NYC in December With Kids: A Week-by-Week Plan
The tree, the trains, the Rockettes and a lot of cold fingers. Here is how to do December in New York week by week without spending the whole month in a line.
The short answer
In December 2026, NYC with kids means the Rockefeller Center tree (lit December 2), the NYBG Holiday Train Show, Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights, Lightscape in Brooklyn, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and The Nutcracker. Go to Midtown on weekday mornings, book timed tickets early, and use calmer picks like Historic Richmond Town and Wave Hill. Schools are out December 24 to January 1, the busiest week.
NYC in December with kids is the city at full volume: the tree goes up, the rinks are packed, the windows are dressed and every second building seems to be selling hot chocolate. It is also cold, dark by 4:30pm and busier than at any other time of year, so the trick is less about finding things to do (there are far too many) and more about doing them in the right week, at the right time of day, with tickets already on your phone.
This guide works through December 2026 week by week, mixing the big famous ones with smaller, cheaper and calmer picks across all five boroughs. Everything below was checked on the organizers' own pages or reputable reports in early November. Checked November 4, 2026. A few 2026 details, mostly times and prices, were not published yet; where that is the case I say so rather than guess.
December in New York is brilliant, but it is a marathon, not a sprint. Pick one big thing a day and let the rest be playgrounds, pretzels and naps.
What is the weather like in NYC in December?
Cold, but rarely brutal. The National Weather Service's 1991 to 2020 normals for Central Park give an average December high of about 44°F and a low of about 34°F, sliding from around 49°F and 38°F on December 1 to 41°F and 30°F by New Year's Eve. Snow is possible but not reliable, so do not promise anyone a sledding trip.
The bigger issue is the dark. Sunset is around 4:28pm to 4:31pm for most of the month, which is lovely for light shows (they start early enough for small children) and less lovely for anyone who planned a long afternoon in the park. The avenues also act as wind tunnels, so hats, gloves and a spare pair of socks per child are worth more than any guidebook, including this one.
NYC in December with kids: the key dates for 2026
- December 2: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting (NBC broadcast; the tree stays up to January 9, 2027, per NY1 and 6sqft).
- December 4 to 11: Hanukkah menorah lightings at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn and Manhattan (Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4).
- December 5 and 6: Christmas in Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island, and Winter Haven opening weekend at Wave Hill, the Bronx.
- December 24 to January 1: NYC public schools winter recess (schools.nyc.gov 2026 to 2027 calendar). Expect the busiest week of the year everywhere.
- December 26 to 30: Kwanzaa at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.
- December 31: New Year's Eve in Times Square (honestly, not for small children; more on that below).
Week 1 (December 1 to 6): the tree, the menorah and an 1800s Christmas
The first week is the sweet spot. Most of the shows and light trails are open, the school vacation crowds have not arrived, and the weekday lines are about as short as they will get.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The tree is lit on Wednesday, December 2, during NBC's live Christmas in Rockefeller Center broadcast, and it stays up through January 9, 2027 (NY1 and 6sqft reports). The 2026 lighting time, the daily viewing hours and whether the public can stand in the plaza for the ceremony had not been published when I checked, so look at Rockefeller Center's site the week before.
With kids I would skip lighting night entirely. It is a TV event with a crush of people, and the tree looks exactly the same the next morning with a fraction of the crowd. Go early on a weekday, look down at The Rink (open since October 10), then walk across Fifth Avenue to see the windows.
Practical
- Subway
- B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (accessible station); check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Fine on the plaza, but crowds after dark make it slow going
- Cost
- Free to see the tree; The Rink is ticketed (2026 to 2027 prices on the official site)
- Time
- 20 to 30 minutes
- Check first
- Lighting time, crowd rules and tree viewing hours on rockefellercenter.com
Hanukkah Menorah at Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn's giant menorah at Grand Army Plaza is lit every night of Hanukkah, with live music, latkes and gifts for children, all free, organized by Chabad of Park Slope. NYC Tourism lists it from December 4 to 11, 2026. The nightly times for 2026 were not posted yet; last year's schedule shifted on Friday and Saturday around Shabbat, so expect the same and check the Chabad page.
