The best Christmas events in New York City are the Rockefeller Center tree lighting (Wednesday, December 2, 2026), the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which brings Santa to Herald Square, the NYBG Holiday Train Show, the MTA's vintage Holiday Nostalgia Train, and Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
The city's most famous Christmas moment.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, in a ceremony broadcast live on NBC.
It stays on view until mid-January, beside the Rink at Rockefeller Center.
Good to know: On lighting night, the plaza fills up by afternoon; see the tree on a weekday morning instead.
45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
Giant balloons, floats and the arrival of Santa.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 26, 2026 marches from the Upper West Side to Herald Square, ending with Santa Claus and the start of the holiday season.
Watching the balloons being inflated the evening before is a local tradition.
Good to know: Stake out a spot on Central Park West by 6:30am.
Central Park West & West 77th Street, New York, NY 10024
Model trains running past NYC landmarks made of plants.
The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show sends model trains past more than 190 New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and seeds, in the glasshouse.
Book timed tickets well ahead.
Good to know: Weekday mornings are calmest.
2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458
Ride vintage 1930s subway cars on December Sundays.
On select Sundays in December, the MTA runs vintage subway cars from the 1930s to the 1970s along the Sixth Avenue line, for the price of a regular fare.
Riders often dress in vintage style.
Good to know: Check the MTA's schedule for 2026 dates and stops.
Sixth Avenue Line, New York, NY
Christmas Eve Mass in NYC's Gothic cathedral.
St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue celebrates Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, with music from its choirs.
Seats are by ticket, and the Mass is broadcast.
Good to know: Check how to request tickets on the cathedral's website in the fall.
5th Avenue & 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
Skating beneath the giant Christmas tree.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center is the classic NYC holiday skate, under the tree and the golden Prometheus statue.
Sessions are timed and sell out in December.
Good to know: Book the earliest morning session for smaller crowds.
600 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10020
Wednesday, December 2, 2026, with the ceremony broadcast live on NBC. The tree stays up until mid-January 2027.
Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting in the morning on the Upper West Side and ending at Herald Square, where Santa arrives.
Many restaurants (book ahead), cinemas, Broadway shows on some days, ice rinks and some attractions. Most shops and museums close.
The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden and skating at Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center are big hits with children.