Not going back home for Thanksgiving and confused how to spend it in New York City? Fear not, becuase there’s plenty of ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Big Apple and enjoy your time off! Shopaholics, get excited!
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
If you have never witnessed the magical charm of New York City’s famous Rockettes, now’s your chance to do so! This one hour Christmas concert will give you the warm, fuzzy feels of the holidays, minus Christmas itself. The dances are all connected to a lovely Christmas storyline and will feature Santa Claus, live stable animals and wooden soldiers popping in. At the end of the hour, you will wonder how time passed by and yearn for Christmas to come. You should probably take advantage of this concert during Thanksgiving week because it is easier to get good, affordable seats.
Bank of America Winter Village (Bryant Park Winter Village)
This is the perfect place to do your Christmas shopping and ice-skating at the same time. With over a 125 jewel boxed kiosks featuring artisanal, handcrafted Christmas gifts and food from around the world, it’s a guarantee that you will end up finding the perfect gift for all your loved ones, pets and significant others. Bye-bye Christmas shopping stress – or Black Friday stress, for that matter. The beauty of this Winter Village also lies in the fact that it’s 100% free. You can skate in the massive outdoor rink as long as you desire at no cost. Plus, the colossal size of the outdoor rink gives you ample space to pose for the ideal Insta snaps. A Thanksgiving well spent.
NYC Pilgrim Pedal
Want to stay fit during Thanksgiving? Try the NYC Pilgrim Pedal Adventure with other bike enthusiasts. You will have to be pedal your way through Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn at 8 am. Although this may sound daunting to those who crave an extra hour or two in bed, the stunning views you could glimpse of the boroughs’ skyline on this pedaling adventure will definitely make up for the exhaustion that will eventually be seeping through your bones. Plus, you are encouraged to don costumes for this ride. Hello round two of Halloween! Midway through the journey, you can expect to stop for scrumptious pancakes and steaming coffee at a renowned Brooklyn diner. Still unsure whether this pedaling adventure is worth it? Just simply think of the skyline and the pancakes.
Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar
This 2-day (Nov 28-29) bazaar is filled with hundreds of squeal-worthy gifts, carefully prepared by more than 40 local and national artisanal crafters. Think handcrafted jewelry and paper. Oh la la. To make it even easier for you, there will be a free giftwrapping station. You will no longer have to Google how to wrap a bow around a gift perfectly. The bazaar also features a live DJ set, a photo booth and a line of food and drinks stalls set to satisfy your greatest cravings. If you plan to travel around Brooklyn, make sure you take a peek through this bazaar!
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
Gutsy enough to brave the cold? It wouldn’t be a holiday list with the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Featuring animated floats, balloonicles, and a host of glitzy performers (cue Jordin Sparks or Panic at the Disco!), this 2.5 mile long parade will give you the perfect vibe to really feel at home in one of the busiest cities in the world. The parade kicks off at 77St and will make its final turn in front of the Macy’s in Herald Square. If you plan to get a good viewing spot, be ready to arrive 1-2 hours earlier than expected.
Happy Thanksgiving!