Things to do in NYC in December

Things to do in NYC in December include shopping, city lights, and lots of holidays: Changó / Santa Barbara, Día de las velitas / Immaculate Conception, Las Mañanitas / Guadalupe, Babalú-Ayé, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve / Watch Night. Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, is the root of many of these traditions. Regardless of your heritage, every tradition has something to offer every person.

DECEMBER 1-7 | 8-14 | 15-21 | 22-28 | 29-31 2025

December is holiday season. The U.S. national holiday is Christmas Day, although many people also take off Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. New York City slows down in the last two weeks of the year with many New Yorkers out on vacation. The end of Christmas Season, Three Kings Day in January, is the traditional gift-giving day and many family holiday for many Latins.

December weather is early winter. Temperatures average 33° – 44°F, so it is cool. New York City’s first snow used to fall in the first week of December. It’s uncertain now.

Things to do in NYC in December

DANCE

New York City Ballet “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Center through Jan 3, 2026 🇺🇸
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre at New York City Center, Dec 3, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 🇺🇸
Ephrat Asherie Dance with Arturo O’Farrill at The Joyce Theater, Wed-Sun, Dec 3-7, 2025 🇺🇸
Arts in Blue, Kwanzaa celebration, at Hostos Center, Tue, Dec 9, 2025. Free with RSVP. 🇺🇸
“Navidad” by Calpulli Mexican Dance Company at Flushing Town Hall ~ Sat, Dec 13, 2025 🇲🇽
Forces of Nature Dance Theater Kwanzaa celebration at Hostos Center, Sun, Dec 28, 2025. 🇺🇸

Latin Dance

Latin Mondays NYC salsa ~ Mondays 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇦 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇻🇪
Tango La Nacional ~ Thursdays 🇦🇷
El Destino tango ~ Sundays 🇦🇷 🇺🇾

FESTIVALS

Cyber Monday shopping, Dec 1, 2025 🎄
Portugal Restoration Day, Dec 1, 1640 🇵🇹
Giving Tuesday philanthropy, Dec 2, 2025 🇺🇸
Candombe Day, Dec 3 🇺🇾
Machito birthday, Dec 3, 1909 🇨🇺
Cold Moon full moon ~ Dec 4, 2025 🌝
Changó, Dec 4 🇨🇺 🇵🇷
Santa Barbara, Dec 4 🇨🇺 🇵🇷
Sunday Salon holiday market & deaf arts showcase at Bronx Music Hall ~ Sun, Dec 7, 2025 🇧🇩 🇵🇷
Día de las Velitas, Dec 7 🇨🇴
Ayida-Weddo ~ Dec 8 🇭🇹
Immaculate Conception ~ Dec 8 🇮🇹
International Tango Day ~ Dec 11 🇦🇷 🇺🇾 🇫🇷
Carlos Gardel tango singer birthday ~ Dec 11, 1890 🇫🇷 🇦🇷
Julio de Caro, early tango composer birthday ~ Dec 11, 1899. 🇦🇷
Las Mañanitas de Guadalupe, Dec 11 🇲🇽
Guadalupe, Dec 12 🇲🇽
Jamhuri Day, Kenya Independence Day ~ Dec 12, 1964 🇰🇪
Hanukkah, Dec 14-22, 2025 ✡️
Babalú-Ayé, Dec 17 🇨🇺 🇵🇷
Winter Solstice, Dec 21, 2025 🌞
Christmas Eve, Dec 24
Christmas, Dec 25 🇮🇹
Kwanzaa, Dec 26 – Jan 1 🇺🇸
Watch Night, Dec 31 🇺🇸
New Year’s Eve, Dec 31 🇮🇹

FILM

¡Azúcar! Cuban Music on Film at Bronx Music Hall ~ Fri, Dec 5, 2025 🇨🇺

MUSIC

Spanish Harlem Orchestra at Hostos Center ~ Sat, Dec 6, 2025 🇵🇷
Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours at Hostos Center, Sun, Dec 21, 2025. 🇵🇷

SPORTS

Peak surfing season begins out in Rockaway, Queens and Montauk, Long Island.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw ~ Fri, Dec 5, 2025

THEATRE

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Things To Do in NYC This Week: December 1-7, 2025

