This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
11/20/2019 11:00 PMChristmas in New York City has a certain magic. Maybe it started at the end of the Great Depression when a group of construction workers pooled their money to purchase and decorate a Christmas tree in the Rockefeller Center plaza, which was under construction. Today, whether it's ice skating under the tree or in Central Park, the holiday shops at Bryant Park, Macy's Santaland, and the holiday window displays up and down Fifth Avenue, there is no shortage of holiday cheer in the city.
While the tried-and-true attractions are worth a winter visit, those looking for something different—and perhaps less crowded—can travel beyond midtown for a unique holiday experience.
Dyker Heights Lights
83rd to 86th Street, Brooklyn, New York
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights on Facebook
Just after Thanksgiving, an entire Brooklyn neighborhood is transformed into a luminescent landscape as many of the residents in a few square blocks deck the halls (and their yards) in the holiday spirit. The Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn—from 83rd Street through 86th Street between 11th Avenue and 13th Avenue—boasts blocks of Christmas light viewing and festive fun.
The light displays were born in the 1980s when Lucy Spata first put up a display of angels in honor of her mother. While neighbors were initially unhappy with the increased traffic, they soon began to compete in their displays.
Visitors to Dyker Heights can not only view Spata's home and decorations, but many, many other neighbors', too, including a 15-foot Santa at Al Polizzotto's home, lights synchronized to music, and more.
Most homes are decorated by the weekend after Thanksgiving. The recommended time to visit is between dusk and 9 p.m. According to the "Dyker Heights Christmas Lights" Facebook page, the best way to get to the neighborhood is via public transportation—the page lists the recommended buses, trains, and taxi stops. A Slice of Brooklyn also offers nightly bus tours beginning in Manhattan. For more information, visit asliceofbrooklyn.com.
Closer to Home...
THURSDAY, DEC. 12
Branford's Annual Holiday House Decorating Contest: 6:30 to 9 p.m. for viewing. For info, visit branfordct.myrec.com.
ONGOING
Holiday Light Fantasia: Runs Thanksgiving to Jan. 1. Open Sunday to Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. Goodwin Park, 1130 Maple Ave., Hartford. Visit Santa on Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Cost: $15 for cars of up to 10 passengers; $25 for limousines; $50 for mini buses of up to 30 passengers; $100 for full-size buses. For info, visit holidaylightfantasia.org.
Fantasy of Lights: Runs through Dec. 31. Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven. Open Sunday to Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. Cost: $10 for car/family van; $25 for mini-bus; $50 for full-size bus. For info, visit goodwillsne.org/event/fantasy-of-lights-2019.
GingerBread Lane at NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street, Corona, New York, nysci.org
The New York Hall of Science becomes a little sweeter on Saturday, Nov. 23 when its annual GingerBread Lane exhibit opens to the public through Jan. 12. Visitors to the New York Hall of Science can check out the Guinness World Record-holding largest gingerbread village. Jon Lovitch is the creator of the completely edible display.
According to NYSCI.org, Lovitch spends the entire year planning the exhibit and he then designs, bakes, and decorates all of the elements for the display in his home in Queens. Lovitch uses homemade gingerbread pieces, royal icing, and frosting in constructing his scenes and a wide variety of candies for decorations.
Those interested in trying their hand at creating a gingerbread masterpiece can join in a GingerBread Lane workshop held throughout the day from Friday to Monday, Dec. 27 to 30. Cost for the kit is $15 plus museum admission. Advance tickets are recommended.
On Jan. 12, GingerBread Lane is deconstructed from 2 to 5 p.m. At that time, museum guests can bring home a piece of GingerBread Lane until every last bite of the 2019 display has disappeared.
Closer to Home...
SATURDAY, DEC. 7
Gingerbread House Workshop: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Community Room of Hagaman Memorial Library, 227 Main St., East Haven. For info, call 203-468-3890 or visit hagamanlibrary.org.
TUESDAY, DEC. 10
Gingerbread House Workshop: 3:30 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Houses will be displayed in the children's department. For ages 9 and older. Space is limited. Registration required. For info, call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
Gingerbread Workshop: 2 to 3 p.m. North Madison Congregational Church, 1271 Durham Rd. Hosted by Scranton Library Children's Department. Registration required. For info, visit scrantonlibrary.org.
MONDAY, DEC. 16
Gingerbread Houses: 6:30 p.m. North Haven Memorial Library, 17 Elm St. For ages 4 to 14. Cost: $3. In-person registration required. For info, call 203-239-5803 or visit northhavenlibrary.net.
Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, nybg.org
Since 1992, Kentucky artist Paul Busse, his wife Margaret, and their company Applied Imagination have created a miniature city that never sleeps complete with trains running through inside the walls of the New York Botanical Garden each year for the Holiday Train Show. Busse and his team use acorns, bark, stones, sticks, and parts of plants in constructing the detailed exhibit.
The Holiday Train Show is a special exhibit that runs through Jan. 26 and features more than 175 scaled New York City buildings and landmarks with about a half-mile of tracks carrying G-scale model trains and trolleys.
While children and families enjoy finding their favorite New York City landmarks in miniature, there are also select adults-only Bar Car Nights on Saturday, Nov. 2;, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29 and 30; Saturdays, Dec. 7 and 14; Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 20 and 21 and 27 and 28 and Jan. 3 and 4; and Saturdays, Jan. 11 and 18 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Bar Car Nights not only offer a viewing of the Holiday Train Show, but a festive winter wonderland full of seasonal bars, food from the Bronx Night Market Holiday Pop-Up, fire pits, ice-sculpting demonstrations, and dueling pianos. Advance ticket purchases are recommended.
Closer to Home...
Those wanting to check out a holiday train show closer to home can head to the Connecticut River Museum for Steve Cryan's annual train exhibit. Each year, Cryan, a train enthusiast and artist, creates a display that is on exhibit through mid-February. For more information, visit ctrivermuseum.org.