum at FIT
December 12: Holiday Lights and Movie Sites Tour
December 13: Rebel Women: Defying Victorianism at the Museum of the City of New York
December 14: Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
December 15: Gingerbread Lane at the New York Hall of Science
December 16: The Christmas Show at the St. George Theatre
December 17: Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise
December 18: King Kong on Broadway
December 19: The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera
December 20: Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden
December 21: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas at MSG’s Hulu Theater
December 22: Winter Solstice Celebration at Cathedral of St. John the Divine
December 23: Radio City Christmas Spectacular
December 24: Christmas Eve Caroling at Washington Square Park
December 25: New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden
December 26: Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History
December 27: Scenes from the Collection at the Jewish Museum
December 28: To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway
December 29: Kwanzaa Celebration at the Apollo Theater
December 30: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium
December 31: Times Square Ball Drop