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Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this weekend: Post-Thanksgiving Hikes, Small Business Saturday shopping, holiday light shows, the Rockettes, and Schtick a Pole In It—plus free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! Start planning a great month now with our round-up of the best things to do in December.  RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best New York attractions Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Whether your Christmas queen is Mariah or Sabrina, it's time to begin celebrating the holiday season! We've gathered the best things to do for Christmas and the holidays in NYC. From uptown to downtown, the city boasts holiday offerings like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, festive light displays, and the best holiday markets NYC has to offer. Whether you channel your inner grinch or cheery elf during NYC's most wonderful season, we've got you covered with memorable activities. As locals, we've been to many of these events and are including some of our favorites right here. Check back for updates as we'll continue adding to the list as the holidays approach.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best Christmas hotels in NYC Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining.  Check out our Winter Village video: 

The best holiday markets are right here in NYC—full of both the holiday spirit and the most unique gifts out there. While fancy Christmas window displays may entice you, NYC's holiday markets often include ice skating, twinkling lights, great food vendors, and fun holiday activities. Shopping for the perfect gift doesn’t have to be stressful; make it fun at these holiday markets, from the Urbanspace Union Square Holiday Market to the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park and more. We'll continue updating this guide throughout the holiday season, so stay tuned for new additions. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Give thanks for our list of NYC events in November 2025, which will help you make plans for things to do on Thanksgiving and the rest of the month, from the New York Marathon to Canstruction. Our guide will help you find the best holiday events, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and amazing holiday markets. But that’s not all! Keep scrolling for how to make the most of this month with cool cultural events, new museum exhibits and quirky activities. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar for 2025

Get ready for the most wonderful time of the year with the best NYC events in December 2025. This season’s highlights include, well, you already know what they are. You can really get into the spirit when you visit one of New York’s many holiday markets boasting great gifts for your friends and family as well as tasty provisions. For more festivities, check out a wide array of Nutcracker performances and raucous pop-up holiday bars. In addition to rounding up Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa events, we've also included some non-holiday things to do when you need a break from the holiday cheer. Keep scrolling to the bottom for those, including art exhibitions, comedy shows, and immersive experiences. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar for 2025 Check out our Winter Village video

Bryant Park's Winter Village by Bank of America will soon open in NYC with exciting holiday shops, food and activities through March 1, 2026. Its 17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink that’s free to use (if you bring your own skates) is always the highlight, but the Winter Village in all its holiday spirit is a close second. This year, over 180 new and returning kiosks will be there for you to peruse through—all at one of the best NYC parks and the best Christmas market in the world! This guide contains all the information you need to know, including when the market officially opens (and closes) to the public. Get ready to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in New York When is the Bryant Park Winter Village 2025? The Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park runs from Friday, October 24, 2025 through March 1, 2026. What time is the Bryant Park Christmas Market? Skating is available daily from 8am-10pm. Extended hours of 8am-midnight are available on Thursdays-Sundays from November 6-November 23, then again daily November 24-January 4. The holiday market hours for 2025 haven't been announced yet, but it is typically open Mondays through Fridays, 11am-8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-8pm. The market runs through January 4. What is there to do at the Winter Village this year? Not only is there free ice skating on Bryant Park’s 17,000-square-foot outdoor rink (you may bring your own skates or rent them for a fee),...

The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights display has become one of the most beloved New York attractions during the holiday season. The Brooklyn neighborhood is home to over-the-top Christmas light decorations with life-sized Santas, sleighs and snowmen taking over the neighborhood's homes. Some houses even bump Christmas carols from loudspeakers. Crowds of all ages flock to the Kings County neighborhood to wander down the multiple blocks and avenues and experience one of the top things to do in NYC in the winter. It truly is one of the most magical things to do this Christmas, and it's free to explore—win-win. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in NYC Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining.  When can I visit the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2025? Most of the homeowners—and professional decorating companies—hang their Christmas lights and decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. However, the best time to see the lights is mid-December through New Year’s Eve. We suggest going anytime 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). They decor usually stays up until the end of the first week of January. Photograph: Time Out/Ali Garber Where are the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights? You’ll see breathtaking light displays from 11th to 13th Avenues (also known as Dyker Heights Blvd)...

Christmas shows are an essential part of the New York holiday experience. How can you make a yuletide gay without a generous array of Nutcrackers and A Christmas Carols? With that in mind, we've found the best holiday-themed theater and dance shows to help you stay in high spirits in 2025, from shows aimed at kids to a few that are definitely not. Check out our chronological list of holiday shows and find the ones that are right for you. We'll be updating and filling out this page if and when new show dates become available. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in NYC

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 42 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalogue of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For classic Italian: Roscioli - Part-delicatessen, part-Italian restaurant that pleases with a solid line up of pastas, charcuterie boards and a whole lot of wine (SoHo) For a worth-it clubstaurant: Crane Club - Aged steaks and theatrical ambiance from chef Melissa Rodriguez (Chelsea) For trendy pizza: Mama's Too - A New York slice shop that dabbles in triangle and square slices (Upper East Side and West Village) For upscale Korean: Kochi – A tasting-menu destination known for refined flavors and inventive plating (Hell's Kitchen) For exciting Mexican: Oxomoco – A fun, wood-fired Mexican spot with creative tacos and standout frozen cocktails (Greenpoint) November 2025: We started this fall the best way we know how: by loading up on carbs. Much like a bear prepping for hibernation (you...

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week, or even for today, there are tons of fun options, including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, post-Thanksgiving hikes, an event with Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh, holiday light shows, and awesome free events in NYC! For more ideas, scroll down to see this week's best things to do in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining.