Free Christmas Music Performances and Plays in Manhattan, New York

The Christmas holiday season has begun, and New York is bustling with holiday events, musical performances, Christmas plays and festivals. The holidays often get expensive with all the decorations, holiday dinners, and gift-giving. If you want to celebrate Christmas in New York with family and friends, but without busting your budget, check out these wonderful free holiday events going on in December. Join the city in enjoying Christmas carols, holiday musicals, and classic Christmas ballets. Admission is free, and most are suitable for all ages.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 -- New York City

12:30pm-1:30pm &
7:00pm-8:00pm

The Nutcracker, The Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. The New York Theatre Ballet puts on a special one-hour version of The Nutcracker. Enjoy the beautiful, airy Winter Garden, with its glass arched ceiling and indoor palm trees, while watching this elegant holiday dance. A wonderful Christmas tradition to be enjoyed by the whole family. Admission is free.

The World Financial Center is located in Lower Manhattan, in the heart of Battery Park City. Parking is available in garages off Liberty Street on South End Avenue. Get more information on this free holiday event, comprehensive directions, and New York subway routes at the World Financial Center website.

December 7, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 2007 -- New York City

Weekdays: 12:00-2:00pm
Weekends: 1:00-3:00pm

The Accidentals, The Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. These a cappella artists are experts at their craft, lauded by critics, and have a great sense of humor--evidenced by their appearance on Denis Leary's Comedy Central special Merry F#$%n' Christmas. Join them for these special holiday caroling concerts. Admission is free.

The World Financial Center is located in Lower Manhattan, in the heart of Battery Park City. Get comprehensive directions and New York subway routes at the World Financial Center website.

Find more information on The Accidentals and these free New York Christmas concerts at their MySpace page.

Sunday, December 9, 2007 -- New York City

3:00pm-5:00pm
Procession starts at 4:45pm

Annual Holiday Lighting, Festival, and Concert, Central Park. This event has Christmas activities and music for the whole family. Bring the kids and have fun decorating cookies, drinking hot chocolate, and making Christmas ornaments while surrounded by the caroling of premier a cappella group, The Accidentals. Craft a holiday musical instrument with bells, and jingle all the way in a procession to the junction of Central Park North and Lenox Avenue. View the spectacular lighting of both the Dana Discovery Center and a series of holiday trees lining the Lenox Avenue Malls between 110th and 125th streets. Free event with free refreshments.

Meet inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox avenues. Your best bet is public transportation. New York Subway: N,R at Fifth Ave.; 6 at 110th Street.

More information on this free Christmas event is available at the NYC Parks page.

Saturday, December 15, 2007 -- New York City

3:00pm

Holiday Family Tree, Museum of the City of New York. Harlem's famed youth ensemble, Impact Repertory Theatre, returns for a new holiday performance of original music, dance, and spoken word. As an added bonus, they will share their original music featured in the Warner Brothers film August Rush, now in theaters. Admission is free, but a donation is always appreciated.

The Museum of the City of New York is located on 1220 Fifth Avenue At 103rd Street. Bus: M1, M3, M4 or M106 to 104th Street, M2 to 101st Street. New York Subway: #6 Lexington Avenue train to 103rd Street, walk three blocks west, or #2 or #3 train to Central Park North (110th Street), walk one block east to Fifth Avenue, then south to 103rd Street.

More information on this free holiday event is available at the Museum website.

6:45pm-8:00pm

Unsilent Night 2007, Washington Square Park. For a unique holiday caroling experience, try Phil Kline's Unsilent Night. It's a performance piece with an infinite number of players. Each person carries a boom box, playing a separate Christmas song on tape which is one "voice" among many. Listen to the show, or take part in this unusual Christmas caroling party.

All participants should meet at the Arch in Washington Square Park at 6:45 pm, to begin at 7 pm and proceed eastward to Tompkins Square Park, where the piece will end around 8 o'clock. Outdoor concert. Admission is free.

Washington Square Park is bordered by 5th Avenue, Waverly Place, West 4th Street and MacDougal Street. New York Subway: A, C, E, B, D, F, V to W 4th Street.

