It is holiday season in New York City. Window displays are full of spirited decorations, the Rockefeller tree has arrived and is waiting to be lit, and on stages across the city, performances of \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d are taking place. Here\u2019s a guide to events over the next month.<\/p>\n
Rockefeller Tree Lighting and Ice Skating<\/p>\n
The Norway spruce tree<\/a> from East Greenbush, N.Y., has arrived at Rockefeller Center. The tree will be lit, with more than 50,000 multicolored lights, during a live broadcast, \u201cChristmas in Rockefeller Center,\u201d on Dec. 3.<\/p>\n The tradition dates back to 1931, when employees at Rockefeller Center chipped in to buy a Christmas tree. At the time, it was a 20-foot balsam fir. Today\u2019s tree is 11 tons and 75 feet tall.<\/p>\n The ice rink has also been a holiday tradition for decades. The Rink at Rockefeller<\/a> is open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.<\/p>\n Midtown Window Displays<\/p>\n After a brief hiatus, the Saks Fifth Avenue light show will return. The show repeats every 10 minutes after sunset until 11 p.m.<\/p>\n Other classic holiday window displays include: Macy\u2019s, featuring the department store\u2019s memorable moments, like their first window display in 1874; Bloomingdale\u2019s, where medieval guards are wrapped in Burberry plaid scarfs; and Bergdorf Goodman, where the theme is \u201cThe Bergdorf Soir\u00e9e.\u201d<\/p>\n Bryant Park Winter Village<\/p>\n Bryant Park has transformed into a winter village<\/a> with over 50 vendors in an open-air market, private igloo dining rooms and an ice rink. The annual tree lighting<\/a> will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2.<\/p>\n The rink offers free admission<\/a> to skate, with paid rentals available. The Lodge food hall and bar overlooks the rink and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. until March 1. Tickets can be reserved online.<\/p>\n Christmas Spectacular<\/p>\n It\u2019s the 100th anniversary<\/a> of the Rockettes. For the centennial, the Rockettes will be back at Radio City Music Hall in the Christmas Spectacular, through Jan. 5, with exclusive merchandise to celebrate the event.<\/p>\n Carnegie Hall<\/p>\n The New York Pops<\/a> will play two performances on Dec. 19 and 20, featuring a medley of holiday classics and carols. The Oratorio Society of New York<\/a> will perform Handel\u2019s \u201cMessiah\u201d on Dec. 22 and on Christmas Eve, the New York String Orchestra<\/a> will continue their tradition of a holiday performance, with an all-Mozart concert at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n New York Philharmonic<\/p>\n The New York Philharmonic will also play Handel\u2019s \u201cMessiah<\/a>\u201d from Dec. 10 to 13, followed by \u201cSounds of the Season<\/a>,\u201d a matinee concert of holiday music on Dec. 13 and 14.<\/p>\n \u201cHome Alone in Concert<\/a>\u201d will feature music, performed to a screening of the movie, from Dec. 17 to 20.<\/p>\n Jazz at Lincoln Center<\/p>\n From Dec. 16 to 21, Big Band Holidays<\/a> will take the stage at the Lincoln Center, performing a compilation of holiday classics with jazz vocalists Shenel Johns and Kate Kortum leading the show.<\/p>\n Hanukkah Events<\/p>\n Menorah lightings will take place across the city with two particularly large displays<\/a> in both Manhattan and Brooklyn\u2019s Grand Army Plazas. Each menorah is 32 feet tall and weighs 4,000 lbs. In Brooklyn, live music, latkes and gifts will also accompany the lighting and a kickoff concert will begin at 4 p.m. on the first night of Hanukkah (Dec. 14).<\/p>\n Kwanzaa Events<\/p>\n Celebrate Kwanzaa from Dec. 26 to 30 at the Brooklyn Children\u2019s Museum<\/a>, with candle lightings, holiday drumming and art workshops.<\/p>\n At Hudson Hall<\/a>, a free afternoon of crafts, dancing, drumming and a candle lighting will take place on Dec. 20.<\/p>\n Holiday Trains<\/p>\n The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden<\/a> runs through Jan. 11, where model trains weave through replica city landmarks.<\/p>\n