Celebrate the Holiday Season With Brooklyn Tree and Menorah Lightings and Winter Celebrations
The holiday season is upon us, and Brooklyn is preparing for the festivities with a number of popular neighborhood Christmas tree lightings and other wintery events.
Photo by Susan De Vries
By Isabel Song Beer, Brooklyn Paper
The holiday season is upon us, and Brooklyn is preparing for the festivities with a number of popular neighborhood Christmas tree lightings and other wintery events. From Park Slope to Downtown Brooklyn and beyond, here are some of the can’t-miss holiday events in the borough.
Wednesday, November 29
The tree lighting at Brooklyn Commons is a family favorite event and this year the festivities will surely be another hit. Starting at 5 p.m., visitors can view exquisite ice sculpture carvings by Okamoto Studios as well as a live carving, sample delicious treats, and watch Santa himself light up the Christmas tree.
Sunday, December 3
Fort Greene celebrates its 9th annual tree lighting ceremony in partnership with the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership. Guests can enjoy cozy mugs of hot chocolate, sing along to festive songs, and finally watch the tree light up from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. outside at Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Street.
Saturday, December 2
Join fellow revelers at the 22nd Annual Sinterklaas Day Celebration organized by the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum and NYC Parks. Children and caretakers can enjoy a visit from the famous Saint Nicholas where he will tell traditional tales of “The Baker’s Dozen” and more. Also available are fun colonial games, Dutch clog decoration stations and, of course, the Christmas tree lighting. Festivities run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, December 7
Celebrate the first night of Chanukah with a lighting ceremony at the largest menorah in Brooklyn at Grand Army Plaza complete with fantastic live music, hot latkes, and gifts. Celebrations begin at 5 p.m. and continue through all eight nights of the Jewish holiday with both Jews and non-Jews welcome to the celebration.
Tuesday December 26 through Saturday December 30
Join the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for its 16th annual lively celebration of Kwanzaa at the largest family Kwanzaa event in New York. Guests can learn all about the cultural backgrounds and significance of the holiday and learn about the seven principles of Kwanzaa through workshops, live performances, art projects, candle lighting, and more.
Other activities to check out:
If the holidays aren’t quite your thing but you’d still like to embrace the chilly season, Glide at the Brooklyn Bridge, a new ice-skating rink overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge with stunning views of the city, is now open. Check out the scenery and enjoy the late-autumn weather by taking to the ice at the rink anytime from 1 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.
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