It can be easy to get so swept up in planning for the holiday season that you forget to, you know, actually enjoy the holiday season. Take a break from wrapping gifts and get into the holiday spirit in Lower Manhattan, where you can go ice skating, grab a kitschy holiday cocktail, admire a gingerbread city and take in the lights of one of New York City’s best Christmas trees.
Here’s our guide to celebrating the holidays downtown — and check out our 2025 gift guide for even more festive neighborhood ideas.
Go ice skating at Brookfield Place
Lace up your skates and hit the ice at the riverside skating rink at Brookfield Place (230 Vesey St.). The rink is open all season long for public skating and private lessons. One-hour public skating sessions are $15 on weekdays and $17 on weekends. Skates are available to rent for $5 on weekdays and $7 on weekends. And no worries if you don’t squeeze this in before the holidays — the rink is open until March 1.
Hit up a Holiday Under the Palms event at Brookfield Place
After you unlace your skates, head indoors at Brookfield Place to take in the Holiday Under the Palms happenings. Along with the larger-than-life decorations, you and your crew can take a selfie with Santa, attend a concert (series kicks off on December 16) or visit the Winter Garden for a surprise cookie of the day at 4:30 every day between December 15 and 24. More information on all holiday festivities can be found at the Brookfield Place website.
Visit the Seaport Christmas tree
Don’t feel like battling the Midtown crowds for a glimpse of the Rockefeller Center tree? We get it. Luckily, you can visit the Seaport Christmas Tree at the corner of Fulton and Water streets. It’s a great spot to snap some pictures with your family and friends, and if you ask us, it’s even more impressive than that other tree uptown.
Check out the menorah lighting at Pier 17 on December 14
Enjoy latkes, hot chocolate and a six-foot-tall menorah made of LEGOs at the Seaport’s annual Hanukkah Menorah Lighting on December 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. The Chabad Jewish Center of FiDi is hosting the event at 89 South St., which will also include face painting, treats and a musical performance by the FiDi Hebrew School.
Watch the Kwanzaa lights at the Oculus on December 26
The Oculus’s signature light show will transition into a red, black and green display in celebration of Kwanzaa on December 26. It’s the perfect thing to do with your family if you’re tired of having them all in your apartment and everyone needs to take a walk and get some fresh air.
Bar-hop at the Stone Street Holiday Bar Fest on December 13
Get into the holiday spirit (get it?) at the Stone Street Holiday Bar Fest. Lucky Tiger, Havana Social and Stone Street Tavern are just a few of the participating locations where you can stop in for a drink. When you need some fresh air, step outside for beer pong, corn hole, giant Jenga and even a shot ski station. There are also photo booths, so you’ll always remember this night even if you don’t really remember it after your visit to the shot-ski station. The event is from noon to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $55 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
See ‘A Christmas Carol’ at PAC NYC
The acclaimed story is on stage at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (251 Fulton St.) through January 4, with performances happening nearly every day. See the classic Christmas tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his brushes with the past, present and future on a bitter Christmas Eve. Some performances will include post-show discussions. Tickets are $58 to $183 and can be purchased here.
Visit Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Pier 15
This extravagant Christmas celebration is a delight for children and adults alike. Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Pier 15 (78 South St.) is filled with Instagrammable photo spots, illuminated trees, waterfront views, fun games, cozy food and plenty of drinks. If you’re traveling with the whole crew, you can reserve a heated igloo or chalet for up to 10 people. Tickets start at $19 for general admission, which includes exploring outdoor activations, a Santa meet and greet, and a hot chocolate. It will be open every day until December 30; hours vary.
Take in the Gingerbread City at the Seaport
Through December 28, you can go to 19 Fulton St. and look at a gingerbread recreation of the 1908 lightship Ambrose, along with other confectionary recreations of skyscrapers, parks and more. This year’s theme is the Playful City, and it is every bit as delightful as it sounds. Tickets to visit the exhibition are free and available through the Museum of Architecture’s website.
Chow down on themed cookies at Funny Face Bakery
Whether you need a last-minute gift or just want a sweet treat for yourself, Funny Face Bakery (6 Fulton St.) has you covered this season. The bakery has a wide array of sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies topped with detailed sugary illustrations of snowflakes, ornaments, Hanukkah messages, Christmas Queen Mariah Carey and more.
Donate a gift for a kid in need
Looking to give back this season? Trinity Church (89 Broadway) is hosting an annual gift drive for children in the community. From now until December 14, you can swing by the Trinity Commons lobby or Trinity Church to choose a gift tag and drop off your unwrapped gift by December 15. The church is also looking for volunteers to help wrap, prep, and distribute gifts later in the month. You can register to volunteer through the Trinity Church website and you don’t need to be a member of the church to volunteer.
Grab a festive cocktail at Jingle Jangle
If you can’t get in the holiday spirit at Jingle Jangle, a holiday pop-up at The Dead Rabbit (30 Water St.), then there’s simply no hope for you. The three-story space will be filled with over-the-top decor, Christmas music and kitsch-themed cocktails like the Gingerbread Man, made with bourbon, whiskey, rum and gingerbread spices; or the Deck the Halls, made with tequila, plum, apple, cinnamon, lemon and honey bitters.
