You may have heard about how the Arthur Avenue Retail Market cancelled its annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.
We'd like to assure you that despite this minor hitch, holiday cheer in the Bronx is very much thriving. There are model trains at the New York Botanical Garden whizzing through a mile and a half of track. There are holiday workshops at Wave Hill where you can learn to make your own wreaths.
Plus, the insanely decadent Christmas House of the Garabedian Family continues to stun and delight.
So were you wondering where to revel in holiday cheer for the holidays in the Bronx? Were you hoping to find somewhere to light a giant menorah, listen to Christmas carols, even meet Santa Claus himself?
Great, because we've got all that here for you. Read on to find out where to get down in the Boogie Down this holiday season.
1. New York Botanical Garden's Evergreen Express
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Every year, the New York Botanical Garden puts on a dazzling Holiday Train Show. It's nothing short of stunning.
The model trains rush and zag through nearly a mile and a half of tracks, and if you'll visit, you'll see them whiz past miniature versions of 150 NYC landmarks. It's absolutely delightful, and you can get your tickets here.
Also, you can cap off your Holiday Train Show with the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Film Screenings.
All season long, the Garden will have Holiday Film Screenings playing on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until January 18th. They'll show the holiday classics you cherish on their big screen. The best part is that these movie viewings are included in the price of your Garden admission.
2. Bronx Concert Singers' 34th Annual Holiday Concert (1891 McGraw Avenue)
bmcdew This is #motherMcDew coming from their concert in the Bronx #bronxconcertsingers they sang #handelsmessiah doesn't she look gorge
One of our favorite parts of the holiday season is the songs. Joining together in harmony and belting out the holiday songs we've sang all our lives is, at its core, what the holidays are all about.
That's why it's a good idea to attend the Bronx Concert Singers' 34th Annual Holiday Concert at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The concert is going down on Sunday, December 13th at 4:30 p.m. and the Bronx Concert Singers will be directed by Robert René Galván.
They'll sing Vilvaldi's Magnificat, seasonal favorites, works by Scarlatti, Villa-Lobos, and other multi-cultural, sacred songs, and Christmas Carols that are all bursting with holiday spirit.
Keyboardist Tamara Cashour, professional soloists, and a chamber orchestra will all join the Bronx Concert Singers in song. To have your spirit lifted by this breathtaking concert, get your tickets here.
3. Christmas in the Colonies at the Van Cortlandt House (603 Broadway)
young_gotham Snowing in #TheBronx -Van Cortlandt House (1748-49). In this heat, thinking back to hiking through a blizzard in Van Cortlandt Park in March with my umbrella and a camera & running into another photographer just as crazy. NYC Landmark (1966, interior 1975). #canon #bronx #blizzard #architecture #nycl50 #snow #architecturelovers #rsa_windows #ironfence #vancortlandt #snowstorm #thisisthebronx #thebronxisbeautiful #jj_indetail #everydaybronx #vancortlandthouse
The National Society of Colonial Dames has been preserving and restoring the Van Cortlandt House Museum since 1896. The Van Cortlandt House is super old. It's the oldest building in the Bronx.
It's a historic, 18th-century house in the 1,000 acre park, and it's got plenty of antique artifacts on display. Plus, the National Society of Colonial Dames decks it out for Christmas in the Colonies. We're talking boughs of holly and pine, stockings hung by the chimney, and lots of candlelight.
If you come with a date, keep your eyes peeled for a boxwood and mistletoe kissing ball or two.
No, there won't be a Christmas tree in sight, but that's just because the house will be wholly artifactual; it'll be decorated just like it was decorated for Christmas in the 18th-century.
If you're a history buff, why not take this trip back in time? Plus, Christmas in the Colonies is free with Museum admission, and we know you've been meaning to check out the Van Cortlandt House anyway, right?
4. Giant Menorah Lighting at the Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdale (535 West 246th Street)
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Hanukah is going down in the Bronx at the Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdale. They'll have their giant menorah lighting every night of Hanukah.
From December 7th to December 10th and December 13th the lighting will be at 4 p.m. On Friday, December 11th the lighting will be at 3 p.m. and on Saturday, December 12th the lighting will be at 6:30 p.m.
Every night the ceremony will feature live music, hot latkes, donuts, dreidels, balloons, and the lighting of their giant menorah.
You prepared to celebrate the Festival of Lights in the boogie down? We are too.
,5. The Christmas House of the Garabedian Family (1605 Pelham Parkway North)
Every year for the last 29 years, the Garabedian family have provided a family-friendly holiday activity right in their own front yard.
If you've never seen it, you need to. It's a sight to behold. They've got nearly 200 animated figurines which dance to holiday music, and just about every inch of their house is decorated with Disney characters and dolls.
They've got Santa and his reindeer, a recreated nativity scene, and blaring music. If the house looks familiar to you, it's because Mariah Carey shot parts of her "All I Want For Christmas Is You" video here.
"We feel this makes the Bronx have something to feel good about," said Gary Garabedian, who dismantles and re-mounts the more than 200 dolls every evening.
The house represents decades of happiness. It's beautiful, inviting, and singing with Christmas spirit. You'll remember your first visit to the Christmas House of the Garabedian Family; many have described it as magic.
6. Holiday Workshops at Wave Hill (West 249th Street)
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Wave Hill is offering several holiday workshops, so you can learn to deck out your apartment like a pro this holiday season.
On Saturday, December 12th at 11 a.m. they're offering a Miniature Arrangements Workshop. You'll get to create your own gifts and holiday decorations inspired by the gardens and galleries at Wave Hill itself.
You'll fashion a trio of sweet miniature arrangements using fresh greens, pinecones and other natural materials. You'll leave with a gift of arrangements, or a beautiful way to spruce up your own holiday table.
On December 12th at 11 a.m. they're also offering a Natural Wreaths and Swags Workshop. At this workshop, you'll craft one-of-a-kind holiday decorations using fresh greens harvested from Wave Hill's Gardens.
Want handmade, natural swag for this year's holiday decorations? If so, Wave Hill's Holiday Workshops are your best shot to make that dream a reality.
7. Arthur Avenue Retail Market (Arthur Avenue and East 187th Street)
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Even though Arthur Avenue Retail Market cancelled its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Bronx's Little Italy will still be decked out in lights for 25 blocks. Despite this setback, holiday spirit is very much alight in the Bronx this season.
They'll still have an indoor tree, and an indoor lighting tree ceremony on Thursday, December 3rd from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be free hot chocolate at 4 p.m., and the Invocation Prayer and Tree Lighting at 6 p.m.
The Jolly Holidays will visit Bronx Little Italy and spread holiday cheer through their traditional caroling on December 11th to 13th and December 18th to 20th.
Santa and his elves will be visiting Bronx Little Italy, too, on December 5th, 12th, and 19th. He'll be bringing candy canes to all the businesses in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, so those days are great days to be shopping if you want to confront Santa once and for all.
Check out 7 Free Activities to Cross Off Your Holiday Bucket List in NYC.