When the weather turns a bit chilly, New York City turns up the heat with nonstop holidays festivals and parades.

World's largest Chanukah menorah stands in New York City

The World's Largest Chanukah Menorah is proudly standing at New York's most fashionable plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, by Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels. The Menorah will be lighted on all evenings of Chanukah.

The Menorah, designed by Yaacov Agam, is certified by the McGinnis Book of Records as the World's Largest. It was inspired by a hand drawing by the Rambam (Maimonides) of the original Menorah in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.

The 32-foot high, gold colored, 4,000 pound steel structure will be lighted nightly with genuine oil lamps. Specially designed glass chimneys will protect the Chanukah lights from the Central Park winds.

Due to the height of the Menorah, it will be lit nightly with the help of a Con Edison "cherry-picker" crane as well as two lifts that will lift the lighters to the "Menorah Heights."

Lighting Schedule:
Friday, December 11 - 12:30 PM
Shabbos (Saturday) evening, December 12 - 8:00 PM
Sunday, December 13 - 5:30 PM
Monday, December 14 - 5:30 PM
Tuesday, December 15 - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, December 16 - 5:30 PM
Thursday, December 17 - 5:30 PM
Friday, December 18- 3:45 PM

October 30th through November 1st -- Disney's A Christmas Carol - Train Tour at Grand Central Terminal

All Aboard for Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour - Disney is pulling out all the whistle stops and taking its show on the road with a spectacular immersive and interactive 40-city train tour including a 3D sneak peek of film footage from the upcoming movie “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” . Set amidst a snowy backdrop—complete with all of the sights and sounds of Christmas including carolers, decorations, giveaways and many more surprises in each of the 40 cities—the Train Tour is being launched with HP on board as the title and technology sponsor and driven by Amtrak. This family event is for guests of all ages and is free to the public.

November 30th -- Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square

It's the 10th Annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square - New York City's largest holiday festival, attracting thousands of people each year and featuring free entertainment, food tastings and family fun. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Winter's Eve and we expect it to be bigger and better than ever. For more information visit WintersEve.org

Perhaps Peace

On the eve of Universal Children's day, November 19th, UNICEF friends and supporters will join together with UNICEF ambassador Lucy Liu and Broadway Kids Care to "flip the switch" and light the New York Snowflake. UNICEF starts the holiday season with a special lighting ceremony at 6:30PM of their symbolic Snowflake. It will take place at 5th Avenue and 57th Street on the Northeast corner. It will be lit until January 3rd.

The New York Snowflake contains 16,000 crystal prisms, is 23 feet wide and over 28 feet tall, and weighs more than 3,300 pounds. On its 20th anniversary, UNICEF sought the help of renowned lighting designer Ingo Maurer and his team in Germany to design and engineer a new snowflake. Collaborating with the world’s leading crystal-maker, Baccarat, they constructed the largest outdoor chandelier. The old, and still beautiful, snowflake is now in Beverly Hills, California

Rockefeller Center Celebrates

One of the most magical sights in the City is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The annual Tree Lighting has visitors and New Yorkers alike gathering to see the giant tree illuminated. The 2009 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be lit for the first time this holiday season on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, with performances from 7:00pm-9:00pm. The two-hour long program features various celebrity appearances and a star-studded musical lineup. The tree will be lit daily from 5:30 A.M.-11:30 P.M.; all day on Christmas (24 hours); and from 5:30 A.M.-9 P.M. on New Year's Eve. The world's The world's most famous Tree will be on display until January 7th, 2010.

Breakfast With Santa

Enjoy a family breakfast at Rock Center Cafe, a visit from Santa and his elves, gifts for kids of all ages and a skating session on the world-famous Ice Rink. View schedule and purchase tickets at RockCenterCafeNY.com

Dzieci’s Fools Mass

Perhaps one of the most unusual events of the season is the Fools Mass by the Dzieci Experimental Theatre Group. The edition of The Encyclopedia of Religion, has this to say about Dzieci’s Fools Mass:

The performers wear the vestments, not of priests but of medieval bedlam idiots who are called upon by circumstance to celebrate a Mass even though they do not know how. Moving easily between the sublime and the ridiculous, drawing its audience through laughter toward participation and contemplation, the work resists being categorized as either theater or religion, becoming both at once in an event experienced by many as transformative. As they stand beside these grotesque characters in prayer, worshipers begin to participate in the liturgy with new understanding.

They will be offering performances on
Saturday, December 5, 3pm - Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
Sunday, December 13, 7pm - St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church
Thursday, December 17, 7:30pm - Union Theological Seminary
Friday, December 18, 7:30pm - The Old Stone House
Sunday, December 20, 11am - The Cell Theatre Company

Read more about this unusual group at Focus on Dzieci

Lincoln Center Tree Lighting - Canceled for 2009

Sadly, this event will not be happening for 2009. According to Lincoln Center press release:

Because of the challenging economic climate and ongoing construction at the entrance to Josie Robertson Plaza, Lincoln Center is reluctantly cancelling the holiday tree lighting ceremony for the upcoming season. Lincoln Center encourages the community to celebrate the holiday season at the Winter’s Eve celebration, presented by the Lincoln Square BID, that occurs the evening of November 30th.

Plum Blossoms Light Up Chinatown

Their holiday lights are up early this year. As a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, the five-petal plum blossom blooms most vibrantly in late winter. Look for the illuminated garlands on Hester Street, Canal Street, East Broadway, and the historic core of Chinatown (Mott, Mulberry, Bayard, and Pell Streets).

