Things to do on a Sunday in New York

The weather outside is, indeed, getting frightful, so this holiday season, cozy up to the "Island of Warmth" activation at Manhattan West. Along with an electrifying urban bonfire, there will be music and dance performances (from Harlem Lite Feet with Chrybaby Cozie, the Maimouna Keita School of Dance, and Music from the Sole), memorable holiday photo opportunities, and a show-stopping winter lights display that is sure to mesmerize the whole family.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s gorgeous, after-dark illuminated spectacular is back through January 5, 2025.

Lightscape, an illuminated trail of art from local and international artists, featuring the iconic Winter Cathedral, all set to over a million lights, color and music. 

As always, a curated playlist of music brings the light art to life, and there will be food concessions along the trail that will still offer seasonal treats like hot cocoa, hot cider, and mulled wine as well as light bites, cookies and sweets. This year’s show offers off-peak and peak pricing, ranging from $24-$45 for adults and $12 to $23 for kids.

Join the Children’s Museum of Manhattan as they celebrate and learn about the Nguzo Saba (the seven principles) of Kwanzaa and honor African and African-American culture, with family-friendly festivities on Saturday, December 28 and Sunday, December 29. Bring the youngins aged five and under to explore their creativity through interactive stories, concerts featuring diasporic instruments, dances and folktales, felt play honoring harvest fruits, Adinkra symbols screenprinting and more. 

Only one night of holiday celebration? Please. Hanukkah (or Chanukah or even Hanukah) means you have more than a week to celebrate. Hanukkah 2024 starts at nightfall on December 25, 2024 and ends with nightfall on January 2, 2025. L’chaim!

We've rounded up all the details on menorah lightings, concerts, and more.

Christmas has come early to Broadway this year. Previous productions of the family-friendly comedic yuletide fable Elf The Musical, though pleasant enough, have seemed short on the very Christmas spirit—an ineffable sense of animating joy—that the musical is about. Its current revival, however, is another story entirely. This show is really elfin’ good. 

Broadway needs a little Christmas, right this very minute, and it’s a pleasure to take off for a while on Elf’s magic ride. 

The Tianyu Lights Festival has made its debut Citi Field and it’s got the glowy magic we all want in a light show. It differentiates itself by merging traditional Chinese lantern-making with modern technology (using steel, LED lights, and other colorful fabrics) to create sculptures is the storyline that inspires the entire festival.

All the sculptures tell a story called "Koda’s Adventure," which explores the Amazon rainforest. Even cooler, there are live performances of traditional Chinese plucked string instruments the guzheng and pipa, the peakcock dance and artwork using traditional Chinese styles.

The Tianyu Lights Festival is open every day from 5 to 10pm (the last entry is 9pm), except for January 6 and January 13. You can snag tickets at tianyuculture.us/nyc, which start at $22.

The holiday magic is in full effect at Lincoln Square's Magical Lights. Stroll along Broadway around 60th and 70th Street to explore this cool immersive audio and light installation. 

Strands of icicle lights decorate the trees inside Dante Park (at Broadway & 64th Street) and Richard Tucker Park (at Broadway & 65th Street). That's beautiful enough to see but then the magic comes in. The trees change color and respond to singing, clapping, music, and even the NYC soundscape. They'll glow in green, pink, purple, and golden hues for a dazzling interactive spectacle.  

If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, then you’re already familiar with snowy owls, the cute and charismatic birds that served as the wizard’s closest companion.

Now, New Yorkers will be able to see the rare and mystical animals in the flesh: a pair just of them just set up home at the Bronx Zoo. You can go check out the snowy owls in the Birds of Prey section of the Bronx Zoo, which also houses king vultures, golden eagles and the Cinereous Vulture, the largest eagle in Eurasia, with a 10-foot wingspan. 

Get ready for the sounds of Coltrane to create your December soundtrack yet again: the annual year-ending festival celebrating the music of legendary saxophonist, bandleader and composer John Coltrane returns to Smoke Jazz Club on the Upper West Side.

The event continues into the new year, find more information and dates at SMOKEjazz.com.

Festooned with more than 1,000 meticulously hand-folded paper ornaments, this year’s 13-foot-tall tree at the American Museum of Natural History is inspired by the theme "Jumping for Joy" in honor of our 2024 Leap Year. The tree features specially crafted origami creations inspired by the museum's hopping, pouncing, and leaping creatures.

Some of the pieces decorating the greenery include rabbits, kangaroos, grasshoppers, frogs, squirrels, and cicadas, along with those depicting iconic museum exhibits like the Blue Whale and Tyrannosaurus rex.

Find it in the Ellen V. Futter Gallery on the first floor.