Monday, December 1, 2025

Portuguese History

Portugal Restoration of Independence Day celebrates a people’s coup against Spanish rule that launched the Portuguese Restoration War, on December 1, 1640. This eventually led to Portuguese independence in 1668. 🇵🇹

Big Band Hot Jazz

Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band hot jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen; on Mondays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $25. 🇮🇹

Salsa Dance Party

Latin Mondays NYC by Talia Castro-Pozo, one of NYC’s most popular salsa dance parties, is at 5th&Mad in Murray Hill, Manhattan; on Mondays. Doors open with DJs at 5pm. Salsa lesson at 7pm. Live music for dancing at 9pm and 11pm with DJs and dance shows until late. From $13. 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇦 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇻🇪

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

American Holidays Festival

Giving Tuesday is a 21st century tradition of charity on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Giving is the natural currency of the universe. Basically, you get what you give. #GivingTuesday

Vintage Hot Jazz

Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play vintage hot jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen; on Tuesdays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm door). From $25. 🇮🇹

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Uruguayan Festival

Uruguay’s National Candombe Day celebrates the Afro-Uruguayan drum, song, and dance tradition that is also the rhythm of Uruguayan Carnival. Dances of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé, became candombe in Uruguay (like a Cuban comparsa or carnival march), which became milonga in Argentina, and then tango with European influences. Never thought of this before, but tango is a walking dance. This walking element probably derives from candombe’s roots in community marches. 🇺🇾

Famous Cuban Birthday

Latin jazz legend Machito was born in Havana, Cuba on December 3, 1909. Machito and His Afro-Cubans were the first musicians in the USA to promote the fact that they were Black. At the same time that Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and others were creating bebop modern jazz in 1940s New York City, Machito and his music director Mario Bauzá were creating cubop (Cuban bop). Today we know cubop as Latin jazz. Jazz and Latin jazz are the Caribbean hero twins separated at birth and reunited by Dizzy Gillespie and Mario Bauzá. 🇨🇺

African American Modern Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the African American dance company that popularized modern dance around the world, starts a new era with new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack. Her inaugural season features world premieres by Fredrick Earl Mosley, Maija García, Matthew Neenan, Jamar Roberts, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar in collaboration with Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro; plus a company premiere of Medhi Walerski’s “Blink of an Eye” and Ailey company classics. The Season opens with a Gala Performance at New York City Center in Midtown, Manhattan; on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 7pm, and runs for five weeks through January 4, 2026. From $45. 🇺🇸

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Cuban Yoruba Orisha

Changó, the Yoruba Orisha of drumming, singing, and dancing (also thunder, lightning, and war) is celebrated in Cuba and Puerto Rico on December 4. Many languages have the same words with different accents. We suspect that the word “tango” is derived from “Changó” because Argentine tango has African roots. In Angola and the Congos, “tango” is the sacred dance circle where people gather to drum, sing, and dance. Maferefún Changó. 🇨🇺 🇵🇷

Cuban Catholic Saint

Santa Barbara, a mythical Christian martyr who was nearly unkillable, is the female manifestation of Changó. She is celebrated in Cuba and Puerto Rico on December 4. 🇨🇺 🇵🇷

Argentine Tango Dance Party

Tango La Nacional, New York City’s most traditional and longest-running milonga (tango dance party), is at La Nacional, the old Spanish social club in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Thursdays, with an intermediate lesson at 7pm, dancing at 8pm, gets busy at 9pm, performances around 11pm, and “El Choclo” (last dance) around 2am. $25. 🇦🇷

Friday, December 5, 2025

World Soccer

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw that determines which teams will play each other in the opening Group Stage, is at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Friday, December 5, 2025. North America 🇨🇦 🇨🇼 🇭🇹 🇲🇽 🇵🇦 🇺🇸 South America 🇦🇷 🇧🇷 🇨🇴 🇪🇨 🇵🇾 🇺🇾 Africa 🇩🇿 🇨🇻 🇪🇬 🇬🇭 🇨🇮 🇲🇦 🇸🇳 🇿🇦 🇹🇳 Europe 🇫🇷 🇵🇹 🇪🇸

African American Modern Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the African American dance company that popularized modern dance around the world, starts an era under new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack at New York City Center in Midtown, Manhattan; on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30pm. From $45. 🇺🇸