It is a lovely, friendly half hour, and the Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library and Prospect Park are right there for the afternoon before.
Practical
- Subway
- 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza (not accessible); Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum on the 2/3 is an accessible station one stop on; check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Fine, it is an open plaza
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Check first
- 2026 nightly times on Chabad of Park Slope's page
Christmas in Historic Richmond Town
This is the one I would push hardest on families who think they have done Christmas in New York. Historic Richmond Town is a whole village of old buildings on Staten Island, and on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, from noon to 4pm, it fills with living history, tradespeople selling gifts, performances, Santa and a horse-drawn carriage ride. The night before, Friday, December 4, there is a free community tree lighting from 5pm to 6pm with music and Santa.
There are also Candlelight Tours on December 11 and 12: 90 minutes, small groups, dim rooms and a lot of standing, so they suit patient eight-year-olds better than tired five-year-olds. Ticket prices for both events were not posted when I checked.
Practical
- Subway
- No subway; take the free Staten Island Ferry (1 to South Ferry is an accessible station) and then a bus to 441 Clarke Avenue; use the MTA trip planner
- Stroller
- Fine outdoors; not allowed inside the buildings on the Candlelight Tours
- Cost
- Tree lighting free; festival and tour tickets on the site (prices not yet posted)
- Time
- Two to three hours, plus a long trip each way by ferry and bus
- Check first
- Ticket prices and the bus route from the ferry
Wave Hill Winter Haven
Wave Hill is a public garden high above the Hudson in Riverdale, and its Winter Haven opening weekend on December 5 and 6 has an artisan market, wreathmaking, ice carving on the Sunday afternoon and a family art project. On a clear day the view across the river to the Palisades is the best free therapy in the city.
Winter hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4:30pm (last admission 4pm). Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children 6 and up, free all day on Thursdays, though prices can change on special event weekends.
Practical
- Subway
- 1 to W 242 St (not accessible), then the free Wave Hill shuttle (Thursday to Sunday, hourly); Metro-North Riverdale also has a shuttle
- Stroller
- Fine on the main paths, which are hilly
- Cost
- Adults $10, students and seniors $6, children 6+ $4; free on Thursdays
- Time
- Two hours
- Check first
- Event prices for opening weekend and shuttle times
Week 2 (December 7 to 13): shows and light trails
The second week is when I would book the big ticketed things, because school is still in and the evenings are not yet rammed. A word on light shows: they all start at dusk, so a five-year-old can see the whole thing and still be in pajamas at a reasonable hour, which is more than can be said for most of December.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
The Rockettes run from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027, and the show is 90 minutes with no intermission, which is about the exact limit of a six-year-old's ability to sit still. Children under 2 do not need their own ticket if they sit on a lap. There is free stroller check on every level and family restrooms in the building.
Prices vary by date and time, so compare a few performances on the calendar before you pick.
Practical
- Subway
- B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (accessible station); check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Free stroller check on all levels
- Restrooms
- Family and all-gender restrooms inside
- Cost
- Varies by performance; check the calendar for prices
- Time
- 90 minutes, plus 30 minutes to get seated
- Check first
- Bag size rule (nothing larger than 22 x 14 x 9 inches); arrive 30 minutes before
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
New York City Ballet's Nutcracker runs from November 27, 2026 to January 2, 2027 at the David H. Koch Theater. It is about two hours long, NYCB recommends it for ages 5 and up, and everyone needs a ticket, including babies on laps. There is a sensory-friendly performance on January 3, 2027 at 1pm.
The tree that grows on stage is the bit every child remembers. If yours is four and wriggly, I would wait a year.
Practical
- Subway
- 1 to 66 St-Lincoln Center (accessible station); check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Restrooms
- In the theater
- Cost
- Varies by performance; see nycballet.com
- Time
- About two hours
- Check first
- Every person needs a ticket; recommended for ages 5+
See also Our full Nutcracker guide compares the other productions in town →
Lightscape at the Botanic Garden in Prospect Heights
Lightscape, at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, runs from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, on an illuminated trail that starts and ends at the Visitor Center at 990 Washington Avenue. Tickets come in value, off-peak and peak nights: adults $29, $39 or $44, children 3 to 11 $15, $22 or $28, under 3 free, all fees included. Entry is in 15-minute windows and the trail is wheelchair accessible with no strobes.
