{"id":13759,"date":"2013-10-21T08:38:22","date_gmt":"2013-10-21T12:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=13759"},"modified":"2013-11-06T17:40:08","modified_gmt":"2013-11-06T21:40:08","slug":"2013-holiday-season-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/21\/2013-holiday-season-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Enjoy the 2013 Holiday Season in New York City!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A Christmas tree the size of a small building at Rockefeller Center, ice-skating rinks and hot cocoa stands in Central Park, and beautifully decorated window displays at Macy\u2019s Herald Square can only mean one thing: holiday season in New York City! From roughly November 15th to January 2nd, the city of New York is turned into one big celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year\u2019s Eve. Though the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, it\u2019s never been as cozy and fun to be in the Big Apple.<\/p>\n<p>From holiday markets in Brooklyn to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Manhattan, you\u2019ll get into the holiday spirit wherever you are in the city. In this article, we\u2019ll show you some of our favorite holiday activities, so you\u2019ll be able to make the absolute most of your stay in New York City during the holiday season of 2013!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Holiday Markets in New York City<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13762\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/union-square-holiday-market-nyc-manhattan-new-york.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of New York City\u2019s Union Square Holiday Market\" width=\"585\" height=\"433\" \/>\n\t<div>The Union Square Holiday Market in New York City <\/div>\n<\/div>You can\u2019t visit New York during the holiday season without going to one of the many great holiday markets in the city. Whether you\u2019re looking for the perfect holiday gift or the best hot cocoa in town, these markets have got you covered!<!--more--><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brooklyn Flea\u2019s Gifted Holiday Market<\/strong> is hosted in a spectacular location: the art deco Skylight One Hanson, located in the famous former Williamsburg Savings Bank Clock tower. The holiday market features over 100 vendors and takes place across three floors. This is the place to pick up original gifts for the holidays: you\u2019ll discover anything from vintage finds, interesting art pieces and homemade gifts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The<strong> Union Square Holiday Market<\/strong> brings the charm of European Christmas markets to Manhattan. Starting November 21st, this open-air market will get you in the holiday cheer in no time. Peruse the different stalls for gifts, and don\u2019t forget to enjoy the food and drinks at the market! Taste real Belgian waffles at Wafels &amp; Dinges or try one of the many homemade hot apple ciders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13764\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/christmas-tree-holiday-shops-bryant-park-nyc-manhattan-new-york.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Manhattan\u2019s Holiday Shops at Bryant Park\" width=\"585\" height=\"389\" \/>\n\t<div>A beautiful Christmas tree at the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park in Manhattan<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Holiday Shops at Bryant Park<\/strong> are beautifully designed, and range from small boutique stores to designer shops. The shops will be open to the public starting November 1st. Walk around the pond in the park with a hot cocoa in hand and enjoy the holiday spirit!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Columbus Circle Holiday Market<\/strong> is ideally located on the southwestern point of Central Park. Starting December 4th, the stalls at this market sell anything ranging from jewelry, soaps, handmade products and toys. There\u2019s also a great selection of chocolates and other candy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>New York City\u2019s Ice-Skating Rinks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of our most favorite activities during holiday season has to be ice-skating! There are several amazing outdoor ice-skating rinks in the city. Even if you don\u2019t want to try ice-skating yourself, it\u2019s still wonderful to drink a hot cup of cocoa while standing beside an ice-skating rink, watching the skaters glide by.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink<\/strong> is one of the most famous rinks in the city, and will open in October. Located right beneath the beautiful Rockefeller Christmas tree, this rink can get quite crowded. There are several nice cafes and restaurants around the rink where you can warm up and get a great view of the skaters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Ice-Skating Rink at Bryant Park<\/strong> is completely free to visit, but if you don\u2019t bring your own skates you\u2019ll have to pay $14 to rent a pair. Starting on November 1st, the rink is open until 10 pm on weekdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so bring a date and skate the night away under the glittering lights of the Midtown skyscrapers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13763\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/wollman-ice-skating-ring-central-park-nyc-manhattan-new-york.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Central Park\u2019s Wollman Ice Skating Rink\" width=\"585\" height=\"295\" \/>\n\t<div>The Wollman Ice Skating Rink in Central Park, New York City<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Wollman Ice-Skating Rink in Central Park<\/strong> is a lot bigger than the previous two rinks. It\u2019s also often a lot less crowded, so if you\u2019re lucky you won\u2019t have to wait in line at all. The rink offers beautiful views of the park and Midtown Manhattan skyscrapers, truly turning into a magical place during snowfall.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers<\/strong> is the only indoor and year-round ice-skating rink on the list. The Sky Rink on Pier 61 has two big ice-skating rinks, where you can enjoy indoor skating with a view of New Jersey across the Hudson River. It\u2019s also possible to take lessons at the Sky Rink.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Annual Holiday Season Events in New York City<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13765\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/macys-thanksgiving-celebration-parade-nyc-manhattan-new-york.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Parade in New York\u2019s Times Square\" width=\"585\" height=\"385\" \/>\n\t<div>Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Parade in Times Square, New York<\/div>\n<\/div>It doesn\u2019t matter if you visit New York in November, December or January: there are several amazing holiday events held throughout the holiday season.