Yahoo News 7 things to do in New York this autumn and winter
Give yourself a fright at the annual Village Halloween parade, visit friends on Thanksgiving (then ditch them for the Thanksgiving sales), or witness the most amazing Broadway shows as you gear up to the best Christmas of your life in New York. October to December is a great time to book flights to New York with British Airways: flights are competitively priced and fly into New York’s biggest and best airport, the John F. Kennedy International Airport, which is just a 40 minute drive from NYC. Don’t forget British Airway’s great flight and hotel packages too.
Ice-skating in Central Park
Glide across the ice at the Wollman Rink, Central Park, with Manhattan’s iconic skyline as your backdrop. Perfect for a family outing or romantic night, the outdoor skating rink is just a five-minute walk from 6th Avenue. An impressive 30,800 square feet, the rink’s large size means you’ll frequently spot regulars practicing their pirouettes or speed skating in the middle. Open from the end of October, entrance, costs no more than $18 per person.
Shop shop shop
Are you ready to shop like it’s your job? Covering an entire city block, Macy’s NYC is and has been the biggest department store in the world since 1924. Another NYC department store favourite Bloomingdales offers tourists a 10% discount on all their purchases (simply ask at the front desk of the store on how to claim). Both stores offer fantastic savings on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when shops slash prices on everything from TVs to coats. A shopping experience not for the faint-hearted, to avoid the frenzy, head to one of the Artists and Flea’s markets, selling vintage, designer and artist-made goodies at Williamsburg every weekend and at the Chelsea market every day.
Spooky Halloween Festivals and Shows
From scary street fairs to haunted houses, New York is a pro when it comes to giving a fright. Feast your eyes on an army of 7,000 glowing pumpkins at The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze, on the Riverside Ave, and go inside the Pumpkin Planetarium where you can witness flying ghosts and Sleepy Hollow’s Headless Horseman.
Head down to the New York Botanical Garden, which has been invaded by a group of life-size pumpkin mannequins as part of its Halloween exhibit Scarecrows: From Heartland to Horror.
Running along 6th Avenue, the Village Halloween Parade runs from 7pm-11pm on the 31st of October and features over 50,000 zombies and puppets that take to the streets of New York. The parade then turns into the Headless Horseman party with flaming lanterns and live DJ’s - work your way through the craziest vintage costumes and festively celebrate for a $10 entry on the 29th of October.
Thanksgiving Parade
All eyes turn to Manhattan for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Balloons, floats, cheerleaders, clowns, marching bands and celebrities are all key ingredients for this classic Thanksgiving recipe, which is televised every year. Falling this year on the 24th November, the best spots to watch the parade are Central Park West, Columbus Circle, 6th and 7th Avenue and 42nd Street. Alternatively watch it in your PJs on TV and flick between the parade and the Super Bowl. One of, if not the, sporting events of the US, with virtually every level of football team competing on the special day.
World class theatre
Broadway offers audiences some of the best theatre and musical experiences. Catch the five star-rated The Color Purple before it closes on 18th December 2016, starring Cynthia Erivo, as Celie, Erivo won a Tony for her stunning performance. Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons on Broadway opens this October as does a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard.
Going in December? David Wood’s popular Christmas Carol on Broadway returns on December 9th; other Broadway Christmas shows include A Christmas Story and Radio City Christmas Spectacular - both opening November 11th.
Museums
Boasting world-class art galleries and museums, spend a day (or three) exploring some of New York’s cultural hotspots. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) showcases one of the world’s largest artwork collections including Claude Monet’s Water lilies and Pablo Picasso’s She Goat sculpture. Visit on a Friday evening (from 4-8pm) and skip the usual $25 entry fee.
NYC is also home to the largest museum in the USA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art: from mummies to avant garde fashion there are an incredible 2 million items on exhibit at this museum conveniently located in Central Park.
Want more? Nine museums on Museum Mile should satisfy your needs. Situated between 82nd to 105th street, on Fifth Avenue, highlights include the Museum of African Art, Museum of the City of New York and The Jewish Museum.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Every year the arrival of the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center, in early November, heralds the start of the festive season in New York. Usually a Norway Spruce, between 69-100 feet tall, thousands of visitors flock to experience the brightest and most beautiful lights of this gigantic tree. A temporary outdoor ice rink also opens up at The Rockefeller every winter. With only 150 skaters allowed on at one time, queues are long so booking in advance is recommended – otherwise you’ll have A LOT of hours to appreciate the Rockerfeller’s Christmas tree. The rink opens from 8th October….