There are sensory-friendly early entries on Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 18 at 4pm, and the nights on December 10 and 17 are 21+, so not for you this time. No outside food, which is a shame for the dad who packed sandwiches.
Practical
- Subway
- 2/3 to Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum or B/Q/S to Prospect Park (both accessible stations); check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Strollers are allowed on the grounds
- Restrooms
- At the Visitor Center
- Cost
- Adults $29 to $44, children 3 to 11 $15 to $28, under 3 free
- Time
- About 90 minutes
- Check first
- Which nights are value nights; no refunds, $10 to exchange
Winter Lantern Festival at Snug Harbor
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden hosts the Winter Lantern Festival, running nightly from November 20, 2026 to January 10, 2027, 5pm to 10pm (last entry 9pm), after an opening night on November 19. Tickets start at $18. It is big, glowing lantern sculptures in a historic campus by the water, and it is a fair bit cheaper than the Manhattan options.
Combine it with a ride on the free Staten Island Ferry at dusk for the skyline, and you have an evening for a fraction of a show ticket.
Practical
- Subway
- No subway; Staten Island Ferry to St. George (1 to South Ferry is an accessible station), then a short bus ride; use the MTA trip planner for 1000 Richmond Terrace
- Stroller
- Fine on the paths
- Cost
- From $18
- Time
- About an hour, plus the ferry
- Check first
- Whether it is open on December 24, 25 and 31
Week 3 (December 14 to 23): zoo lights, trains and a free Santa
By the third week the city is crowded and the stores are louder, but there is still room to move on weekday mornings. This is the week I would use the Bronx.
NYBG Holiday Train Show
Model trains run past New York landmarks made from bark, leaves and seeds inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory from November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Weekends and the December 28 to January 4 week use timed tickets that fill quickly; most Tuesday to Friday weekdays are untimed, except from December 21 to January 4.
The garden's standard All-Garden Pass is $35 weekday and $39 weekend for adults, $15 and $17 for children, under 2 free, but check the checkout for train show dates. On select evenings (including December 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 20) the Conservatory stays open to 8pm.
Practical
- Subway
- B/D to Bedford Park Blvd (accessible station), then the Bx25 or Bx26 bus or a 20-minute walk; Metro-North Harlem line to Botanical Garden; check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Fine on the grounds; the Conservatory gets busy
- Cost
- All-Garden Pass from $15 child and $35 adult; under 2 free
- Time
- Two to three hours
- Check first
- Timed ticket dates; garden closed Mondays
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Holiday Lights runs on select nights from November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Ticket holders can come in from 1pm to see the animals, the lights come on at 4:30pm and final entry is 8pm. This year includes night access to the Children's Zoo farmyard, World of Darkness and World of Reptiles.
Date-specific tickets start at $29.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 3 to 12 on cheaper nights, with ages 2 and under free; Any-Night tickets cost more. It is closed December 7 to 9, 14 to 16, 24, 25 and January 1, so check the calendar before promising anything.
Practical
- Subway
- 2/5 to Pelham Pkwy (accessible station); check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Fine on the zoo paths
- Cost
- Adults from $29.95, children 3 to 12 from $14.95, 2 and under free
- Time
- Three hours if you arrive in daylight
- Check first
- Which nights it is open; tickets are date-specific
Winter Village at Bryant Park
The rink is open daily from October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027, with free admission if you bring your own skates (you still reserve a free ticket, released a week ahead). Skate rental runs from $18.72 to $64.48 depending on the session. Children under 14 must be with an adult, and the penguin skate aids are free before 10:30am, which is a strong reason to get there early.
Santa's Corner, a free photo with Santa behind the carousel, runs from December 14 to 18, first come, first served. The Holiday Shops run to January 3.
