Good-for-Kids Rating

Rate Holiday Events in Central Park:

Babies

Toddlers & Pre-K

School-Age Kids

Pre-Teens & Teens

submit

Holiday Events in Central Park Description

Central Park is a year-round destination for visitors to New York City, but special events during the month of December make it a can't-miss spot for families -- and best of all, the events are free and don't require advance registration. The season kicks off December 7 with the lighting of the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (which includes activities, music, and refreshments from 3 to 5 p.m.); visit December 20 for both the Winter Festival of Lights (a celebration to mark the winter solstice from 4 to 5 p.m.) and Hanukkah Menorah-Making (noon to 3 p.m.); join in the fun on December 21 or 23, when Santa makes an appearance (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and kids can create Christmas crafts (2 to 4 p.m.); and finally, learn about Kwanzaa while participating in the Family Craft Friday gathering on January 2 (2 to 4 p.m.).

Kid Tips

Pre-Teens & Teens: If you have a runner in your brood, head to the park on December 31 for the four-mile Emerald Nuts Midnight Run through Central Park. The event includes a costume parade and contest at 11 p.m. in the Central Park Band Shell; the run starts at the stroke of midnight. (Advance registration required.)

Planning Notes

More to do. The park is a wonderland of fun events and activities, including two skating rinks (Wollman Rink, on the east side between 64th and 65th streets, and Lasker Rink, mid-Park between 106th and 108th streets), the Central Park Zoo, carriage rides, 21 playgrounds, and much, much more.

Related Vacations