Things to do on a Sunday in New York

Jazzukkah is back this Hanukkah season for its third annual concert in New York City on Sunday, December 14 at Greenwich Village's Groove. 

The Jazzukkah Projects is an ensemble of musicians putting a "jazz, er, spin" on the beloved canon of holiday music. From "Maoz Tzur" to "Sevivon," their fresh arrangements blend swing, soul and celebration—made for audiences of all ages to enjoy. This year, the band features vocals from Elana Rozenfeld, Gilad Abro on the bass, Alon Benjamini on the drums and Itamar Dahan playing the keys, all led by producer Gil Shefler. 

Jazzukah will have 11am and 1pm showtimes on December 14 at Groove (125 MacDougal Street). Tickets are on sale now for $25.95 per person. 

Two massive menorahs light up each year to celebrate Hanukkah in NYC, one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn.

Manhattan

Find the world's largest Hanukkah menorah in Manhattan's Grand Army Plaza at 59th Street (across from the Plaza Hotel) for all eight days of the Festival of Lights. The giant menorah will be lit after sunset every night of Hanukkah. Each day, a new candle will sparkle until all eight of them are lit on the last night of the holiday. 

Brooklyn

Those in Brooklyn can enjoy the borough's largest menorah, which will be set up in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza, right outside Prospect Park. In true Brooklyn style, this menorah lighting opens with an official Hanukkah kickoff concert at 4pm on Sunday, December 14. Free latkes will be on offer, as will gifts for children, every night of the holiday. 

Started originally by ornithologist Frank Chapman as an alternative to the then-customary holiday bird hunt, the Christmas Bird Count is now the longest-running community science bird project in the country. There are counts at nearly 3,000 locations across the country, including one of the most well-known and historic counts, happening at Central Park on December 14.

This family-friendly and welcoming event offers a unique opportunity for participants, from bird lovers to those totally new to birding, to contribute to bird conservation efforts while enjoying nature and the beauty of one of New York City's most iconic locations. Data collected by participants over the years help ornithologists and conservation biologists study long-term bird populations and decide what conservation action is required to protect birds and the places they need. 

You can register to participate or volunteer for any of the two dozen counts happening around NYC here. 

Can you spell F-U-N? The Upright Citizen's Brigade is combining their typical comedy with the high-pressure gaming format of a spelling bee in "Spell Checc: A Spelling Bee Gameshow!" on Sunday, December 14 at 7pm.

Featuring Kevin McHale, Leana Rae Concepcion, Jeremy Culhane, Michael Sanky, Jorge Oyola and more, these comedians will compete to spell tough words with the possibility of gaining or losing them if they make other contestants or the announcer laugh. Each round will increase in difficulty and hilarity.

Be sure to stop by The Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theater on 242 E 14th St. in the East Village to cheer on New York's funniest spellers.

Kids are welcome at this staging of the Mozart classic. It’s the perfect starter opera: Performed in English, this abridged version by Julie Taymor, the Tony Award–winning director of Broadway’s The Lion King, clocks in at less than two hours and features delightful costumes and sets, but it’s still a Met Opera production with some of the world’s finest performers.

If you want an extra special peek behind the curtain, mark your calendar for December 14 when families with tickets to the matinee performance are invited to experience the Met’s immersive Holiday Open House, with festive behind-the-scenes demonstrations by members of the Met’s backstage and artistic staff.

If you're equal parts sugar fiend and architecture junkie, we may have just found your dream holiday destination. The Gingerbread City is bringing its winter magic and sweetness back to the Seaport for a free display from December 5–28 at 19 Fulton Street.

It's created by over 100 New York-based architects, engineers and designers, so you know these gingerbread creations are going to be immaculate. Expect to see city parks, brownstones and skyscrapers created out of cookies, icing and candy. Plus, there's a chance to learn how to make your own gingerbread creations.

The Queens Craft Brigade hosts an exceptional community of makers exclusively from the borough of Queens. The independent, queer-owned market at Q.E.D. Astoria brings together talented makers exclusively from around the borough and has created monthly curated events featuring artwork, jewelry, fashion, crafts and more. This year marks the eigth year anniversary of QCB.

Here's the schedule for the rest of 2025:

— December 14: Holiday Market

The fabulous holiday icon of NYC, The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is a must-see for both locals and visitors during the holiday season, whether you’re visiting before ice-skating on The Rink at Rockefeller Center or just passing through.

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.

The tree lights up daily through mid-January. On Christmas Eve, the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve it is lit from 5am to 9pm. 

Cirque du Soleil, famous for defying reality (and gravity), is returning to New York City this holiday season. Due to overwhelming success, their special first and only holiday show, "Twas the Night Before..." will return to The Theater at Madison Square Garden December 4-28.

Inspired by the classic poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, Cirque's story follows a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. Directed by James Hadley, a 25-year veteran of circus productions and live theater, "Twas the Night Before..." combines classic Christmas spirit with jaw-dropping acrobatic stunts. 

Shop 'til you drop at FAD Market, a curated fashion, art and design pop-up marketplace, which is back for 2025. Expect to see your favorite makers plus brand new creatives to help you live smarter, gift better and support local businesses. 

Peruse handmade jewelry, apparel, skincare products, tableware, artisanal packaged food, and more. Whether you're shopping for you or a friend (or even getting an early on that holiday shopping), there are plenty of local gems to pick up. 

Here's the holiday schedule:

• Dumbo (Empire Stores, 55 Water Street), December 1–21 daily, 11am–6pm
• Boerum Hill (51 Bergen Street), December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21,  11am–6pm
• Cobble Hill (St. Paul’s, 190 Court Street), December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21,  11am–6pm