Best fun activities for group outings in NYC in December 2021
Congratulations! December is on. And December is the month in which you will see almost everyone celebrating something, or going shopping in New York. One of the best things about December in New York is that it is packed with festivals, events and celebrations. Thus, you will find something new every day when you walk around New York's streets this month.
And as there are so many things to do on meetup in New York during December, it is the best time to plan group outing in NYC. Although there is nothing bad about traveling alone, it’s nicer to make friends in New York and enjoy the holiday month with them.
And now, there are a thousand things you can do in New York this month, but it won't be possible to do that in just 24 hrs. Thus, we have chosen some of the best activities and events you can do in New York this month. But first, we will list some basic things you can do to enjoy this festival season in New York. And at the end of this blog, we will list some special events to attend and enjoy in New York this month. So let's start.
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Go to Bryant Park for a winter village
If you love food, shopping and skating, then Bryant Park is the place for you this December. You will find a winter village in Bryant Park, close to the Bank of America. The winter village is famous for its fantastic food and lots of shopping kiosks. So it is a must-see for foodies and shopaholics. You will also find a 17,000 square foot ice-skating rink here, and it's completely free to skate. However, you need to bring your own skates. So, gather your group and visit Bryant Park but don’t forget your jackets as December is very cold in New York. It is a good option for group outing in NYC. Also, make sure you follow the Covid guidelines and protocols while traveling.
The Holiday Light Show at Bronx Zoo
If you love lights and animals, Bronx Zoo is the best place for you to visit at this time of the year. You will see an LED and lantern representation of about 260 animal species. The zoo is basically divided into five parts, each representing the animal species from different continents and regions, including Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia and the Oceans. There is also a forest of color inside the zoo which interprets 21 new larger-than-life lantern representations of some specific animals, such as toads, snails, etc.
And this year, the zoo has also added around 79 new lantern representations, including 30 new animal species. So don't be late and visit Bronx Zoo today.
The Rockefeller Christmas tree
We are not exaggerating but Christmas in New York is kind of incomplete without the seeing the Rockefeller Christmas tree. One can say that it is the signature Christmas tree of New York. You can see the Rockefeller Christmas tree near the ice-skating rink at the Rockefeller Center. You will also see it when you are roaming on the roads of Times Square. Hence, if you are looking for group outing in NYC, you should consider this as an option. From December 1 until the New Year, the Rockefeller Christmas tree is lit every morning from 6am to midnight but especially on Christmas Eve, the tree is lit for 24 hours.
The Holiday Lightings in Central Park
In case you want to enjoy something Christmassy with your family, you should visit the Holiday Lightings in Central Park. It has been around 20 or more years that the Central Park Conservancy has been arranging Charles A here during the Christmas month. So, if you are visiting Central Park with your family, you can listen and even sing some lovey holiday carols with other visitors.
The NYBG GLOW!
The NYBG GLOW is an abbreviation for the New York Botanical Garden Glow. And this is only the second year of NYBG GLOW. So at this time of the year, you will find the New York Botanical Garden fascinatingly lighted with thousands of low-energy LED lights that look much more beautiful at night than during the day. A 1.5 mile walk surrounded by beautiful lights.
The Lumino City Festival
This festival started as a light festival in New York a few years back but lately, it has become popular. So it is a beautiful light festival that happens around Christmas. In earlier years, the show happened on Randall's Island in 2019, and it was a huge hit. This year, the festival will happen at Whitney Pond Park in Long Island. And this time, the festival will be a 45-minute walking, with a narrative to follow and towering LED sculptures. This year, the theme of the Lumino City Festival is Shine Again. You will also see Lumi's Utopia and Lumi's Friends. It’s an outdoor event and will be guided by Lumi, the LuminoCity mascot.
Museum of Ice Cream's Pinkmass
So, just like Christmas, it is Pinkmass for the Museum of Ice Cream. The event started on November 18 and it will go on until January 9. You will find 13 multi-sensory installations bursting with snowflakes and candy canes and there are many more events happening in the museum, such as decorating MOIC trees and crafting ornaments. You can also try many different kinds of sweet treats there.
You can also get a special surprise in the hunt for a candy cane sprinkle. It is hidden inside MOIC NYC's world famous Sprinkle Pool.
The Radio City Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular
If you are in New York this Christmas season, you must see the Christmas Spectacular. This year, it is starring the Radio City Rockettes. It's a holiday stalwart where you will get the full Christmas vibes with Santa, wooden soldiers and dazzling Rockettes. And lately, it has become more astonishing with sparkling, attractive costumes, new music and advanced technology. Another mind-blowing thing about this event is the big dance numbers, especially by the Rockettes.
New York's Festive Cocktail
Well, it's December and snow is obvious in New York. There are very few things as delightful as drinking a hot beverage in snowy New York. But have you ever tried a hot beer?