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One of the first events of the season is <strong>Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade<\/strong>. Every year, Macy\u2019s organizes a parade with gigantic balloons that runs through Manhattan on Thanksgiving Day. This year Thanksgiving will be on November 28th. You can watch the balloons being inflated the night before, and also enjoy performances by cast members of Broadway shows on Thanksgiving itself. For more information about celebrating Thanksgiving in New York, check out the <a title=\"Celebrate Thanksgiving in New York City!\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/29\/thanksgiving-new-york-2012\/\">2012 guide for Celebrating Thanksgiving in New York City<\/a>!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The day after Thanksgiving is known in New York as<strong> Black Friday<\/strong>: the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. On November 29th many stores in New York City organize major sales. Brave the crowds and hunt for bargains in New York\u2019s best and biggest stores.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13761\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/rockerfeller-center-christmas-tree-nyc-manhattan-new-york.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of the gigantic Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, Manhattan\" width=\"585\" height=\"418\" \/>\n\t<div>Rockefeller Center\u2019s huge Christmas tree in Midtown Manhattan<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>If Black Friday marks the start of the Christmas shopping season, then the <strong>Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting<\/strong> marks the real start of the Christmas holiday season. The tree lighting ceremony is a huge televised event with musical performances, and will take place on December 4th this year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The last big event of the holiday season is of course the <strong>New Year\u2019s Eve Ball Drop in Times Square<\/strong>. Every year on New Year\u2019s Eve, one million people gather in Times Square to watch the ball drop and celebrate the New Year. You can attend the event for free, but it does take some preparation. For more information about the ball drop event, see <a title=\"Celebrate New Year\u2019s Eve in New York\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/03\/new-years-eve-new-york-london-paris-south-france\/\">New Year\u2019s Eve in New York City<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Celebrate the Holiday Season with your Family in a New York City Apartment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re traveling to New York City with your family during the holiday season, staying in a <a title=\"New York Vacation Rentals\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/new-york-apartment\/vacation\">New York vacation rental apartment<\/a> can be a real blessing. Namely, you\u2019ll have access to a fully equipped kitchen! You\u2019ll be able to have the quintessential family holiday experience by cooking your own Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas meal with your family. Besides a kitchen, you\u2019ll also have a real living room that you can decorate and where the kids will have enough space to play!<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about staying for a longer period, you can also choose to rent a <a title=\"Furnished Apartments in New York\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/new-york-apartment\/furnished\">furnished apartment in New York<\/a>. Here you can really feel at home, and fully experience the holiday cheer by getting your own Christmas tree!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Things to See &amp; Do in New York City during the Holiday Season<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>New York has always been a city of great attractions. Year-round, you can visit the famous landmarks and indulge in the many cultural activities the city has to offer. During the holiday season, New York City boasts some extra special events!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ever year during the holiday season, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx hosts the <strong>Holiday Train Show<\/strong>. This exhibition features over a dozen model trains that travel through a scale model of New York City, made out of natural materials. There\u2019s even a miniature Empire State Building! This exhibition will run between November 16th and January 12th, and is a great activity for the whole family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13760\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/radio-city-music-hall-christmas-show-manhattan-new-york.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Radio City Music Hall, where the Christmas Spectacular is performed each year\" width=\"585\" height=\"382\" \/>\n\t<div>The Rockettes perform the Christmas Spectacular in Radio City Music Hall<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>If you want to see a show in New York during holiday season, be sure to get tickets to the <strong>Radio City Christmas Spectacular<\/strong>. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the The Rockettes in New York, so it\u2019s sure to be a fantastic show!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>For ballet fans, <strong>George Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker<\/strong> is sure to be one of the highlights of the holiday season. The amazing production by the New York Ballet can bee seen at the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>At the <strong>Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/strong>, you can admire the<strong> Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Cr\u00e8che<\/strong>. This beautiful display in the Medieval Sculptures Hall is made up out of over two hundred 18th Century Neapolitan Cr\u00e8ches figures and an amazingly decorated Christmas tree.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Our last attraction on the list is very typical for American Christmas celebrations: the <strong>Holiday Lights in Dyker Heights<\/strong>. Every year, the houses in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn are decorated with holiday lights and elaborate Christmas displays. You can discover the amazing decorations on foot, or take a bus tour past the most beautiful displays in the neighborhood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We hope you\u2019ve enjoyed our guide to the holiday season in New York City! What\u2019s your favorite holiday?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Christmas tree the size of a small building at Rockefeller Center, ice-skating rinks and hot cocoa stands in Central Park, and beautifully decorated window&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[20],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13759"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13759"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13834,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13759\/revisions\/13834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}