Thanksgiving in New York

The holidays are always magical in New York City, from dazzling decorations to fantastic feasts. Thanksgiving is no exception!

By Katie Sagal
Published: May 16, 2024
New York

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of year in New York City. It kicks off the beautiful holiday season and is a wonderful holiday in its own right. It’s also the time of year when one of New York’s greatest public events takes place – the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

If you’re searching for some great seasonal activities and things to do in November, check out a few of these suggestions. Here are our top attractions and events to make the most of Thanksgiving in New York, including:

  • Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
  • Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar
  • Holiday Train Show
  • Bank of America Winter Village
  • Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy's Thanksgiving day parade

There isn't a more iconic holiday event in New York City than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This parade, which began almost a century ago with only 50 people marching through the streets of New York, has become a real institution. It takes place from 77th Street to 34th Street. Find a spot along the route to watch the giant balloons of your favorite cartoons, the fantastically decorated floats, and the artists parading in front of you. The festive atmosphere is amazing!

Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar, 501 Union Street

Brooklyn holiday market

A great destination for all your holiday shopping needs is the Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar. Browse through hundreds of beautiful gifts from local makers and select national crafters. You’ll find everything from paintings to handmade paper to handcrafted jewelry. Enjoy festive music and grab a bite to eat from participating vendors to get in the festive spirit. After shopping, make the most of the neighborhood with a walking tour.

Admission to the Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar is free, and you can use your pass to enjoy the Brooklyn walking tour.

Holiday Train Show, New York Botanical Garden

new-york-botanic-garden-holiday-train

This uniquely New York phenomenon is a sight to behold. Come to the New York Botanical Garden to find yourself immersed in a magical world of nature and technology. Watch mini trains wind through a wonderland of NYC landmarks and icons. All the pieces of the set are constructed out of natural elements like bark, leaves, berries, and more.

Plus, there's a half-mile of train tracks throughout, so you'll get to see plenty of the tech side, too. This annual event is beloved by locals and is a must-see for families and adults alike! Access to this special exhibit is included with regular admission.

The Nutcracker Ballet, Lincoln Center

nutcracker-manhattan

This Thanksgiving weekend, don't miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with an iconic performance of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. It's a tour de force of flawless ballet, gorgeous sets and costumes, and a timeless score. From the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the Snow Scene, it's no wonder some people go every year!

If you don't get to see The Nutcracker, it's still worth taking a tour of Lincoln Center to see the holiday decorations.

Bank of America Winter Village, Bryant Park

skating-bryant-parkmanhattannew-york

Searching for a unique, yet affordable place to pick up holiday gifts in New York City? The Winter Village in Chelsea’s Bryant Park should be on your list. There are more than 120 shops, kiosks, food stands, and more. You’ll be able to find something for everyone on your list.

This European-inspired market provides an excellent souvenir-shopping opportunity too! Don’t forget about the ice-skating. Skating is free (although you need to bring your own skates), and Bryant Park’s massive outdoor rink is a sight to behold. The ice-skating rink is open until March.

Getting In: Admission to Winter Village is free.

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

rockefeller-christmas-tree-glowing-angels

If you happen to be in town for a few days after Thanksgiving Weekend, it's worth a trip to Rockefeller Center to see them light their iconic tree. Typically a Norwegian Spruce, this tree will arrive in NYC in early November. A massive 30,000 LED lights and a Swarovski crystal star will decorate the tree. The lights are switched on during this ceremony, which is bound to be a special memory.

This special holiday tradition is sure to inspire the festive spirit in you. While you're in the area, why not take a tour of Rockefeller Center and learn all about its significance and rich history?

Sightsee and save on attraction admission in New York

Discover our full line-up of New York attractions including The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and more.  

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.    

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. 

