November officially kicks off the holiday season and New Yorkers look forward to it each year. There is so much to do and see in the city and it’s truly such a magical time to visit if you’re thinking about coming to town. Places like Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square and all the Christmas markets are a few notable spots you will want to add to your tour guide. I always recommend getting some holiday shopping done before peak season truly begins in December. It’s a great month to come to town and enjoy all the great things the city has to offer during the most wonderful time of the year! We’re heading into a cold winter, so grab your warm coats and let’s start planning out the best month!
Let’s begin with the most iconic way to kick off the holiday season and winter months. Thanksgiving is on the 28th and we all know the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the best way to start out the day! We have been lucky enough to see it in person a few times and it’s truly a fantastic experience. There are hotels you can book with views, too if you don’t want to stand out in the cold, but you’ll want to book this ASAP! They announce all the details on their site and it will air from 9AM-12PM. Some of our favorite balloons are back and we’re looking forward to seeing the amazing performances. It’s always a great time! If you can’t go in person, you can always watch the live music and fun balloons on tv!
We all love a good Instagrammable moment. The pumpkin arch is back at Pier 17 and it’s the perfect backdrop for your fall photos! Get into the fall spirit and check it out, it’s here only until November 3rd.
I don’t know about you, but I love trying new wine and food bites. NYC is the best place to do this and the iconic food and wine festival is here in Brooklyn this month! There are tons of tastings and holiday bites to check out, but you will need tickets! Check it out, they are here on the 9th.
We’re officially ready to get into the holiday spirit! Christmas in America presents Holiday Lane at Mount Vernon. You can fully immerse yourself into the magic of the holiday season through this immersive experience. The best part is that all net proceeds are being donated to three amazing causes. It’s the season of giving and this is a fantastic way to help out. A few fun things to see at Holiday Lane are Santa himself, 9 themed areas and a Christmas store that is perfect to fulfill those gifts on your list!
New Yorkers understand how cool these are! Rockefeller Chalets are back and they have some fantastic views of the ice rink and holiday market itself. Enjoy drinks and food in your own private chalet with friends this holiday season. Let me just tell you, these bookings fly so you need to get on a reservation while it’s still early! They open today!
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is always one of the best things to do in the city. At this time of the year, they have something extra special going on! It’s called Lightscape which is an illuminated trail that you can walk through! It takes my breath away and this is the perfect time to go see it. They have different colored lights and shapes of lights that they cast over different objects in nature and hang. This is a great place to bring your family and friends, not to mention it’s makes for a great photo opportunity!
The Watermark always has such cool pop ups happening over there! Located on Pier 15, they are opening a winter wonderland running November 8th-December 31st. There will be glasshouse dining and a full North Pole setup for photos. Tickets are available now and this is the perfect activity with friends to welcome the holiday season!
My girls and I love the Brooklyn Ballet! They are performing The Nutcracker on December 12th-15th at 2PM and 7PM but tickets will sell out! Be sure to grab them this month to enjoy. They extended tickets this year, which is very exciting!
If you’ve been to the city, you’ll know this is a top attraction. There are so many things to do at The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. I suggest making a whole day out of it! Begin your day out by going ice skating, they have a great rink with free admission with nice rental skates. Then head on over to the Holiday Shops where you can find really cool gifts for loved ones this season. Finish your day by unwinding with the best hot chocolate. They also have cocktails and food options to offer at Bryant Park.
LuminoCity is an unforgettable, immersive experience! There are plenty of lights and imagination to tell a story. This is a timed and festive holiday experience to bring your family to this month and it’s at the top of our list!It’s located at Eisenhower Park and tickets start at $34 with an opening on the 8th and it closes January 5th. What’s better than an immersive light show with creations of art?! You’ve gotta see it!
Moxy is back with one of the most stunning and festive additions to the season! It’s an enclosed outdoor terrace to sip on pink cocktails from November 13th-January 1st. The best part is the entire spot is pink so you already know I have to get some photos there!
The Holiday lights are back at the Bronx Zoo! From November 22nd-January 5th, you can experience the wildlife amongst stunning holiday lights. Not only will there be holiday decor, but expect animal lanterns, arches, colored tunnels, tree lighting and more! This is the perfect event to bring your kids to at the end of November to see some animals and get into the holiday spirit. Tickets are on sale now!
