A Guide to NYC Holiday Events: Live Music, Theater, Lights and More – US 247 News

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The holiday season has arrived in New York City, ushering in a host of performances and events, from modern retellings of “The Nutcracker” to holiday-themed jazz shows at Lincoln Center and outdoor train displays at the New York Botanical Garden. Here’s a list of shows and events to attend.

At the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, New York City Ballet will perform George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” Running through Dec. 31, the performance features a Christmas tree that grows to 41 feet, a continuous flutter of snowflakes and a Dewdrop costume adorned with 65 crystals.

Those who want a more modern take on the classic should head to Kings Theater on Dec. 16 for “The Brooklyn Nutcracker,” which finds the performers facing off in a hip-hop battle and stopping at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a Flatbush Avenue subway station. At the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, the Westchester Ballet Company, a youth troupe with dancers from 6 to 18 years old, performs the Nutcracker on Dec. 16 and 17 and offers a special matinee on Dec. 14 and 15 for school groups.

In Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, the lighting of the Largest Menorah in Brooklyn each night of Hanukkah, from Dec. 7 to 14, will be accompanied by live music, hot latkes and special gifts for children. A comparably large menorah can also be found in Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza during the festival of lights; that menorah will be lit every day of Hanukkah, with the final night to feature a lighting extravaganza.

A family friendly, English-language version of Mozart’s fairy tale “The Magic Flute” returns to the Metropolitan Opera, Dec. 8-30, with Julie Taymor’s dazzling puppets in her staging of a prince’s quest to rescue a princess. People who purchase tickets for the Dec. 10 performance will have access to the Holiday Open House before the show, which allows children and families to go behind the scenes with members of the Met’s backstage and artistic staff.

A variety of “A Christmas Carol” performances are happening throughout the city, including a musical adaptation by Brenda Bell and Michael Sgouros at the Players Theater in Greenwich Village, Nov. 26 to Dec. 30. The performance, now in its 15th anniversary season, includes a British pantomime-inspired scenic design. Over at SoHo Playhouse, on Dec. 20-30, director Guy Masterson (“The Shark Is Broken”) will present the New York premiere of his rendition of “A Christmas Carol.” And at Town Hall in Midtown, Neil Gaiman will give readings of Dickens’s text on Dec. 18 and 19.

The programming at Jazz at Lincoln Center will feature a series of holiday season performances, including pianist and composer George Burton, Ted Rosenthal and his trio, and Matt Wilson with a swinging holiday-centric outfit. For the annual “Big Band Holidays” event, Dec. 13-17, Ashley Pezzotti and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will perform holiday favorites like “Winter Wonderland,” “The Christmas Song” and “Deck the Halls.” On Dec. 17, the organization presents a Relaxed Performance, designed to allow children and adults with autism, learning difficulties or other sensory or communication needs to enjoy a less constricting concert environment.

The New York Philharmonic, along with the Handel and Haydn Society chorus and the Baroque specialist Fabio Biondi, will perform Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 12-16. The annual holiday tradition of “Holiday Brass” will also return, Dec. 16-17.

Carnegie Hall will feature a performance on Dec. 5 by the singers Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, and Orchestra of St. Luke’s will perform Bach’s Christmas Oratio with La Chapelle de Québec and soloists on Dec. 7. The modern hymn writers Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty will perform on Dec. 9, bringing fresh renditions of carols and hymns and featuring Celtic instruments. The New York Pops will also return with classics, including “This Christmas” and “Ave Maria / O Holy Night,” Dec. 22-23.

The New York Botanical Garden’s annual holiday show, through Jan. 15, includes an all new outdoor train display where viewers can see trains zip past close to 200 New York landmarks. The Garden’s Bar Car Nights, open to people 21 and older, offer a chance to admire the models while sipping cocktails. The garden will also feature its “Glow” event, through January, in which the Haupt Conservatory and the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building are adorned with thousands of lights and transformed into dramatic, glittering canvases.

Skating enthusiasts can head to the Rink at Rockefeller Centerwhich has tickets on sale through March 24. At Bryant Park, the Winter Village It also features an ice rink, along with a variety of food and drinks from vendors. For those in Brooklyn, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside and Bluestone has a range of winter activities, including ice skating, curling and hockey.

Those looking for laughs can watch the “One Funny Lisa Marie: Holiday Show” at the New York Comedy Club in the East Village on Dec. 9, or head to the Triad Theater on Dec. 9 and 23 for “Christmas Comedy: The Stand-Up Comedy Night,” which features comedians from across the Northeast.

The Winter Lantern Festival You have returned to Queens with more than 1,000 Chinese lanterns, interactive light swings and creatures made of artisan lanterns. The festival is on Fridays and Saturdays at the Queens County Farm Museum until Jan. 7.

At the Brooklyn Children’s Museumthe Celebrate Kwanzaa event, Dec. 26-30, features interactive workshops, live performances and art projects, including special activities marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Also on Dec. 30, the Apollo Theater in Harlem will feature “Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration,” including a performance from Forces of Nature Dance Theater. The event will highlight dance from across the African diaspora, as well as music and spoken word.

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