Top Winter Museum Events for Holidays in New York City

New York City is a fantastic holiday destination, drawing both locals and tourists alike. Visitors often bring their children to witness the magnificent Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, enjoy ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park, savor the famous frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity, and admire the elaborate store windows along Fifth Avenue.

Additionally, major museums curate special exhibitions and celebrations coinciding with the holiday season, catering to both out-of-town guests and locals. Whether you’re interested in Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply festive events, this comprehensive guide will assist you in choosing the best holiday museum exhibit in New York City.

Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden

Besides the iconic Rockefeller Center tree, the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is among the most beloved holiday events in New York City. This annual celebration attracts both New Yorkers and tourists who come to admire the intricately crafted village constructed entirely from natural materials.

Situated inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, visitors will delight in watching model trains navigate through meticulously recreated New York City landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and a miniaturized version of Coney Island’s amusement park.

Due to its popularity, it is advisable to plan ahead. Purchasing tickets online is recommended, and consider making a full day of it by exploring the expansive 250 acres of the New York Botanical Garden, visiting the Bronx Zoo, and enjoying a meal on Arthur Avenue, the heart of New York’s genuine Little Italy.

The New York Botanical Garden is in the Bronx, and travelers can conveniently reach it from Manhattan via Metro North trains departing from Grand Central Station.

The Met’s Neapolitan Christmas Tree

Every year, visitors significantly flock to The Met Fifth Avenue to witness the enchanting Christmas tree set in the Medieval Art sculpture hall at the heart of the museum.

This delightful fir tree is adorned with a captivating collection of 18th-century Neapolitan sculptures that portray a traditional presepio, or Christmas village. This remarkable combination has been a cherished tradition at The Met since 1957, featuring over two hundred figures arranged in new and fascinating settings each year.

In Naples, the art of creating miniature Christmas villages holds ancient significance. An entire street dedicated to artisans crafting the presepio figures exists, providing year-round opportunities for the public to acquire unique pieces. The figures showcased at The Met are inspired by the designs of renowned 18th-century sculptors and set designers from Naples.

Additionally, visitors should check The Met’s calendar for concerts and performances staged in front of the tree. While admission to the museum is free, a suggested donation of $10 aids in supporting activities like the Neapolitan Christmas Tree exhibit.

Family Hanukkah Day at The Jewish Museum

Annually, The Jewish Museum celebrates Hanukkah with an all-day art-making festival, offering families a delightful experience filled with concerts, story hours, and drop-in studio opportunities to create festive art projects. Additionally, an interactive gallery tour allows children to learn about the story of Hanukkah.

This year’s Family Hanukkah Day will be held on December 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring new activities such as collaboratively creating a large art piece and witnessing a drawing performance by Jeff Hopkins that narrates the tale of Hanukkah. The event is free with museum admission, which is complimentary for children under 18.

The Jewish Museum resides on Fifth Avenue between 92nd and 93rd streets in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. To reach the museum via subway, passengers can take the Woodlawn-bound 4 or 5 trains to 86th Street-Lexington Avenue and then walk along Lexington Avenue to 92nd Street before turning right.

Discover Medieval Decorations at The Met Cloisters

Christmas décor typically brings to mind red bows, jingle bells, and twinkling lights. However, The Met Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to medieval art, embellishes the holiday season with decorations rooted in medieval tradition each year.

Guests will find the arches of the Main Hall adorned with dried apples, clusters of chestnuts and acorns, and ivy leaves—all meticulously assembled by the museum’s horticultural staff. Inside the galleries, visitors can admire tied sheaves of wheat and garlands adorned with pomegranates, reflecting medieval customs linked to ancient narratives of Demeter and Persephone.

The Met Cloisters also hosts a series of annual concerts to celebrate the season, featuring performances by the early music ensemble “Waverly Consort,” who have enriched the event for over three decades. Inside the Fuentidueña Chapel, hymns, processionals, antiphons, and Mass compositions from the Middle Ages are performed by a 13-member vocal and instrumental ensemble.

Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Each year, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum hosts the largest Kwanzaa celebration in New York City, featuring five days filled with cultural events, creative activities, and fun for all ages.

The 10th Annual Celebrate Kwanzaa is scheduled from Wednesday, December 26 to Sunday, December 30, 2018, promising attendees a diverse lineup of performances, discussions, workshops, games, and exhibits that explore the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, faith, and creativity.