Make sure to dress up warmly, though, as you will face freezing weather conditions in the NYC with the average snowfall being around 11 inches for the month of December. To unwrap all of New York’s festivities, we have brought to you a curated list of the top things you must do and experience in the Big Apple during the year-end, as well as what all you can expect or do during that time of the year.
1. Weather Conditions
- There are very few sunny days, with almost half the month being covered with partly sunny sky.
- On the other half of the month, you can face rain (which is mostly the case with NYC during this time)
- Average daytime temperatures soar around 44°F (7°C)
- During the nights, the temperature can fall very low, with the average being around 37°F (3°C)
2. What to wear?
Well, with the weather conditions mentioned, you can easily have the idea that you can’t move around without some really (REALLY) good warm clothing. - Dress in layers – it often helps keep the chill away.
- Mind your waterproof dresses so that the rains don’t dampen your party mood.
- Don’t forget gloves, scarves, or overcoats – anything that keeps you a little extra warm.
- Apart from all this, wear comfortable walking shoes – closed toe AND water-resistant.
3. Ice Skating in Central Park
With chilling temperatures come thrilling activities! You can take full advantage of the chilling and freezing conditions of New York to enjoy ice skating at the Central Park. With the NYC skyline at the background, it’s easily one of the unbeatable experiences you can have for some fun during winters. There are two ice skating rinks in Central Park – the Wollman Rink – one of the city’s most romantic and iconic winter attractions, or the Lasker Rink in the middle of the park. Neither one of them will disappoint you in any way, so take your special someone and spend the evening skating under the stars!
4. Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center
A tradition that dates back to over 75 years, the tree lighting ceremony at the Rockefeller Center is one of the biggest attractions of the New York City during the winters. It features the likes of the Radio City Rockettes as well as live performances by various singers and bands.
The tree is so famed because of its remarkable lighting, with over 50,000 of them dazzling in an array of colours. The tree itself stands at 100 feet tall and you can witness the “Swarovski Star” on the top of the tree, 9.5 feet in diameter containing 25,000 sparkling crystals!
5. St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Millions of people, both natives and visitors, visit Saint Patrick's Cathedral yearly, and is a must-visit New York City landmark for anyone visiting the city. Just as with many other iconic places in the Big Apple, there's no better time to visit the cathedral than the holiday season. If you check the schedule, you can also arrange to hear some traditional holiday music in an amazing place.
6. Broadway Shows and Museums
Even during the rainy days, you can still witness some of New York City’s attractions, with numerous Broadway shows and iconic museums. As for the Broadway shows, it might not be possible to get last-minute tickets to every show, so it’s for the best that you visit the box office of the theatre a couple of hours before the show starts.
7. Christmas Markets / Holiday Markets
Any time around Christmas in New York is never complete without visiting a Christmas Holiday Market. Perhaps specifying any one of them would be sheer injustice to the others, as each one of them has something special to offer in their own ways, but probably the most popular one of them is the Union Square Holiday Market.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to warm up a bit in the chilly NYC atmosphere, without putting a pause on your celebrations, you can pay a visit to the Grand Holiday Bazaar, the only indoor market in NYC.