Holiday Activities at Rockefeller Center, Chelsea Piers, and Carnegie Hall

Big Human’s client roster is as varied as it comes, but when the sleighbells start ringing, quite a few of them jump headfirst into the season’s festivities. If you’re on the hunt for the best things to do this holiday season in New York City, you don’t have to look far… 

Rockefeller Center, Chelsea Piers, and Carnegie Hall are ready to welcome you with open arms (and the warmest season’s greetings). To save you a Google search, we’ve compiled a shortlist of our favorite NYC holiday happenings — from ice skating to Christmas concerts.

Snap a photo in front of the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

In terms of holiday icons, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree might just rival Mariah Carey. (It even had a starring role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.) This year’s Norway Spruce — Rockefeller Center’s tree species of choice — stands at a whopping 80 feet and weighs 12 tons. With a 9-foot Swarovski star topper and 50,000 multi-colored LED lights strung on five miles of wire, the Christmas Tree is New York City’s de-facto holiday beacon. And it makes for a charming family photo backdrop. Through January 13, Rockefeller Center is offering professional Christmas Tree photo sessions, with digital packages starting at $40. To capture it in all its glory, we recommend visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree after sundown when its lights glow the brightest. 

Read our Rockefeller Center case study.

Reach new heights on The Beam at Top of the Rock

There’s no shortage of things to do at Rockefeller Center, and with its unobstructed sights of New York City, Top of the Rock tops the list. Its newest attraction is The Beam, a thrilling experience that takes visitors on a 12-foot ascent and 360-degree spin 70 stories high. An adventure that’ll put your bravery to the test, The Beam recreates “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” the famous 1932 photo of 11 ironworkers eating lunch on a steel beam during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. If you’re worried about the cold, Top of the Rock has an indoor alternative, too. Before you head back down, stop by the recently opened Weather Room for a quick bite — and one last look at Top of the Rock’s sweeping city views.

Drop into a public ice skating session at Chelsea Piers

Want to cross ice skating off your holiday bucket list? Make your way to the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers. A self-described “waterfront sports village,” the 28-acre complex takes up four historic piers along the Hudson River. While it has dedicated sports programs and hosts private events (like Big Human’s own holiday party), Chelsea Piers also grants public drop-ins to a few of its facilities, with 60-minute General Skating sessions available on select afternoons during the week. 

Experience a night of live music at Carnegie Hall

A live concert at Carnegie Hall is always a delight, but there’s something special about its holiday repertoire. Every year, Carnegie Hall transforms the magic of the season into dulcet tones and swinging notes, and this season’s programming features sounds from different corners of the world: Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis will perform classic holiday favorites, and the New York String Orchestra promises an all-Mozart performance on Christmas Eve. With multiple shows every day of the week, Carnegie Hall offers a multifaceted mix that’ll satisfy everyone’s musical tastes.

View our Carnegie Hall case study.