Things to Do in New York City at Christmas Time

Every year the New York Ballet performs "The Nutcracker" by George Balanchine. The New York Ballet started performing "The Nutcracker" in 1954 and has danced it 1,560 times since. "The Nutcracker" has some of the best dancers and musicians in the country and is made even better by the distinctive lighting and and visual effects.

Every year Central Park has holiday activities around Christmas time. The most well-known event is the Central Park Holiday Lighting. The lighting of Central Park is one of the best Christmas displays in the world. Central Park has many other activities throughout the holidays, such as menorah making, solstice celebrations, Kwanzaa activities and visits from Santa Claus.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is probably the most famous Christmas tree in the world. Millions of New Yorkers and tourists visit the Rockefeller Center every year to see the Christmas tree lit up. After seeing the Christmas tree, head over to the ice rink for some ice skating.

Every year, department stores in New York City decorate their windows with Christmas lights and decorations. Each department store tries to outdo the others, which results in some of the finest holiday displays. The department stores that are known for displaying the best Christmas decorations are Macy's, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue.

No visit to New York City is complete without a visit to Broadway. The most popular Broadway show to see at Christmas is "Phantom of the Opera." "Phantom of the Opera" is the longest-running Broadway show in history. On Broadway alone, it has been running for 20 years and has been seen by more than 100 million people.