Events For December | Times Square Chronicles

As the lights go up and December wraps New York in a hush of winter magic, the city transforms into a living holiday mosaic: classic shows, shimmering markets, bold art, and unexpected shifts in rhythm and routine. December is a spell cast in frost and firelight. The city vibrates with memory and hope, as if each snowflake carries a message, each sidewalk corner a story waiting to sing. Beneath the glittering windows and high-society galas, a softer heartbeat pulses — one of healing, gathering, and sacred invitation. From tree lightings to Radio City Christmas Spectacular to solstice ceremonies, celestial concerts to ethereal encounters with tradition, the final month of the year calls forth the mystic and the mortal. Whether you’re seeking warmth, wonder, or the quiet truth beneath the noise, here is where you may find it. Until 12/24: Union Square Holiday Market Opens. One of the city’s most beloved holiday shopping destinations. A timeless portal into dreams. Sugar Plum fairies, enchanted forests, and Tchaikovsky’s hauntingly hopeful score return to remind us of childlike wonder. Until

12/31: Santa’s Secret, a seductive speakeasy and immersive wonderland that’s back in NYC for a fifth year. This adults-only holiday extravaganza: Delightfully cheeky characters, including mischievous living toys, seductive gingerbread ladies, and the famed jacked lumberjack.  This year, the event is moving to a massive new location: 10 Columbus Circle in Midtown. Just don’t let Santa party too hard—or how will he deliver all the presents with a hangover?!

Until 1/4/26: Lightscape, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s. More than 1 million lights combine to form illuminated trail of art by local and international artists. Don’t miss the iconic Winter Cathedral

Until 12/12 George Balanchine’s The Nutcracke

Until 1/4/2026 The Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights outdoor celebration featuring animated lights and LED displays of animals from around the world is back. Millions of lights and hundreds wildlife lanterns spread across six lantern trails, including the holiday train and Enchanted Sea, plus look for new additions such as snow tube slides, an illuminated ice-themed throne and virtual snowball throwing.

Until 1/7: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights started this weekend, but the best time is mid-December through New Year’s Eve, between dusk and 9pm if you plan to travel by foot. Most of the houses turn their displays off after 9pm but some leave theirs on later (depending on their bedtime).

Until 1/19/2026  Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off 2025is on view at Museum of the City of New York.

Until 2026: The Origami Holiday Tree. This year’s dazzling 13-foot holiday tree, on the theme New Beginnings, celebrates the spectacular variety of species that evolved after an asteroid impact ended the age of dinosaurs some 66 million years ago. Among the more than 1,000 origami pieces are dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles—pterosaurs that ruled the skies, mosasaurs and plesiosaurs that roamed the seas, as well as Triceratops and T. rex, which walked the Earth during the Cretaceous Period.

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

12/3: The fabulous holiday Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights wrap around the branches. It’s topped with a three-dimensional Swarovski star that weighs 900 pounds and sparkles in 3 million crystals. On Christmas Eve, the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve it is lit from 5am to 9pm. Reba McEntire, for the first time will host the annual two-hour NBC special. McEntire currently stars on season 28 of NBC’s “The Voice” and on the NBC comedy “Happy’s Place.” Other performers on the special include Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce and Gwen Stefani. The Radio City Rockettes, celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, will also perform.

Until 1/11: Holiday Train Show – New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. After more than three decades, the Holiday Train Show continues to delight as New York City’s favorite winter tradition and a can’t-miss adventure. The timeless magic of rail travel fills NYBG with seasonal cheer as model trains travel over famous bridges and through familiar city settings, bringing nearly 200 twinkling landmark replicas—including new surprises for 2025/2026—to life under the glass of the warm and welcoming Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.  On select evenings, journey through the exhibition with friends and loved ones after dark to see the show in a charming new light during Holiday Train Nights.

Until 2:2026:  New York Transit Museum’s 21st annual Holiday Train Show. Yhis 34-foot-long display, within Grand Central Terminal, sees miniature versions of city landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. Watch as Lionel model trains depart from a miniature replica of Grand Central. Then they travel over the river (the East River, to be exact) and through the wood to reach their final destination, the North Pole. The free show is open Monday-Friday, 10am-7:30pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm; and closed major holidays. Find it in the shuttle passage on 42nd Street and Park Avenue, adjacent to the Station Master’s Office.

12/1:  The Moth: Holiday Edition. The Bell House, 149 7th Street. 12/5: St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, 12/10: Rodney’s and 12/17 The Bell House/ True stories, told live without notes. This special holiday gathering brings tales of transformation, revelation, and warmth to the mainstage.

12/4: Broadway Under the Stars. This series of free performances inside The Shops at Columbus Circle brings performers from some of the hottest shows right now for music and intimate conversations moderated by Broadway alumnus George Psomas. From 5-6pm on the second-floor stage. While you’re there, enjoy the seasonal spectacle with 300,000 shimmering lights and 44 floating stars illuminating the entire complex in holiday cheer. Here’s the full lineup:  The Lion King, Aladdin, Hell’s Kitchen

12/4: At 4:30pm, for the launch of Lincoln Square’s Magical Lights at Dante Park – Broadway & 64th Street.