Yes, we are seriously talking about hot beers. If you have not tried a warm beer before, go to the Loreley Beer Garden to try one. And don't be scared before trying any beer here. These beers are warm, tasty and feel Christmassy as well. In case you want to try some more delicious hot beverages, visit the Rivington Street Destination or try the Outdoor heated beer garden.
Now let's discuss some Christmas celebration events that will be hard to forget and will be forever in your mind if you attend them. Get ready to make some unforgettable memories.
The Circle Line Holiday Sight Cruises
New York looks beautiful when walking around the city but have you seen the city while floating on the waters, that too at night? Oh, the city looks amazing at night and with Circle Line Holiday Sighting Cruises, you can enjoy the amazing views of NYC's skyline, the lit-up Statue of Liberty and other famous places of the city with cruise experience. But it's not just any cruise; it's the Christmas Celebration Cruise which includes a buffet dinner, an open bar with beer, wine and other cocktails, plus a DJ for the night.
However, all these facilities come at a price. The cost for a single person is $199 for one night and for kids under the age of 12, it is $179. Children under 3 are not charged.
Pulitzer Fountain on Fifth Avenue
If you visit, and you should visit, the Pulitzer Fountain on Fifth Avenue, you will see the fifth installation of the Fifth Avenue Association this December. Although the Pulitzer Fountain itself a very beautiful place to visit, . But around Christmas the celebrations and decorations here are worth seeing. This year, you'll see 32 hand-designed animal sculptures by Harlequin Designs, . Then there are 5,000 feet of lighting, a beautiful skating rink and about 24 handmade icebergs. But that is not all; there is also wonderful music composed by Paul Brill. Don’t forget to wrap up with plenty of layers to keep yourself warm.
Cozy Igloos at the Rockefeller Center
According to our personal experience, we can say that a cozy warm igloo in snowy weather at the Rockefeller Center is truly unforgettable. Along with this amazing experience, you will get a view of the beautiful 79-foot-tall Rockefeller Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center. In addition, Maryland's heated domes at the Rockefeller center are an amazing place to be on a cold December evening. It can accommodate a maximum of 8 guests in one dome at a time and offers full-service dining.
Some of the special servings of these cozy dooms are mulled wine, hot chocolate and spiked cider, along with signature wines and snacks.
The Train Show at NYBG
If you love trains and train shows, you must visit the train show at the New York Botanical Garden. They have been presenting their train show every year around Christmas for the last 30 years. So, if you are obsessed with train shows, it's a must-see for you. This year, the botanical garden is featuring 25 G-scale model trains running on a half-mile track. And along with that, there will be about 175 miniature NYC landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge and other landmarks.
Classic Holiday Shows
Around Christmas, you will find a concert or show going on in New York almost everywhere. So, it is a little bit hard to decide which concert to see. We have listed some of the best Classic Holiday shows you should attend this December:
The Winter Solstice celebration of St Johns is a have-to-go holiday classic show. As per the Winter Solstice, the event will take place on December 17 and 18 and it will be live-streamed as well, if you can’t attend in person and want to watch it online.
Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular is another name on the great classic holiday shows list. Live streaming has already begun and will be streamed until January 2.
But if you don't want the conventional Christmas celebrations, try the Hip Hop Nutcracker. The show takes place in Flatbush, Brooklyn on December 19, and here you will find the classic Tchaikovsky score with a blend of modern dance.
New Year's Eve at Times Square
There are few things in New York that can beat the enthusiasm of celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square. So, if you are in New York for the New Year celebrations, keep New Year’s Eve in Times Square on your bucket list. But do note that this event is famous all over America so there will be an huge crowd. Also, the entry at the event is on a first-come, first-serve basis. So, the earlier you go, the better you will be seated or standing. Also, the event is barricaded, and occupancy will be limited. The event starts at 6 pm on New Year's eve and will end at midnight. There are no washrooms or bathrooms inside the barricades; once you go inside, you can't come out until the event ends so plan accordingly.
How Should You Plan?
We know you want to celebrate your Christmas month in New York but as the covid pandemic hit America hard last year, it is advisable to follow the government's precautions to avoid any problems. Also, the emergence of the new Omicron variant, restrictions should be strictly followed.
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If we talk about restrictions, restaurants and theaters will be open but indoor dining will only be allowed to those customers who are fully vaccinated. In case you are visiting America from any other nation, the US government has banned travel from 8 specific nations due to the emergence of the new Omicron Covid variant. The eight nations are – Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe. However, there is no ban on US citizens returning to the USA from these nations. Also, the US has denied access to unvaccinated travelers from other nations.
So, do read the Covid guidelines and follow them while making plans for group outing in NYC.
You can also try social event planning platforms, such as Leaf, to plan events and outings with your friends. You can visit Leaf's website to learn more.