It's time to skate

When winter beckons, New Yorkers know it's time for ice skating. And there are several places to lace up those skates and hit the ice.

Bryant Park Celebrates Winter
From November 6, 2009 to January 24, 2010 The Pond is the centerpiece of Bryant Park's winter season, which also includes the annual Holiday Shops at Bryant Park. The 170' x 100' rink features free admission ice skating, in addition to high quality rental skates, skating shows, special events, and activities.

Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center
Open now until January 9th, whether you skate or like to watch, this is a glittering holiday favorite. Check rates and times at Rockefeller Ice Rink

Wollman Rink in Central Park
Skate in the middle of the urban oasis of Central Park. Wollman Rink is open for the season through Sunday, April 5, 2009. It's open, but check for conditions, prices and hours at Wollman Rink

The Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers -- Open
They're at Chelsea Piers - Pier 61 (23rd St. & the Hudson River).

Holiday Light Show at Grand Central Terminal

A New York favorite and it's free. Visitors to Grand Central will delight in the high-tech winter wonderland images on the famed Astrological Ceiling in the Main Concourse 125 feet above their heads. Back by ‘popular demand’ it officially kicks off the holiday season on Monday, November 30th.

• An Opening Ceremony and press event takes place on November 30th at 11AM
• A series of six (6) individual six minute shows will be presented on what is perhaps the busiest room in the world, the Constellation Sky Ceiling of the Terminal’s Main Concourse
• One show is presented every half hour, between 11:00 AM and 9:00 PM, over the course of six weeks.

Holiday Shows Around Town

Almost nothing says "holiday" like the special shows that take place across the city. Here's some of the city's favorites.

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden offers Candlelight Tours in December that are an annual tradition for many New Yorkers
Friday, December 18th at 6:30pm, 7:30pm & 8:30pm Saturday, December 19th at 4:00pm, 5:00pm & 6:00pm Step into the holiday season of 1830 and take a tour by the warm glow of candlelight. Linger in the tavern room over a steaming cup of hot cider or refreshing eggnog. Enjoy live seasonal music by Linda Russell, historical balladeer on December 18th, and Cady Finlayson and Vita Tanga on fiddle and violin on December 19th. Admission is $18 adults, $6 children under 12. Reservations recommended. For more information visit MVHM.org

Radio City Music Hall - Christmas Spectacular
For decades New Yorkers and visitors have made this a holiday ritual. For more information visit Radio City Christmas

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ at New York City Ballet
Ah, another can't miss holiday treat. For more information visit NYC Ballet - Nutcracker

Wintuk by Cirque du Soleil
Wintuk is their exciting winter adventure for kids and kids at heart about a boy’s quest for snow that begins November 11th. It may become another holiday ritual - who could resist anything produced by Cirque du Soleil?

The show weaves the signature acrobatics, breathtaking theatrical effects and songs into a journey to an imaginary land called Wintuk where it's cold but there is no snow. This seasonal story features an international cast of 50 performers from Cirque du Soleil. For more information visit Cirque du Soleil.com - wintuk

Metropolitan Museum of Art and their Annual Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche

From November 24, 2009 to January 6, 2010 in the Medieval Sculpture Hall, the Museum continues its long-standing holiday tradition with the annual presentation of its Christmas tree plus vivid eighteenth-century Neapolitan Nativity scene—embellished with a profuse array of diminutive, lifelike attendant figures and silk-robed angels hovering above—will adorn the candlelit spruce. Recorded music and lighting ceremonies will add to the enjoyment of the holiday display. Read more at Met Christmas

The World's Largest Chanukah Menorah

It's the 32-foot, 4,000-pound, golden menorah that grandly takes the spotlight near Central Park on the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street.

Kwanzaa

No information is available yet about Kwanzaa celebrations.

Bright Lights, Big Fun in the Big City

Even from the street, the stars at Time Warner Center cannot be missed. Stepping into the Great Room, visitors enter a 150-foot tall wonderland where 14-foot stars hang majestically from the ceiling. Each weighs nearly 1000 pounds, but as they twinkle and seemingly dance, it's as if they're floating on air.

Celebrate with song. A visual-sound experience unlike any other, this show features dynamic displays of light and color set to holiday music. Each composition, created by a twelve-piece orchestra, has its own unique choreographed light show. Throughout the holiday season, this enchanting multimedia display starts every evening at 5pm. Celebrating its fourth year, "Holiday Under the Stars" is a treasured tradition for both New York natives and seasonal visitors.

Window Wonderland

New York's legendary department stores offer a window wonderland at holiday time. Visitors and New Yorkers alike love to stroll along the Avenue and enjoy the famed storefront tableaux. From the red awnings and understated elegance of Saks Fifth Avenue at 611 Fifth Avenue to Lord & Taylor at 424 Fifth Avenue extravagant windows and magical animation. Displays at Tiffany & Co. at 727 Fifth Avenue have a holiday sparkle all their own. FAO Schwarz at 767 Fifth Avenue is always a fun visit. While Fifth Avenue definitely has WOW appeal, the windows at Bloomingdale's 1000 Third Avenue are a study in urban chic, and the lavish Yuletide glow of Macy's Herald Square 151 West 34th Street is another perennial favorite

These fantasies are usually unveiled in November and thousands line up to view the creative celebrations of New York's singular style. And with good reason.

Check back as we add more Holiday Celebrations...