12/8: Cheyenne Jackson—the beloved Grammy- and Emmy-nominated star of stage and screen (Xanadu, Into the Woods, American Horror Story, 30 Rock)—takes the stage at Carnegie Hall. Joining him are several special guests, including Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski (30 Rock, Oh, Mary!) and Broadway favorite Jessica Vosk (Wicked, Hell’s Kitchen) for a one-of-a-kind concert that weaves together Broadway hits, pop anthems, and timeless American Songbook classics—plus a few seasonal surprises.

12/11: Broadway Under the Stars. This series of free performances inside The Shops at Columbus Circle brings performers from some of the hottest shows right now for music and intimate conversations moderated by Broadway alumnus George Psomas. From 5-6pm on the second-floor stage. While you’re there, enjoy the seasonal spectacle with 300,000 shimmering lights and 44 floating stars illuminating the entire complex in holiday cheer. Here’s the full lineup: SIX The Musical, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), The Queen of Versailles.

12/12: Z100’s Jingle Ball NYC.  iHeartRadio’s annual touring holiday bash, at Madison Square Garden at 7pm. The star-studded lineup features: Alex Warren, BigXthaPlug, Conan Gray, Ed Sheeran, Jessie Murph, Laufey, MONSTA X, Myles Smith, Nelly, Ravyn Lenae, Reneé Rapp, and Zara Larsson. Also expect a special sing-along moment for KPOP DEMON HUNTERS.

12/14: The “world’s largest menorah” is lit annually at Grand Army plaza located at 5th Ave and 59th Street. Ceremonies are held each night of Hanukkah, with the main lighting event typically at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays.

12/13: SantaCon NYC. Thousands of folks dressed up in red suits, elf hats and antlers to midtown bars for a daylong celebration from 10am-8pm, across Midtown.

12/14: Menorah Lighting at Grand Army Plaza (Brooklyn). 1st Night of Chanukah, Sunday, December 14  Kickoff Concert Event begins at 4:00 pm. 2nd Night of Chanukah, Monday, December 15 at 6:00 pm. 3rd Night of Chanukah, Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00 pm. 4th Night of Chanukah, Wednesday, December 17 at 6:00 pm. 5th Night of Chanukah, Thursday, December 18 at 6:00 pm. 6th Night of Chanukah, Friday, December 19 at 3:30 pm. 7th Night of Chanukah, Saturday, December 20 at 7:15 pm/ 8th Night of Chanukah, Sunday, December 21 at 5:00 pm. At The Largest Menorah in Brooklyn every night of Chanukah is celebrated with live music, hot latkes and gifts for the children.

12/17: Celebrate the upcoming winter solstice with the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District at the fourth annual WinteRamble—an illuminated neighborhood procession featuring the iconic Frost Giant puppets and icicle lanterns from Processional Arts Workshop. Make a mini-lantern at our free workshop, carry an icicle lantern, or walk with us on the sidewalks and be a part of our neighborhood’s festive holiday tradition. The joyful procession starts at 5:00pm in front of 1886 Broadway (between 62nd Street and 63rd Street) and meanders through the Lincoln Square neighborhood to the ethereal sounds of J.C. King’s Kalimbascope (a rolling ensemble of acoustically-enhanced thumb pianos) until 6:00pm. Residents, neighbors, and visitors can join the procession from anywhere along the route. Before the procession starts, make your own mini-lantern at our free workshop between 3:00pm and 5:00pm at TD Bank (1873 Broadway at West 62nd Street). Teaching artists from Processional Arts Workshop will be on hand to help. Sign up via this form to participate in the workshop, carry an icicle lantern, join the Kalimbascope, or walk along with the group. Everyone is welcome to take part in this family-friendly event! The WinteRamble is free, but we are encouraging everyone to join us in supporting our longtime local partners, the Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center and Goddard Riverside. Together, we can help our neighbors access the resources and services they need. Donations can be made at this link.

12/18: Broadway Under the Stars. This series of free performances inside The Shops at Columbus Circle brings performers from some of the hottest shows right now for music and intimate conversations moderated by Broadway alumnus George Psomas. From 5-6pm on the second-floor stage. While you’re there, enjoy the seasonal spectacle with 300,000 shimmering lights and 44 floating stars illuminating the entire complex in holiday cheer. Here’s the full lineup: Operation Mincemeat, The Book of Mormon, Chicago

12/19 -20: The New York Pops A Place Called Home Celebrate the season with Broadway and television sensation Megan Hilty and the acclaimed Essential Voices USA choir. This joyous evening will enchant audiences with holiday classics, spirited carols, and heartwarming performances.

12/21: Winter Solstice Celebration with Paul Winter – Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
An awe-inspiring ritual of music and renewal, featuring global musicians, giant puppets, and the ceremonial ‘sun gong’ ringing in the return of light.

12/24: Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
For those who find peace in the sacred hush of Christmas Eve, this legendary mass glows with choir, candlelight, and soul-deep tradition.

12/31: Times Square New Year’s Eve – Midtown Manhattan.
An electrified threshold moment as the ball drops and billions watch. For those brave enough to gather in the cold, it’s a global rite of release and rebirth.