It's the holiday season in Brooklyn, and that means there's a lot you have to do.
For instance, you absolutely have to take a shot twirling around the ice rink at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park, right? You absolutely have to check out the holiday lights in Dyker Heights, and you need to pay the World's Largest Menorah at Grand Army Plaza a visit, too.
Want to have the best holiday season in Brooklyn ever? Stick with us and we'll make that happen.
How will you have the best holiday season ever? We have some ideas. You could see New Year's Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza at midnight, you could run a 5k dressed as Santa, you could munch on delicious food while perusing homemade vendors at Rock n' Shop.
Read on to learn more about how to have the best, and we mean the absolute best, holiday season in Brooklyn, like, ever.
1. Dyker Heights Holiday Lights
mynycguide ✨❤️🎅🏼🌟🎉🎁☃🎄😍✨ Some magical lights in Brooklyn! #dykerheightschristmaslights #dykerheights #brooklyn #mynycguide
NYC turns up over the holidays in a big way. We're talking lights for days, holiday cheer for miles, and the kind of animatronic dancing figures that put your excuse for holiday cheer to shame.
This is especially true in Dyker Heights. There are blocks and blocks of jaw dropping, bright Christmas displays. They're so bright that we're pretty sure some of these families' electric bills cost the same as rent in some cities.
More than 100,000 people head out to Dyker Heights every year to glimpse the lights. If you're planning on being one of them, we'd suggest strolling 11th to 13th Avenues between 83rd and 86th Streets. That's where the real magic is.
2. Rock n' Shop (17 Meadow Street)
rocknshopnyc Unbelievable hand painted Star Wars chocolate by @jongoodchocolates!!! #nyc #chocolate #cake #yummy #dessert #food #sweet #instafood #foodporn #starwars #jedi #bobafett #nerd #vader #geek #starwarscelebration #theforce #lukeskywalker #lightsaber #hansolo #sith #stormtrooper #starwarsfan #darth #clonewars #returnofthejedi #droid #comiccon #smallbusinesssaturday
We want to shake the hand of whoever came up with Rock n' Shop, because to us it sounds like the best way to spend a weekend we've ever heard.
Let's face it. We all love getting after it early on the weekends. Day drinking is the best, right? So at Rock n' Shop you can day drink heartily with their $3 drafts between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can also jam out to their free live music, and munch on their free pancakes from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Plus, they've got a free comedy show on Sundays at 12 p.m. Laughing while day drinking is pretty great too, right?
Also, you can accomplish all that pesky holiday shopping at their more than 40 vendors. If you don't like pancakes, there will also be plenty of food vendors; like Lex Taylor's Burguer Shop, Traze Falafel Pizza, Santo Burrito, and plenty more.
It's open this season from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
3. World's Largest Menorah (Grand Army Plaza)
Did you know the world's largest menorah is in Brooklyn? We're not surprised at all, since NYC tends to be, you know, the best at everything-- but we're definitely delighted.
It's put on by the Chabad of Park Slope, and it's 32-feet tall. There's a lot going on at this massive menorah during the holiday season.
They'll have a kick-off concert the night of Sunday, December 6th at 5 p.m., with the menorah lighting at 6 p.m. Then, they'll have lighting parties every night of Hanukkah.
The lighting parties will be on weeknights at 6 p.m., 3:30 p.m. on Friday, December 11th, and 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 12th. These parties will offer live music, and hot latkes, plus, the lighting of that magnificent menorah.
4. CraftBrooklyn (72 Noble Street)
beezbyscranton Coming to the Big Apple this weekend for #CraftBrooklyn 🍎🏙✨ what a great time to hit up the city and get some holiday shopping done! @artridercrafts #vintagebooks #bookworm #nyc #nycart #charlottesweb #brooklyn
You've just got to buy those holiday gifts, don't you?
Well, why not get innovative this year? Why not buy a gift that means something, that was made by an artist who put time and care into a product, rather than a corporation who made the product on an assembly line?
Well, CraftBrooklyn is the perfect opportunity to do exactly that. They've got extraordinary, one-of-a-kind gifts, and inspiring modern works for sale by 100 of America's finest independent makers.
It'll be at the Brooklyn Expo Center for three days. There will be a Friday Night Preview Party, whose attendees will get to get first dibs on the best of the best of the market's wares while sipping beverages from Captain Lawrence Brewing Company and jamming to DJ Supertouch.
If you can't make the kick-off party, be sure to get out on Saturday December 5th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Sunday, December 6th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
,5. Santa Suit 5k (215 Prospect Park West)
rockapulcorun Santa Shuffle 2010 Allison Bagley and Mary Beth Goldberg all smiles. Join us for the Santa Shuffle 5K Run/Walk this year in 2 locations: Bay Ridge, December 14, 2013 at 12 noon. Rockaway Beach, December 21, 2013 11am. Both race with feature post race parties at local bars. Come run and party with the Santas'. Visit our website to register
You're thirsting to dress up as Santa but you have no interest in participating in that destructive mess called SantaCon?
Then we have a productive, empowering, healthy way for you to join a whole bunch of other New Yorkers in Santa suits for the day.
The Santa Suit 5k is heading off in Prospect Park on December 13th at 11 a.m. It'll be a gorgeous morning run, and absolutely exploding with holiday festivity.
So get your run on! Why not, right? Registration also comes with a Santa suit for each runner, which will be distributed before the race at Farrel's Pub on Prospect Park West. Register here.
6. Coney Island Polar Bear Swim (Surf Avenue and Stillwell Avenue)
New Year's plans? Yes, it's time to think about New Year's Plans. New Year's is coming up.
We know what you're thinking. You're probably thinking, "Who would want to swim in the ocean at Coney Island on January 1st?"
Let us tell you though, swimming in a cold ocean is just about the most exhilarating thing you could do to start the New Year off right. Also, all the proceeds from the Coney Island Polar Bear Swim go to Camp Sunshine, which is this gorgeous camp in Maine for terminally ill children.
Basically, it's the most fun thing you could do for the best cause we could think of. You don't have to pay anything, but there's a suggested $20 donation to Camp Sunshine for each participant.
There will also be a Post Dip Celebration at the Coney Island Brewing Company & Peggy O'Neill's Bar. Every participant who raises over $100 will get a special edition pint glass, and $2 will be donated to Camp Sunshine for every Coney Island Beer sold.
We know it sounds too great to take. Register here.
7. New Year's Eve Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza (Grand Army Plaza and 9th Street)
keelieliang #Fireworks last night at #ConeyIsland 👣🎉💫🎇👻 #FridayNight #Friday #Night #TBT #LivinginBrooklyn #Brooklyn #ConeyIslandbeach #lifeisgood #view #nightview #instaview #firework #pictureoftheday #rightnow #sky #nightsky #Brooklyn #Brooklynfireworks #NYCFireworks #NYC #Light #shinning #stars #Imissyou #miracle #universe #heaven #niceview #amazingview
We have a really great alternative to that whole overrated club scene.
At Grand Army Plaza on New Year's Eve, there will be fireworks from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m.
There will also be live entertainment by DJ C, the Brooklyn Mash It Up Band, and hot chocolate. Plus, the entire thing is free, so that's basically the perk of the century. It's much better than spending hundreds at a club, at least.
Maybe now you can actually fulfill your New Year's resolution to save money more?
Check out 7 Must-Do Events to Cross Off Your Bronx Holiday Bucket List.
[Feature Image Courtesy Pursuitist.com]