Fun Winter Activities in NYC

New York City has something to offer everyone, no matter the time of year. So don't let the change of season slow you down. Here are just a few cures for cabin fever that are available to you.

First off, we hope you were able to check out the December 6 tree lighting in Maspeth, Queens (Maspeth Memorial Square, 69th Street & Grand Avenue) and will view the Manhattan Avenue lights in Greenpoint, both proudly sponsored by Broadway Stages.

In the Bronx, the New York Botanical Gardens is hosting the Holiday Train Show. Experience expertly crafted miniatures of the New York City landscape made entirely from plant parts. More than 190 landmarks, including The Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Rockefeller Center, have been built using seeds, bark, leaves, and twigs. They are all connected by nearly half a mile of train tracks snaking their way inside the warmth of the Haupt Conservatory, the Garden's landmark glass house. There are also special Holiday Train Nights when the gardens' landscapes and buildings are illuminated on select evenings along with music, dance, and food, with prearranged adults-only and all-ages nights. The Holiday Train Show is taking place through January 20, 2025. You can order tickets here.

You can find another unique experience across the river at Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. This immersive experience features trails lined with 1 million lights. There are several illuminated installations by local artists, with the dazzling Cathedral tunnel being the most prominent. If you bring your appetite, Broadway Stages suggests you book a table at the Lightscape Lodge at Yellow Magnolia Café or graze on food and drinks at stops along the trail. Altogether, it makes for an otherworldly nighttime journey you will not forget. This one-of-a-kind spectacle will be on display through January 5, 2025. Click here to get your tickets now.

And if nighttime lights are your thing, take advantage of the Tianyu Lights Festival at Citifield in Flushing. Going on now through January 19, 2025, this festival merges traditional Chinese lantern-making with modern technology (using steel, LED lights, and other colorful fabrics). The journey tells the story of a young boy visiting the Amazon Jungle in his dreams. Your path will be bathed in colors projected from sculptures of plants, animals, and dream fragments. You will also encounter live performances of traditional Chinese plucked string instruments, the guzheng and pipa, the peacock dance, and artwork using traditional Chinese styles.

If your motivation is strictly culinary, you are probably looking forward to NYC Restaurant Week. Running from January 21 to February 9. The program will offer prix-fixe menus starting at $30 at hundreds of participating restaurants and neighborhood favorites across the five boroughs. This event's winter edition allows you to enjoy New York City's world-famous dining scene without breaking the bank. The organizers put on this event to inspire diners to try something new at someplace new. Since Restaurant Week isn't until later in January, you can't book a table yet. But starting January 7, you can make your reservations here.

And, of course, there are the NYC Parks. As the weather grows cold and the snow starts to fall, the Parks offer great rinks for ice skating and hills for sled riding. You may also consider spotting Saw-whet, barred, and great-horned owls at an owl-watching event or getting some steps in to find hidden gems and scenic spots on a guided hike with an Urban Park Ranger.

Whatever your interest, this is a great time of year to pursue it. Broadway Stages encourages you not to stay trapped inside with the winter blues. Get out and live life in the best City in the world! Make winter one of the best seasons of the year.