Israeli Cuban Contemporary Dance

Ephrat Asherie Dance, led by the Israeli-born, New York b-girl (breaker) and Bessie Award Winner, is joined by multiple Grammy-winning Cuban American jazz pianist Arturo O’Farrill in “Shadow Cities,” a reflection on what it means to be multicultural in America today; at The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30pm. From $57. 🇮🇱 🇨🇺

Saturday, December 6, 2025

African American Modern Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the African American dance company that popularized modern dance around the world, starts an era under new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack at New York City Center in Midtown, Manhattan; on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2pm & 7:30pm. From $45. 🇺🇸

Israeli Cuban Contemporary Dance

Ephrat Asherie Dance, led by the Israeli-born, New York b-girl (breaker) and Bessie Award Winner, is joined by multiple Grammy-winning Cuban American jazz pianist Arturo O’Farrill in “Shadow Cities,” a reflection on what it means to be multicultural in America today; at The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2pm & 7:30pm. From $57. 🇮🇱 🇨🇺

Dominican Theatre

“En el tiempo de las mariposas,” is the story of the Dominican Mirabal Sisters “Las Mariposas,” who supported a rebellion until they were murdered by the dictator Trujillo. Adapted by Caridad Svich from the Julia Álvarez novel, and directed by José Zayas. In Spanish with subtitles at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 7pm. From $28. 🇩🇴

Puerto Rican Holiday Salsa

Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Oscar Hernández plays a Puerto Rican holiday salsa concert featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Hermán Olivera and Puerto Rico’s “Master of the Cuatro” Edwin Colón Zayas; in the Main Theater at Hostos Center at Hostos Community College in Mott Haven, The Bronx; on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 8pm. From $35. 🇵🇷

Oscar Hernández’ Spanish Harlem Orchestra is one of today’s leading salsa orchestras. They play 1970s style New York salsa dura, and all of their songs are danceable. Puerto Rico’s holiday music is strongly influenced by música jíbara (Puerto Rican country music), for which you need a great cuatro player like Zayas.

[Iroko “Kíko” Keith ~ I can’t get the cuatro out of my head now. Now I hear coquí. Ay, bendito, ponme el arbolito, y da’ me un coquito, vamos a gozar, WEPA!]

Dominican Dembow

Mega Bash by Alex Sensation goes Dominican as “El Teteo de Dembow” with El Alfa, Lapiz Conciente, Yalin La Mas Viral, La Insuperable, Crazy Design, Vakero, Donaty, Lomiiel, Yaisel LM and more; at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey; on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 8pm (7pm doors). From $71. 🇩🇴

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Israeli Cuban Contemporary Dance

Ephrat Asherie Dance, led by the Israeli-born, New York b-girl (breaker) and Bessie Award Winner, is joined by multiple Grammy-winning Cuban American jazz pianist Arturo O’Farrill in “Shadow Cities,” a reflection on what it means to be multicultural in America today; at The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 2pm. From $57. 🇮🇱 🇨🇺

African American Modern Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the African American dance company that popularized modern dance around the world, starts an era under new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack at New York City Center in Midtown, Manhattan; on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 2pm & 7pm. From $45. 🇺🇸

Colombian Festival

Día de las Velitas, the Colombian festival of lights, commemorates the people’s anticipation that the Church would recognize the divinity of the Virgin Mary (and thereby all women) on the eve of the acceptance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 7, 1854. Her veneration didn’t come from the Church, it came from the people. Think about it. When you are hurt, who do you turn to, the Sky Father or the Earth Mother? 🇨🇴

Spanish Theatre

“La Ternura,” Alfredo Sanzol’s reality-showish Shakespearean Spanish comedy about three women trying to avoid the domination of men on a desert island, is directed by Leyma López. It’s in Spanish with subtitles at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3pm. From $28. 🇪🇸

Argentine Tango Dance Party

El Destino milonga draws brings some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays from 6-11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾

