Both the Manhattan and Brooklyn Grand Army Plazas host competitors in the race for the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorah. In Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, the menorah stands at a height of 32 feet and weighs a whopping 4,000 pounds.

In Manhattan the 32-foot-high, gold-colored, 4,000-pound steel holiday icon is across the street from The Plaza (West 59th Street at 5th Avenue). In Manhattan, lightings generally take place at 5:30pm, though it’s around 3:30pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday. In Brooklyn, lightings are at 6pm most evenings, with Friday’s at 3:30pm and Saturday’s at 7pm. In Brooklyn, lightings are accompanied by live music and hot latkes.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree An ongoing tradition that unofficially began in 1931 when construction workers at Rockefeller Center decorated a small 20-foot Christmas tree. According to Daniel Okrent’s history of Rockefeller Center, the balsam fir was decorated with “strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans.” This year’s tree is a 79-foot-tall Norway Spruce, from Elkton, Maryland.

Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum This five-day series of programs (December 26–30, 2021) is dedicated to teaching children about the history and importance of Kwanzaa, which celebrates African American and Pan-African culture. Centered around the art, dance, music and significant African traditions that still thrive in communities of the African diaspora, the programs teach attendees about Kwanzaa’s seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, faith, and creativity. Through stories, song, dance and craft making, the museum aims to have children incorporate these principles into their everyday lives.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular The beloved holiday tradition returns bringing seasonal magic to the largest indoor theatre in the world through January 2, 2022. Designed by architect Edward Durell Stone with famed interior designer Donald Deskey, Radio City Music Hall is truly an architectural masterpiece that, as one New York critic reported, “needs no performers.” Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, its interior was declared a New York City Landmark in 1978. The “Showplace of the Nation” truly shines in this annual production which stars the world famous “Rockettes,” a precision dance company that has performed at Radio City since 1932. While the Christmas Spectacular is periodically updated, two numbers from the original production are still performed, including the crowd favorite, “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” with choreography by Russell Markert and costumes by Vincent Minelli.

Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights The Bronx Zoo is lighting up once again for the holidays. You’ll find all sorts of wildlife lanterns throughout several acres of the park. It’s an illuminated safari unlike anything else.

Lincoln Center No holiday celebration would be complete without what the New York Times hails as “the original and inimitable ‘Nutcracker.’” The classic production featuring Tchaikovsky’s iconic musical score is wonderfully performed by the New York City Ballet: it “transports you to a world of wonder where mischievous mice are foiled by toy soldiers come to life, and a blizzard of ballerinas reveals the enchanting Land of Sweets.” George Balanchine’s: The Nutcracker returns to the stage through January 2, 2022.

“Lightscape” at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Celebrate the beauty of nature in winter on an enchanting trail animated by more than one million dazzling lights. Discover the Winter Cathedral tunnel, Fire Garden, and Sea of Light, as well as new site-specific light works by local artists, accompanied by a curated soundtrack along the way. Now through January 9, 2022.

Happy New Year! The iconic New Year’s Eve Ball Drop returns to Times Square this December 31st. The annual event traditionally brings spectators from across the globe to the Crossroads of the World. Revelers began celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the New Year's Eve Ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square.