Practical
- Subway
- B/D/F/M to 42 St-Bryant Pk and 7 to 5 Av are not accessible; Grand Central-42 St and Times Sq-42 St are accessible stations; check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Fine around the market; leave it rinkside
- Restrooms
- Public restrooms in the park (expect a line)
- Cost
- Rink admission free; skate rental $18.72 to $64.48
- Time
- One to two hours
- Check first
- Book skate slots a week ahead; sessions are about 50 minutes
Macy's Herald Square windows and Santaland
Macy's holiday windows debut on November 19 and stay up until January 4, 2027, per Macy's own announcement. Santaland visits are free but need a reservation; they are released on a rolling basis seven days ahead at macys.com/santa, and they go fast. Set an alarm. Saks Fifth Avenue's light show on Fifth Avenue returns on November 23 (Time Out), and that is a short walk from the Rockefeller tree.
Practical
- Subway
- B/D/F/M or N/Q/R/W to 34 St-Herald Sq (accessible station); check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Stroller
- Fine on the sidewalk; busy inside the store
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- 30 minutes for the windows; Santaland depends on your slot
- Check first
- Santaland reservations, released seven days ahead
See also More Santa visits and the full Fifth Avenue windows walk →
Week 4 (December 24 to 31): school vacation week
Winter recess runs from Thursday, December 24 to Friday, January 1. This is the week when every museum, rink and zoo has a line, so build the days around a single timed ticket and keep the rest local. A quieter option is to go outward: the boroughs beyond Manhattan are much calmer than Midtown in vacation week.
Kwanzaa at the Children's Museum in Crown Heights
Brooklyn Children's Museum holds its 19th Kwanzaa celebration with the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation from Saturday, December 26 to Wednesday, December 30, 10am to 5pm each day, with candle lightings, performances and dance, drumming and art workshops. Each day has its own ticket link.
General admission is $15 per person, and the museum is normally open Wednesday to Sunday. It is a far calmer day than anything in Midtown that week.
Practical
- Subway
- 3 to Kingston Av (not accessible); check the museum's directions page
- Cost
- General admission $15; check the Kwanzaa ticket page
- Time
- Two to three hours
- Check first
- Daily tickets for the festival
Illuminate the Farm at Queens County Farm Museum
Queens County Farm Museum turns its fields into a lantern festival (the Queens edition of the Winter Lantern Festival) on Thursday to Sunday nights, 5pm to 10pm with last entry at 9pm. Tickets run from $18 to $25, under 3 free, and there is free parking, food from local vendors and restrooms on site. Allow about an hour.
The farm's own calendar shows it opening on November 19; NYC Tourism lists it to January 7, so check the farm's calendar for the exact vacation-week nights.
Practical
- Subway
- No subway nearby; the farm lists the Q46, QM6 and Q36 buses; check the MTA trip planner
- Stroller
- Fine on the paths
- Restrooms
- On site
- Cost
- $18 to $25; under 3 free
- Time
- About an hour
- Check first
- Which nights are open in vacation week
Queens Botanical Garden
For a free, low-key morning, the Queens Botanical Garden says admission is free from December 16 through March 31, with winter hours of Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 4:30pm. It is a calm walk in a garden a short walk from the 7 train, then dumplings in Flushing, which is my idea of a perfect vacation day (and it costs almost nothing).
Practical
- Subway
- 7 to Flushing-Main St (accessible station), then walk south along Main Street; check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
- Cost
- Free from December 16 to March 31
- Time
- One hour
- Check first
- That the free winter season applies this year
What about New Year's Eve in Times Square with kids?
My honest answer is no, not with young children. The Times Square Alliance says the viewing areas open at 3pm and fill first come, first served, there are no portable restrooms, and if you leave your spot to eat you cannot come back. That is nine hours of standing in the cold for a child who needs a restroom every forty minutes.
Much better: watch the ball drop on TV, or look for a daytime "Noon Year's Eve" countdown at a museum or library. The 2026 listings were not out when I checked, so look at the Children's Museum of Manhattan and the library calendars nearer the date, and at our Almanac.
