Christmas events are a fun way to celebrate the holiday season with friends and family. These festive activities often include Christmas themes like baking cookies, decorating ornaments, or hosting an ugly sweater party. Some Christmas events may also have a charitable component, such as a toy drive. You can join a local toy drive hosted by a school or community organization, or host your own toy collection drive at your home.
The Bronx Zoo’s annual Winter Wonderland is one of NYC’s best family-friendly Christmas activities, offering a unique experience for kids and adults alike. With more than 200 dazzling lights, this attraction is sure to brighten your holiday spirit.
Visiting Central Park’s iconic Rockefeller Center tree lighting is an annual tradition for many New York City residents. The event can be a little hectic, especially since it takes place in December with frigid temperatures and packed crowds, but it is still worth seeing and capturing a photo.
For a more relaxed and intimate holiday experience, you can visit the Rockefeller Center on a less crowded day or even during the week for a better view of the beautiful light display. You can also watch the lighting of a giant menorah in Grand Army Plaza.
Taking a stroll through the tree-lined streets of Brooklyn is another popular option. The neighborhood comes alive with illuminations, making it a magical and romantic experience for everyone.
There are plenty of family-friendly events at the Bronx Zoo including a gingerbread house building contest, Santa visits, and the Nutcracker ballet. The animals will be extra-excited during this time of the year as well.
The holidays are a great time to enjoy ice skating and other cold-weather activities like snowshoeing. If you’re a fan of art, the Guggenheim Museum gussies up its exhibitions and galleries with holiday cheer for the season. You can even attend a special musical performance at the Museum or a holiday-themed dinner.
If you’re looking for more adult-oriented seasonal activities, a holiday cocktail party can be a fun way to connect with colleagues. You can create a festive menu featuring seasonal drinks like peppermint martinis and spiked gingerbread eggnog. You can even have a bartender teach staff how to make these drinks at a hands-on mixology lesson.
Creating a sweets table at the office is another fun way to get in the Christmas spirit. Guests can enjoy a variety of candy, cookies, and other sweet treats. You can buy pre-made desserts from a grocery store or crowdsource recipes from coworkers and friends for potluck-style contributions.
You can also have a Christmas jingle battle with your team, where participants put on headphones and dance to their favorite holiday tunes. This activity can help alleviate stress and promote teamwork.
To add an extra touch of festivity to your company Christmas party, you can incorporate a gift exchange activity. The White Elephant gift exchange is an alternative to the more traditional Secret Santa swap, and allows attendees to participate in a playful game of giving and receiving. You can also have a holiday-themed photo booth to capture memorable moments of the night.