New Years Eve in Times Square

Holiday Windows
Amble along and around Fifth Avenue to scope out the beloved holiday display windows created annually at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and countless designer boutiques, plus the trumpeting angels, lights and, of course, the giant tree at nearby Rockefeller Center.
Call 888-377-4455 for more information

Lighting of the World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah
On the first night of Hanukkah, watch the lighting of this 32-foot tall Menorah—the world's largest. Already have a klatch planned for the 7th? Not a problem: The candle-lighting is repeated on all eight nights of Hanukkah.
12/7-12/14
Times vary; Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Ave. at 59th St., Brooklyn; 718-778-6000

Holiday Events
New York offers more holiday-related events than one could hope to enjoy. To name a few of the biggies:

Holidays at the New York Botanical Gardens
Every year the Botanical Garden builds a cityscape out of plants, spanning two entire galleries of the Conservatory. Models trains run throughout 1,000 feet of large-gauge track across intricate recreations of city scenes. See plantish replicas of the Statue of Liberty, the Apollo Theater, and the Brooklyn Bridge as well as this year's new additions which include Rockefeller Center, City Hall, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Visitors to the Gardens can also tour the winter flowers and learn how to choose a Christmas tree. See a schedule of tours and lectures.
Through 1/9
10am - 5pm daily, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx River Pkwy at Fordham Rd., 718-817-8700 or nybg.org. Free with admission

Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Theater, ice-carving demonstrations, guys on stilts — they're all at the Bronx Zoo for this year's installment of Holiday Lights. Show up at sundown to see the zoo transformed into a veritable winter wonderland of bulb-built beasts. The big attraction? The Polar Express, an antique train that kids are free to climb all over.
Through 1/9
November 19 - December 19: Fri-Sun 5-9pm; December 20 - January 9: daily 5-9pm; closed December 24 and 25; Fordham Rd. and the Bronx River Pkwy, 718-367-1010, bronxzoo.com

Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Who doesn't love a Rockette? Well, they're back doing their wooden toy-soldier routine (it's the toy soldiers that are wooden — not the routine…). The Spectacular opened in November, and over the following two months will present more than 200 performances, sometimes as many six a day. That's a lot of high kicks!
Through 1/2
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave between 50th and 51st Sts.; $38-$125; 212-247-4777 or radiocity.com .

Santaland at Macy's
Just slightly smaller in scale than their Thanksgiving Day parade, Macy's re-creation of Santa's domain is back in full effect to entertain the kids.
Through 12/24
Monday - Friday 9am - 9pm, Saturday and Sunday 7am - 9pm.
December 24, 9am - 5:30pm; Macy's Herald Square, 151 West 34th St., 8th Fl., 212-695-4400; Free.

For more Holiday Events and ideas, see our Holidays in the City Guide

New Year's Eve in Times Square
The drop of the illuminated, thousand-pound Waterford Crystal ball, which sits atop One Times Square between 42nd and 43rd Sts., starts promptly at 11:59pm. Hardy revelers will begin showing up early in the afternoon and by rush hour, thousands will have staked their claim to spots on Broadway. It takes a certain type of person to want to huddle in this crowd of 750,000 and counting, but if that's you, bring gloves, stop at the bathroom before you head out, and enter the mob scene from Sixth or Eighth Aves. Traffic will be closed by 6pm from Broadway and Seventh Ave as far south as 42nd St and as far north as 59th.
Through 12/31
Arrive around 6pm; One Times Square, 42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway and 7th Ave.; Free; 212-768-1560, timessquarebid.org

New Year's Eve Fireworks
For those who want to bypass the Times Square frenzy, head to Central Park where the calmer evening festivities lead up to a fireworks display at midnight.
12/31
Central Park at 72nd St.; 212-310-6600; centralpark.org

Runner's World Midnight Run
Get a head start on those resolutions! Join the New York Road Runners for a midnight jog through the city.
12/31
12am,Central Park Bandshell, Central Park at E. 72nd St.; 212-860-4455, nyrr.org

More New Year's Ideas
Whether you're looking to take cruise around the city or cruise around a ballroom, our New Year's Guide has plenty of options.