Latin Jazz

Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺

Things To Do in NYC This Week: December 8-14, 2025

Monday, December 8, 2025

Vodou Festival

Ayida-Weddo, the Sky Mother in Haitian, Surinamese, and Beninese Vodou traditions, is celebrated on December 8, syncretized with the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception. She is the partner of Damballa, the Sky Father. They are the first creations of the one supreme God Bondye. As the Rainbow Serpent, Ayida-Weddo represents creation and balance in the cycle of life. With Damballa she uses her coils to create Mother Earth. Don’t be confused by the snake imagery. Christian traditions see snakes as bad because of the Adam and Eve story, but most traditions see them as good, like the snakes on the doctor symbol. The snake is a sign of healing because it heals itself when it sheds its skin. Ayida-Weddo’s salutation is “Ayibobo” (Hallelujah). 🇧🇯 🇭🇹 🇸🇷

Marian Festival

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception marked the Roman Catholic church’s acceptance of the divinity of women on December 8, 1854. 🇮🇹

Big Band Hot Jazz

Salsa Dance Party

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Dominican Theatre

“La breve y maravillosa vida de Oscar Wao,” is Marco Antonio Rodríquez’ adaptation of Junot Díaz’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a New Jersey Dominican teenager who dreams of becoming a writer and finding love, but fears that he suffers from the fukú curse, a legacy of the Dominican colonizers. The story touches on many very Dominican themes including, Dominican Spanglish, the way children are raised, belief in curses, working class sexuality, politics, gender relations, racism, and police violence. It’s all tied into the wonderfully strange multicultural experience of being both Dominican and American. It’s in Spanish with subtitles at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 11am. $37. 🇩🇴

African American Kwanzaa Dance Theatre

Arts in Blue, the African dance collective, celebrates Kwanzaa, the African American holiday tradition, and specifically Ujima, the Kwanzaa principle of collective work and responsibility; in the Repertory Theater at Hostos Center at Hostos Community College in Mott Haven, The Bronx; on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 4pm. FREE with rsvp. 🇺🇸

Blue is a reference to traditional West African indigo blue and the Atlantic Ocean (the Kalûnga) that carried us to the Americas. Kwanzaa philosophy has a lot to offer whether you are African descendent or not. Most Latinos and Latin culture (American culture too) have African roots anyway. The principles of Kwanzaa are very much about civic duty which is something we have lost in America. In our current moment of self-inflicted national crisis, we really need to work together and be responsible for each other. So Habari Gani (the Kwanzaa greeting is basically “what’s up” in the East African language Swahili).

Vintage Hot Jazz

African American Dance Theatre

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the African American dance company that popularized modern dance around the world, starts an era under new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack at New York City Center in Midtown, Manhattan; on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 7:30pm. From $45. 🇺🇸

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Puerto Rican Theatre

“La gringa” is a classic comedy about a New York Puerto Rican who visits the island and thinks she knows everything Puerto Rican. “Ay bendito.” Even though Boricuas travel back and forth a lot, Island Puerto Rican life is very different from New York Puerto Rican life. By Carmen Rivera. Directed by René Buch. It’s at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 11am. From $37. 🇵🇷

African American Dance Theatre

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the African American dance company that popularized modern dance around the world, starts an era under new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack at New York City Center in Midtown, Manhattan; on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 7:30pm. From $45. 🇺🇸

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Dance Festival

International Tango Day celebrates the Argentine and Uruguayan dance of love on December 11. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾 🇫🇷

Tango Legend

Carlos Gardel, the iconic tango singer and second Latin movie idol, was born in Toulouse, France, on December 11, 1890. 🇫🇷 🇦🇷

Tango Legend

Julio de Caro, the early Argentine tango composer, was born in Balvanera, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 11, 1899. 🇦🇷

Argentine Tango Dance Party

Mexican Festival

Many Mexican American families celebrate Las Mañanitas a Nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe, the Mexican birthday tradition applied to Our Lady of Guadalupe, on the eve of her appearance. 🇲🇽

Friday, December 12, 2025

Mexico’s Patron Saint

The Marian apparition known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, appeared on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City on December 12, 1531. She is the patron saint of Mexico, icon of the Mexican people, and our multiracial heritage.

