Guide to Celebrating the Holidays in New York City

The holiday season in New York City starts on Thanksgiving day and keeps on going until New Years. The first free activity of the Holiday Season is one of the most famous in the world, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and this year is extra special It is the Eightieth Anniversary of the first parade. There will be one special new, New York tradition starting this year. It will be the first appearance ever of the Macy's Great American Marching band. This Band is made up of 200 high school musicians from all fifty states and the District of Columbia. And there is something special the night before also. If you can get to Central Park West, you can catch another free activity and watch the huge balloons being inflated It will be near the American Museum of Natural History at 77th Street and Central Park West.

The next big free activity of the holiday season in New York City is the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on Tuesday November 28 2006 at about 8:50P.. If you don't mind crowds and a lot of noise, then you might consider going. The Plaza is not very big, so space is very limited, but if you get there early enough to get a good spot, it is a once in a lifetime experience. And by early I mean around 3PM The tree does not actually get lit until about 9PM so that is a lot of waiting. If you do not make it to the actual lighting, the tree will be lit form 7AM to midnight until Jan 5th, so be sure to stop one day. It is a spectacular site, one that you cannot get the right perspective on from TV.

One of the greatest free activities in New York is taking a walking tour of the decorated shop windows. And I do mean decorated. There is a lot of competition each year to come up with the best, most animated window displays. They can range from the traditional to ultra modern. Children love it, but be prepared to do a lot of walking and standing The crowds can be 4 or 5 thick at some times. But it is worth it. Here are the participating stores . They are all near each other, so it is not that you have to walk miles, but it does take a lot of time to get to all of them simply because of the crowds Saks Fifth Avenue 49th and Fifth, Trump Tower 56th & Fifth , Tiffany & Co. 57th & Fifth, FAO Schwartz 58th & Fifth, Bergdorf Goodman 58th and Fifth,
Bloomingdale's 59th and Lexington and, Barney's 61st and Madison and then there is Macy's 34th Street at Herald Square. Macy's is not near the other stores, but a trip to New York at Christmas is not complete with stopping in. The decorations are absolutely breathtaking.

Come to the South Street Seaport Schermerhorn Row (12 Fulton Street between South & Front Streets New York Friday, December 15, 2006, 5-9pm. The South Street Seapoft is a recreated 18th Century whaling village and is a great palce to come any time of the year. The third Friday of every month is Free Friday. And this Friday they have a free holiday activity, "Tis the Season". You can visit the galleries and then go outside and enjoy carols performed near the South Street Seaport Singing Christmas Tree. The Sea Port and the ships will be decorated for the holiday, and the view of all the colored lights reflecting off the water is a one of a kind experience. Be sure to bring a camera.

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