Where to Celebrate Winter in New York City

What’s your favorite part of winter in New York City? Is it the holidays, the cooler weather, or snowy walks in the park? However you like to spend the season, NYC has lots of options to make it even more fun. Check out some of the free festivals happening this winter in New York City!

Winter Village at Bryant Park

Open now! Visit the rink at Bryant Park for free ice skating every day from 8am–10pm. Winter Village is bursting with holiday cheer and great eats, so stop by the pop-up shops and check out some of New York City’s best food trucks while you’re there.

Can’t make it to Bryant Park? Ice skate at one of these rinks in the city. Skate rentals may be an additional cost.

• Abe Stark Rink on Coney Island, all ages $10
• Aviator Sports and Events Center, Brooklyn, adults $12, kids 11 and under $10
• Lasker Rink in Central Park, adults $9, youths $5
• LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Park, weekdays $7.50, weekends and holidays $11
• Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, all ages $13
• The Rink at Brookfield Place, all ages $15
• Wollman Rink in Central Park, adults $12, kids 11 and under $6
• World Ice Arena, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, weekdays $7, weekends and holidays $10

Window Shopping on Fifth Avenue

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Take a walk along Fifth Avenue and enjoy the holiday window displays. Between 34th and 59th Streets, some of New York City’s ritziest stores will be strutting their stuff with dazzling lights and window designs.

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is a spectacular show! This year, the tree lighting took place on December 4th. If you couldn’t make it, no worries. The tree will stay lit through an extended run in January 2020.

New Year’s Eve Times Square Ball Drop

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Perhaps the most famous New Year’s Eve party in the world, the Times Square Ball Drop is completely free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. There will be more than a ton of confetti thrown and performances by celebrities like Wiz Khalifa, Jessie J, Demi Lovato, and more starting at 8:05pm.

If you’re going to the ball drop, plan to show up in the early afternoon for the best possible view. The ball is raised at 6pm and falls promptly at midnight! Get more info about staying safe and healthy during the celebration here.

Want to watch the ball drop without the crowd? You can livestream the party via webcast or catch the festivities on your local TV station.

If you live in New York City or Long Island and want more information about our health plans, please click here.