[Kíko Keith ~ Had a vision of her once. She said Christmas isn’t about him, and it isn’t about me either, it’s about something much bigger, Mother Earth which belongs to everyone. The date of Christmas is related to the Winter Solstice, an earthly event which affects everyone.] 🇲🇽

Kenya Independence Day

Jamhuri Day, Kenya Independence Day, celebrates the restoration of independence on December 12, 1964. 🇰🇪

Saturday, December 13, 2025

“Navidad: A Mexican-American Christmas,” by Calpulli Mexican Dance Company is a Mexican American “Nutcracker;” at Flushing Town Hall in Flushing, Queens; on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 2-5pm. $15. 🇲🇽

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Jewish Festival

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, begins at sundown on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Hanukkah Sameach! 🕎

Argentine Tango Dance Party

El Destino milonga draws brings some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays from 6-11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾

Latin Jazz

Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺

Things To Do in NYC This Week: December 15-21, 2025

Monday, December 15, 2025

Big Band Hot Jazz

Salsa Dance Party

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Vintage Hot Jazz

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Argentine Tango Dance Party

Friday, December 19, 2025

Colombian Standup Comedy

“Más sabe el Saulo por viejo” is Colombian comic Saulo García’s latest standup comedy show. It’s directed by Juan Carlos Talero in Spanish at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Friday, December 19, 2025 at 7pm. Continues through Sunday, and Friday-Sunday, December 26-28, 2025. From $28. 🇨🇴

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Colombian Standup Comedy

“Más sabe el Saulo por viejo” is Colombian comic Saulo García’s latest standup comedy show. It’s directed by Juan Carlos Talero in Spanish at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 7pm. From $28. 🇨🇴

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Puerto Rican Holiday Jazz Parranda

Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours play a Holiday Jazz Parranda featuring Camille Thurman on sax and vocals, Joe Locke on vibes, and Alvin Medina on cuatro; in the Repertory Theater at Hostos Center at Hostos Community College in Mott Haven, The Bronx; on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 3pm. $15, Students/Children $5. 🇵🇷

The parranda is a Puerto Rican holiday tradition of making a surprise party at a neighbor’s house, then taking it to another neighbor’s house, and so on all night long. It’s a reenactment of the Biblical tradition of Joseph and Mary looking for shelter on the night before the birth of Christ. It doesn’t happen much in Puerto Rico any more, where the tradition has evolved into car caravans. We should keep our traditions alive in whatever way we can.

Colombian Standup Comedy

“Más sabe el Saulo por viejo” is Colombian comic Saulo García’s latest standup comedy show. It’s directed by Juan Carlos Talero in Spanish at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 3pm. From $28. 🇨🇴

Argentine Tango Dance Party

El Destino milonga draws brings some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays from 6-11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾

Latin Jazz

Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺

Things To Do in NYC This Week: December 22-28, 2025

Monday, December 22, 2025

Big Band Hot Jazz

Salsa Dance Party

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Vintage Hot Jazz

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Argentine Tango Dance Party

Friday, December 26, 2025

Colombian Standup Comedy

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Colombian Standup Comedy

“Más sabe el Saulo por viejo” is Colombian comic Saulo García’s latest standup comedy show. It’s directed by Juan Carlos Talero in Spanish at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 7pm. From $28. 🇨🇴

Sunday, December 28, 2025

African American Kwanzaa Dance Theatre

Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theater presents a Kwanzaa Regeneration Celebration of African and Diasporic dance featuring FIYAA (Forces Incredible Youth Arts Alliance) and choreography by Jay Ponder; in the Main Theater at Hostos Center at Hostos College in Mott Haven, The Bronx; on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 3pm. From $25. 🇺🇸

Abdel Salaam also produces DanceAfrica at BAM on Memorial Day, one of the leading African and Afro dance festivals in America. Forces of Nature is code for the Orishas (los Santos) in Yoruba and other West and Central African traditions. Mother Earth renews her annual cycle on the Winter Solstice, and her people renew themselves with holiday celebrations. When Forces of Nature performs, watch for the special moment when drummers pray before the show. It’s important that Salaam includes children in the performance in the same way that “The Nutcracker” introduces young dancers to the ballet stage. He is not just teaching dance, he is offering a world view. This is not just a show, because in many traditions dance is how we pray. ¡Aché!

Colombian Standup Comedy

“Más sabe el Saulo por viejo” is Colombian comic Saulo García’s latest standup comedy show. It’s directed by Juan Carlos Talero in Spanish at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan; on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 3pm. From $28. 🇨🇴

Argentine Tango Dance Party

El Destino milonga draws brings some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays from 6-11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾

Latin Jazz

Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