With the holiday season rolling out and an extended two week break this year, there are endless opportunities to explore around Westchester and the city for a variety of festive activities. Here are four activities you can enjoy locally:
1. Christmas Light Shows: An iconic experience you can enjoy with either friends or family, which can be found both in Westchester and the city. With such a wide variety of parks to explore, the one I would highly recommend is the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour located in Brooklyn. The renowned tour is one that will inevitably spark your holiday imagination and fill you with Christmas cheer with each vibrant station. The tour begins with a pick-up near the Winter Village at Bryant Park, with tour guides who will walk tourists throughout Dyker Heights through an array of enchanting homes. The attraction offers bus, walking, private, and virtual tours from now through Dec. 30 with no cost in attendance.
2. Bryant Park: A beloved holiday destination in the city that is vibrant with holiday spirit. Housing over 100 holiday shops to browse, you are more than likely to find the best present for a loved one. Alongside its market are a handful of colorful activities, including its ice skating rink open from 8 am to midnight and its famed Christmas tree that enhances the worthwhileness of the trip. So long as you have your own skates & locks, admission is free, although rentals are available if needed. If you wish to avoid the line, make sure to book a reservation online.
3. Sledding: What’s more winter than sledding? Although there are plenty of beautiful resorts for sledding upstate or in neighboring states, Westchester also has a couple of good sledding locations. The Blue Mountain Reservation, located in Peekskill (Northwest Westchester), is a 1,538-acre park that fulfills nature and fun requirements for its visitors with biking & hiking trails alongside its sledding courses. Furthermore, the reservation provides its visitors with alluring views of its summits. Once your snowy adventure ends, you can visit its dining facilities to warm up and enjoy a comforting meal before departure. Parking fees for non-pass guests are $10, and $5 for those with a pass.
4. The Nutcracker: For those interested in theatrical performances, The New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a compelling and perfect ballet to catch during the holiday season. Open to all ages, the performance is accompanied by an iridescent stage and intricate musical pieces that evoke magic across its audience, all while telling the audience a story. Depending on your seating, tickets range from $90 to $267. Regardless of your placement, the performance will look just as compelling and spirited. Showtimes vary, with the final performance being Jan. 4 at 1:00 p.m.
If you have the time to attend any of these jolly events, consider doing so.