Always on the List

Christmas in New York: thousands of programs for the family to enjoy!

The end-of-year festivities make the most vibrant city on the planet even more enjoyable to discover with your children

By Mari Campos

Few destinations on the planet provide such a sense of familiarity as when you disembark in New York. Regardless of the profile or age group of the visitor, this is a city that you have already “seen” so much of in movies, cartoons and TV series that even its streets seem to be old friends. It is good to visit any time of the year, but it is undoubtedly even more special, almost magical, to be (re)discovered during the end-of-year festivities.

Celebrating Christmas in New York is on the wish list of many people. And the good news is that it’s a trip that can be easily adapted to different budgets – not least because there are always many free activities. From the long-awaited American Thanksgiving holiday, at the end of November, to the beginning of January, New York gains even more lights, more musicality and more charm, as if we had fallen inside the pages of a Christmas story.

Every street, corner, store, museum and hotel are decorated in the most special way at this time of year. And snow is not rare in the city! Enjoying all this with children and teenagers takes the charm and joy involved in the occasion to an entirely different level.

Free attractions for the whole family

It costs nothing, for example, to attend Macy’s legendary annual Thanksgiving Day parade. The classic celebration is in its 96th edition and takes over Manhattan with its gigantic balloons, floats and a multitude of dancers, including cartoon characters, clowns, celebrities and items from the main Disney musicals. The windows of Macy’s, at this time, incidentally, are an attraction unto themselves, decorated with unmissable Christmas scenes.

Before November ends, the magical lighting ceremony of the immense Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center is not only for children to enjoy; the event thrills even the most serious of visitors – and guarantees adorable family photos! This beautiful ritual has been taking place for over 80 years and features musical shows as the lights are being turned on to the top of the tree. The Christmas tree display can be admired, always with the equally enchanting surroundings, until mid-January.

Once at the Rockefeller Center, why not try out its famous ice-skating rink? The stage for so many iconic movie scenes, the Rink at Rockefeller Center is situated right next to the famous Christmas tree and skating equipment is available for rent for babies, children and adults. Santa Claus also pays a visit on several dates in December.

Another special feature for this season is to enjoy the new show Shine Bright at Hudson Yards. This incredible sound and light installation (over two million of them!) creates movement, magic and optical illusion in the indoor and outdoor spaces of the location, including The Shops, Public Square & Gardens, Edge and the fantastic Vessel.

New York is also gaining more delightful Christmas Markets. The Bryant Park Winter Village, for example, has more than 100 different food, drink and shopping stalls – including a Santa Corner, where a photo can be taken with the little ones. There are other Christmas markets spread around the city that are also worth a visit, such as the German-inspired Columbus Circle Christmas Market, the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair and the Union Square Holiday Market.

A walking-tour through Brooklyn can take children to Dyker Heights, whose neighborhood homes have an annual competition to choose the most beautiful Christmas lights on their facades. Some are so sumptuous that they are more impressive than those found in the best Brazilian shopping malls!

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Activities for different travel budgets

Different attractions, performances and private and paid Christmas shows also take place around the city. The Stella 34 Trattoria at Macy’s, for example, has a very special breakfast with Santa Claus from the end of November through Christmas Eve (at 08:00, 09:00, and 10:00, costing US$ 55 for adults and US$ 35 for children; children under two are free), with a full breakfast for everyone, special activities for the children, and a glass of mimosa for the adults.

Several theatrical super-productions for all the family take place around town this time of year, including The Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall; the unmissable Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, performed by the New York City Ballet at the David H. Koch Theater; or The Christmas Show at St. George’s Theater on Staten Island. They all involve lots of music, lights, dances, acrobatics and plenty of magic.

Central Park has even more charm at this time of year, with or without snow. It’s a great event to skate on its Wollman Rink, with a view of the unmistakable Manhattan skyline in the background, or to go to Pilgrim Hill to enjoy a sled ride (which can be rented). Many photo opportunities and lots of laughs.

The enchantment also happens, with plenty of lights, sounds and giant artifacts, at the Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show, at the LumiCity Festival on Randalls Island and Gingerbread Lane at the New York Hall of Science (all these attractions require prior reservation). In all of them, we become children once again with the little ones while exploring the venues and end the magical visit with a beautiful hot chocolate full of marshmallows – while we try to process all the recently created emotions and unforgettable travel memories.

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How to get there: New York has daily direct flights from major Brazilian capitals, operated by different airlines, such as Latam, American Airlines, United, Delta, Azul and Gol. It’s also easy to reach your destination from a quick connection in Panama City or another major American city.

How to get around: To get around the city, there are plenty of taxis, cars by app and a wide range of private transport. However, New York is also a good city for walking and has an excellent public transport network. A MetroCard is US$ 33 per adult, with unlimited transportation for 7 full days (and discounted rates for children and students).

Where to stay: The city also has several family friendly hotels, such as the Lotte NY Palace, in Midtown, with easy access on foot to several attractions in the city – including the Rockefeller Center and Central Park close by. The rooms are quite spacious, with large marble