Please note, some of these special November events may be separately ticketed and not included with the pass. Consider adding a few of these fun options to your November weekend itineraries. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Little girl on a traditional Easter egg hunt.
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What to do on Easter Weekend in New York City

Easter is a great time to visit New York, as the east coast shakes off its winter chill and the city bursts into colorful, vibrant life with a riot of tulips, cherry blossom and forsythia. Then, of course, there’s the Big Apple's annual Easter Parade, when a flamboyant forest of the biggest, boldest (and downright wackiest) bonnets you’ve ever laid eyes on weaves its way through Midtown Manhattan. Egg hunts, too, make for a cracking Easter day out for kids aged three to 93 and, who knows, you might even get a chance to meet the Easter bunny herself. So, pack your spring layers, brace your sweet tooth for joy, and read on for our eggs-pert guide to all things Easter in NYC. The Big Apple in Bloom If flowers float your boat and plants set your heart aquiver, there may be no better time to visit New York than over the Easter weekend, when many of spring’s best-loved blooms will be out in force. Central Park is as good a place as any to start your olfactory odyssey. Hit up the Bridle Path at 90th Street, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and the aptly-named Cherry Hill at 72nd Street for your cherry blossom fix – the pretty pink blossoms opposite the fairytale folly that is the park’s Belvedere Castle make for some of the finest spring selfie opportunities in town. If the weather plays ball, rent a bike to explore all of the park’s hidden nooks, or take a rowboat out onto the tranquil lake. The brief but beautiful annual cherry blossom explosion continues over at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where 26 species ensure good coverage from March through May. Meanwhile, the New York Botanical Garden adds a fragrant themed display of thousands of blooming orchids to the 200-or-so flowering cherry trees within its 50-acre forest. Want more? Take a spring stroll along the High Line (with a tour guide, if you so wish), where colorful wildflowers meet hip outdoor art installations and picnic spots are alive with the sound of birdsong and chattering squirrels. You’ll spot pretty Lady Jane tulips, Sunburst witch hazel and Virginia bluebells along this elevated former railway line on Manhattan’s west side. Or tiptoe through the tulips on Park Avenue: tens of thousands of the colorful blighters burst into bloom along the boulevard every spring. New York Easter Parade Put a great big hat-shaped marker in your diary for Easter Sunday, the eggstraordinary pinnacle of Manhattan’s Easter calendar. For today is the day that New Yorkers from across the state converge at 49th Street to follow the short Easter Parade route along Fifth Avenue, clad in some of the most outlandish headgear you’ll see in this galaxy, or any other. Yes, we’re talking about the annual festival of Easter bonnets, in which you can expect to see people in everything from period costume (a hat-tip to the parade’s 19th-century origins) to iconic New York landmarks in hat form (you may well lose count of the Empire State Buildings and Statues of Liberty), flamboyant flower-festooned fashion statements, and – for the very brave – pyramids of carefully balanced (real) eggs pointing precariously skywards. There are no prizes to be won, just the fawning admiration of your peers as you strut your stuff along Fifth Avenue in your eggstravagant Sunday best. It’s free to join and you can spend all day mingling with behatted fellow revelers along the half-mile route, with somewhere in the region of 30,000 people expected to turn up most years, weather permitting. Easter Egg Hunts in NYC Whether you’ve got kids or not, there’s surely no better way to spend your Easter weekend than mingling with the Easter bunny, having your face painted in a rainbow of colors and, of course, getting your sticky paws on some sweet, sweet Easter candy. You’ll find plenty of events taking place in parks and playgrounds across the Big Apple over Easter weekend. Note that while there are dozens to choose from, NYC Easter egg hunts are extremely popular so book ticketed events well in advance and turn up early for free hunts to avoid disappointment. Hit up East Harlem for the admirably punny annual NYSoM Easter Eggstravaganza, a free event that includes timed egg hunts, plus egg painting, a street fair and photo opportunities with the Easter bunny and pals. Over on Governer’s Island, there are hunts tailored by age group, with a whopping 10,000 painted wooden eggs to be found across 120 acres. Expect magic shows and puppetry as well as arts and craft stalls and a beer garden for the grown-ups. You can even make it educational. CMoM (the Children’s Museum of Manhattan) runs a fun Easter Egg scavenger hunt that’s included with your admission ticket. Set your little bunnies loose to seek out the cute critters hiding in eggs around the museum. There are prizes for successfully completing the challenge and Miffy – a close relative of the Easter bunny – may also make a guest appearance on the day. Easter Brunch in NYC Brunching is practically a religion in New York so, if the above activities sound just a little too taxing for a relaxing Easter weekend break, feast your eyes on these beauties for some of the finest Easter brunches in town. And remember to book in advance! The Dutch NYC. This SoHo stalwart promises long boozy brunches fueled by some of the best pre-noon cocktails in Lower Manhattan. Pair heaving platefuls of cornmeal blueberry flapjacks and avocado toast with a reviving Matcha Sour, or a punchy Oaxacan Sunset, with tequila, mezcal, hibiscus, lime and cassis. Jacob’s Pickles. Hit the dive bars a little too hard last night? This Upper West Side diner has you covered, with comfort food classics including heart-stopping biscuit-and-egg breakfast sandwiches and fluffy pancakes with buttermilk fried chicken. Wash down with a Bloody BLT – vodka, bacon and a jalapeño-pickled egg. Balthazar. The Oyster Marys at SoHo’s Balthazar are worth the entry price alone, but stick around for the divine eggs florentine and uber-comforting corned beef hash. The Garden @ The Standard. This East Village garden lets you tuck into oysters, steaks and mimosas in your own private yurt. There’s even an adult Easter egg hunt, with prizes including an overnight stay at The Standard. Ideal if you’ve overindulged in cocktails and chocolate eggs. Wynwood. For a family friendly option complete with epic brunch buffet, egg hunt and Easter bunny photo opportunities, make for Wynwood on Staten Island. Grateful grown-ups get a mimosa or bellini on arrival. Save on things to do on Easter weekend in New York City Save on admission to NYC attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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New York All Inclusive Pass Itinerary