How did I not know about this free activity?! Every Thursday the Chelsea Market has a 60 minute Vinyasa flow at 7AM. Make sure to RSVP your attendance for a head count weekly here. Check them out at 450 West 16th Street!
The InterContinental Hotel New York Barclay has a restaurant that pays homage to the hotel’s 1920’s origin. The Parlour’s food and drink selection take you on a historical journey and they have brand new wine and jazz experiences right here at the Barclay location. Enjoy Somm Sundays for wine pairings with bites from 3PM-11:30PM every Sunday through the end of the year. Another fun happening is Jazzy Wednesdays, where they host a jazz band from 5-8PM. These are perfect fall date ideas!
NY Marathon
Sunday, November 3rd is the NYC Marathon! For everyone running this year, good luck and have a safe run! So much hard work and dedication has gone into your training and you should be so proud! We’ll all be showing our support for them! The race starts in Staten Island and will take place in all 5 boroughs and finish in Central Park.
Ice Skate
My family and I love to ice skate! It keeps us active and we happen to live right by an ice rink, so we go often. Be sure to read our post on the best ice skating rinks to visit in NYC ! They’re all different and great in their own ways. Glide Brooklyn is an ice rink under the Brooklyn Bridge! You can get bites and sips at the Cafè there after you skate. Outdoor activities are usually around for a limited time in the winter months, but early November is usually pretty occupied with plenty of happenings and our favorite things outdoors. Ice skating sticks around for the next season, as well! Who is ready for winter activities?!
Saks Fifth Ave Lights
November 20th is what is leading us into the holidays. We look out for the Saks Fifth Avenue light show, which is beyond gorgeous. This is when they decorate the outside of the store with beautiful lights and light them up to perform a show. Different colors and times, it’s all a magical experience! We make sure to go every year! Holiday lights are so special and the perfect way to welcome this time of year! They are lit until January 5th this year.
Christmas Lights Tour
The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights are back and better than ever! This Brooklyn display is a must-see for us each year. The neighborhood goes all out and it’s so merry and bright! This is something we like to do on a weekend night with the kids! One thing to note is a lot of houses turn their lights off around 9PM so make sure to get there before then!
Holiday Markets
I can’t contain my excitement! The holiday markets are a few of the most magical parts of the city around the holidays! They’re some of the best places to get snacks, hot chocolate, find artisanal gifts for loved one’s and overall just have a great adventure for the day. A few top choices are the Bryant Park Christmas Market, Union Square Holiday Market and the Christmas Market at Columbus Circle. The Bryant Park Christmas Market even has an ice skating rink! They will run through December 24th.
Another hilarious comedy related event is here! There are tons of comedians performing like Tracy Morgan, Judd Apatow, Jeff Arcuri and tribute performances. Some events are sold out but several still have tickets available, so run! It’s all happening at the beginning of the month. This is running November 7th-17th.
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is truly an iconic holiday special! The Rockettes always put on a fun show and we love to support the arts. This show always gets us into the holiday spirit! Tickets are available for purchase and can be bought for groups, as well. It begins on the 8th and runs through the whole holiday season!
Black Friday Shopping
Is it just me or do Black Friday sales seem to drop earlier each year? A few stores I like to keep an eye on are J Crew, Old Navy, Amazon, Target, Best Buy and the list could go on and on. But these are the stores that have items like technology at lower prices or basics that I either like to stock up on or wait to purchase for sales. I’ll make a whole post about where I’m shopping this month on Like to Know It!
The Holiday Train Show is back! If you have kids, this is something you’ll want to check out for sure! It’s located at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and runs from November 16th-January 20th. So while you have some time to visit it, get a head start and check it out now! Tickets are on sale now.
Rockefeller Tree Lighting
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is the most well-known tree in the city. And as it should be, it’s stunning! They are lighting it Wednesday, December 4th and it will stay lit until January 13th. Make a whole day out of seeing the lit tree if you can’t attend the lighting. Go ice skating at the rink, eat lunch and check out the tree!
My girls and I love the ballet! We go and see The Nutcracker every year and not only is it such special time together and a fun tradition, but the show never gets old! It’s so beautiful to watch and the performers work so hard. They deserve a great audience! Tickets are on sale and these are one’s you will want to snag ASAP. The show runs about 2 hours and opening night is November 29th and it closes January 4th.
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