Find more information on this free Christmas event at the official website and the NYC parks website.

Sunday, December 16, 2007 -- New York City

2:30pm

Holiday Songbook, Donnell Library Center. The NYPL has a host of free holiday events, from readings to crafts to lessons to musical performances. On the 16^th, director John Znidarsic arrives with exciting new holiday music performed by composers, lyricists, and Broadway singers. Admission is free, but space is limited. Tickets will be given out 1 hour prior to the program on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Donnell Library Center is located at 20 West 53rd Street. Visit the NYPL website for more information on this free holiday event, and complete New York subway and bus options.

Friday, December 21, 2007 -- New York City

12:30pm-1:15pm
7:00pm-8:15pm

In the House of Ethel: Solstice, The Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. The exciting string quartet ETHEL defies categorization, incorporating rock, blues, jazz, and classical music into their own works as well as reinventing classics. Writing music largely through improvisational methods, ETHEL is always evolving and exploring new ground. This prolific group has toured worldwide, performed on late night talk shows, and done concerts with a range of musicians from Sheryl Crow to Roger Daltrey to Yo-Yo Ma. Enjoy the premiere of four new works by ETHEL at this holiday concert in the beautiful Winter Garden. Admission is free.

The World Financial Center is located in Lower Manhattan, in the heart of Battery Park City. Get comprehensive directions and New York subway routes at the World Financial Center website.

Find out more about this free holiday event at the ETHEL website.

Friday, December 21, 2007 -- New York City

4:00pm

Holiday Celebrations in Union Square Park at 15th Street and Union Square West. Join the casts of your favorite off-Broadway shows for holiday carols and showtunes. You can also enjoy the Union Square Holiday market, which is open until 8pm. If it gets too cold, there are a host of neighborhood shops, restaurants, and theaters to duck into! Admission is free.

Union Square Park is very accessible. The Union Square/14th Street subway station is the third largest transportation hub in New York City, and there are plenty of parking garages throughout the area. Check out Union Square's webpage for info on this free holiday event, and all the New York subway, bus, and parking information.

Sundays, December 2-23, 2007 -- New York City

5:00pm

The Bach Vespers Service, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Experience the 40th anniversary of glorious Bach music, presented by a talented instrumental ensemble, the Bach choir, and featured soloists. These services use J.S. Bach's original compositions, many on the same Sunday of the liturgical year he wrote them for back in eighteenth century Germany.

The Christmas Advent services begin on the 2nd and conclude with the beloved annual holiday celebration, Lessons and Carols, on the 23rd. All are welcome to attend, regardless of religious affiliation or belief. Admission is free, but voluntary offerings are received during Bach Vespers services. Doors open half an hour before each event.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is located at the corner of 65th Street and Central Park West, in Manhattan.

New York Subway: 1 to Lincoln Center Stop, or A,B,C,D to Columbus Circle. Find out more about this free Christmas event at the Bach Vespers website.

Monday December 24, 2007, Christmas Eve -- New York City

7:30pm

Seasonal Prelude of Organ Music. Grace Church.

8:00pm

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Grace Church. Celebrate Christmas in the splendor of this gothic revival, national historical landmark. Enjoy the beauty and awe of the vaulted ceilings, intricate scrollwork and breathtaking stained glass windows while the room fills with the sound of The Choir of Men and Boys and The Girls' Choir. These collected voices will perform holiday works by Ord, Mathias, Rutter, Willcocks and others. All ages welcome. Free event.

Grace Church is located at 802 Broadway at 10th Street. Bus: Take the M1 to 11th street which drops in front of the Church, or the M7 to 13th Street/Broadway. Walk south on Broadway; Grace Church is on the left between 10th and 11th streets. New York Subway: Take the 4,5,6, N, R, or L train to Union Square. Walk south on Broadway; Grace Church is on the left between 10th and 11th streets.

Find more information on this free Christmas event at the Grace Church website.

Have a safe and happy Christmas holiday season, and enjoy all the wonderful free events that New York has to offer!