Did you know you can save up to 42% with an All-Inclusive Pass?  If you visited the below attractions without our pass, you'd spend $416.55. With our pass, it's only $239.  That's a total saving of $177.55. Read on for some NYC inspiration and discover how you can save on your sightseeing. Day 1 Morning Big Bus Hop On Hop Off: 1-Day Classic Ticket Head to Times Square and hop aboard a Big Bus for a Hop-on Hop-off tour. With your pass, you’ve got a full day to explore both its Uptown and Downtown routes. Price without a pass: $80 Afternoon Empire State Building Observatory Listen. You cannot come to New York and not visit the Empire State Building. Just make sure you pick up a fridge magnet from the gift shop for your Gran on the way out. Price without a pass: $51.17 Madame Tussauds Admission + MARVEL Universe 4D For an afternoon of saying things like “but how do they make them look so real!?” and “take a pic of me with Obama”, head to Madame Tussauds. Plus, with your pass, you can also visit the MARVEL Universe 4D experience.  Price without a pass: $47.89 Day 2 Morning Best of NYC Cruise: Circle Line Sightseeing Cover the whole of Manhattan in one morning. This Best of NYC Cruise circles the entirety of Manhattan, offering chef’s kiss views of its skyline and many famous landmarks.  Price without a pass: $49 Afternoon Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and Space Shuttle As far as museum set-ups go, this is a goodie. You’ll be fully immersed in the world of US nautical and naval history from the moment you arrive. Price without a pass: $33 Edge Vertigo-inducing views anyone? Edge’s tilted glass walls and glass-bottomed floor might leave you a bit wobbly-legged, but it’s totally worth it for those INSANE views.  Price without a pass: $50.08 Day 3 Morning Statue Of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry Iconic. Majestic. Inspirational. These are just some of the words that are thrown around when talking about the Statue of Liberty. Yep, she’s pretty special.  Price without a pass: $24.50 Afternoon One World Observatory Now the tallest building in New York, One World Observatory offers spectacular (and that is not an exaggeration) 360-degree views of New York and beyond.  Price without a pass: $47.91 9/11 Memorial and Museum An emotional final stop, but certainly not one to be missed, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum pays tribute to the people affected by the events that took place on September 11. End your trip with a little extra appreciation for this resilient city and its locals. Price without a pass: $33 By visiting these attractions with an All-Inclusive Pass, you'll have saved 42% on your sightseeing. So, what you waiting for? It's time to get planning that NYC adventure now! Check out all the attractions on your pass     We calculate our savings by comparing the Go City price to the combined normal ticket values - these were last updated on April 1, 2023.
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