See also Every dated family event in the city, in our Almanac →
Is NYC too crowded in December with kids?
It is crowded, but the crowds are predictable. Midtown between Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and Bryant Park is packed on December weekends, and the evenings between 5pm and 8pm are the worst. The quiet windows are weekday mornings before 10am and anything in the outer boroughs.
- See the tree and the windows on a weekday morning, not after dark on a Saturday.
- Book every timed ticket (NYBG, Lightscape, Bronx Zoo, Santaland) before you travel.
- Do one Midtown thing a day and spend the rest somewhere quieter.
- Use the subway's accessible stations and check elevator status, because a broken elevator with a stroller in December is its own special kind of Christmas.
See also How to do the subway with a stroller →
Free things to do in NYC in December with kids
Plenty of December costs nothing: the Rockefeller tree, the department store windows, the Grand Army Plaza menorah, the Historic Richmond Town tree lighting, Santa's Corner at Bryant Park, the Brooklyn Children's Museum's free Community Access Thursdays (2pm to 5pm), Wave Hill on Thursdays, and the Queens Botanical Garden from December 16. Add the free Staten Island Ferry at sunset and the city's playgrounds on a dry day, and you can fill a week for the price of hot chocolate.
And the Transit Museum's Holiday Nostalgia Rides, where vintage subway cars run on Sundays in December for the price of a fare, are worth watching for. The 2026 dates were not posted when I checked, so keep an eye on nytransitmuseum.org.
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Questions people ask
What is there to do in NYC in December with kids?
The big ones are the Rockefeller Center tree, the NYBG Holiday Train Show, Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights, Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Nutcracker and skating at Bryant Park. Quieter picks include Christmas in Historic Richmond Town on December 5 and 6 and the Winter Lantern Festival at Snug Harbor.
What is the weather like in NYC in December?
Cold. Central Park's normal December high is about 44°F and the low about 34°F, and the sun sets around 4:30pm. Snow is possible but not reliable.
When is the Rockefeller tree lighting in 2026?
Wednesday, December 2, 2026, during NBC's live broadcast. The tree stays up through January 9, 2027. Check rockefellercenter.com for the time and viewing rules.
How do you avoid the crowds in NYC at Christmas?
Visit Midtown on weekday mornings before 10am, avoid weekend evenings between 5pm and 8pm, and book timed tickets in advance. The outer boroughs are much quieter.
Is NYC too crowded in December with kids?
Midtown is very crowded on December weekends and in the school vacation week (December 24 to January 1), but weekday mornings and outer-borough attractions are manageable with children.
When is winter break for NYC schools in 2026?
NYC public schools are closed for winter recess from Thursday, December 24, 2026 to Friday, January 1, 2027.
Is Times Square on New Year's Eve good for kids?
Not for young children. Viewing areas open at 3pm, there are no portable restrooms, and if you leave your spot you cannot return.
Sources and further reading
Facts checked against 24 pages on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm with the venue.
Show the sources
- NWS New York: Central Park daily normals
- NYC public schools 2026-27 calendar
- NY1: Rockefeller Center 2026 Christmas tree
- Time Out New York: 2026 Rockefeller tree lighting announced
- Rockettes: Christmas Spectacular FAQ
- NYC Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
- Bryant Park: The Rink
- NYBG: Holiday Train Show 2026
- NYBG: Admission
- Bronx Zoo: Holiday Lights tickets
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Lightscape
- Historic Richmond Town: Christmas in Historic Richmond Town
- Historic Richmond Town: Candlelight Tours
- Historic Richmond Town: Community Tree Lighting
- Snug Harbor: Winter Lantern Festival
- Queens County Farm Museum: Illuminate the Farm
- Brooklyn Children's Museum: Kwanzaa
- Brooklyn Children's Museum: Visit
- Wave Hill: Winter Haven Opening Weekend 2026
- Wave Hill: Visit
- Queens Botanical Garden: Winter
- NYC Tourism: Lighting of the World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah
- Times Square Alliance: New Year's Eve FAQ
- New York Transit Museum: Holiday Nostalgia Rides
