Things to do in NYC in December 2021 depend on the progress of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We won’t know the situation on the ground until November.
The Month of December
December is holiday season. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is important because she is the icon of Mexican identity. Then we enjoy the Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas and Kwanzaa celebrations, and count down to New Year’s.
December is late fall weather in New York City. Average temperatures range from 42° to 54°F, so it is cool to cold. It’s the November-February dry season. The first snow usually comes around the first week of December.
These events run all December:
- The NY City Ballet’s Nutcracker 🎄🩰 is at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center through January 2, 2022.
- The Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular 🎄👯♀️👯♀️👯♀️ is at Radio City Music Hall through January 2, 2022.
Things to do in NYC in December 2021 Week 48
November 29 – December 5, 2021
Wednesday, December 1
In 1955, when a White bus driver asked Rosa Parks to move to the back of the bus so White passengers could take her seat, Parks kept her cool and became the “Mother of the Freedom Movement” with these polite words, “I don’t think I should have to stand up.”
Thursday, December 2
Dance Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional at La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan. Intermediate class at 7pm. Gets busy around 9pm. Performances at 11pm. Dancing until around 2am. 🇦🇷
Friday, December 3
The Metropolitan Opera performs Puccini’s “La Bohème” at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center at 7pm. From $30 🇮🇹🇫🇷
Things to do in NYC in December 2021 Week 49
December 6-12, 2021
Monday, December 6
Dance salsa at Latin Mondays at Taj with Talia Castro-Pozo from 7pm to 1am (5pm doors). From $10
Thursday, December 9
Dance Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional at La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan. Intermediate class at 7pm. Gets busy around 9pm. Performances at 11pm. Dancing until around 2am. 🇦🇷
Friday, December 10
Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” opens in theaters.
Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts is at The Met Fifth Avenue through March 6, 2022. 🇫🇷
Saturday, December 11
Watch the MLS Cup ⚽️ Major League Soccer championship.
Things to do in NYC in December 2021 Week 50
December 13-19, 2021
Monday, December 13
Dance salsa at Latin Mondays at Taj with Talia Castro-Pozo from 7pm to 1am (5pm doors). From $10
Wednesday, December 15
Andrea Bocelli brings his Believe World Tour to Madison Square Garden at 7:30pm. From $86 🇮🇹
Thursday, December 16
Dance Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional at La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan. Intermediate class at 7pm. Gets busy around 9pm. Performances at 11pm. Dancing until around 2am. 🇦🇷
Andrea Bocelli brings his Believe World Tour to Madison Square Garden at 7:30pm. From $86 🇮🇹
Things to Do in NYC in December 2021 Week 51
December 20-26, 2021
Monday, December 20
Dance salsa at Latin Mondays at Taj with Talia Castro-Pozo from 7pm to 1am (5pm doors). From $10
Thursday, December 23
Dance Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional at La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan. Intermediate class at 7pm. Gets busy around 9pm. Performances at 11pm. Dancing until around 2am. 🇦🇷
Things to Do in NYC in December 2021 Week 52
December 27, 2021 – January 2, 2022
Monday, December 27
Dance salsa at Latin Mondays at Taj with Talia Castro-Pozo from 7pm to 1am (5pm doors). From $10
Wednesday, December 29
Italian comic Sebastian Maniscalco brings his “Nobody Does This Tour” to Barclays Center in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn on Wed, Dec 29 at 7pm. From $65. 🇮🇹
Thursday, December 30
Dance Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional at La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan. Intermediate class at 7pm. Gets busy around 9pm. Performances at 11pm. Dancing until around 2am. 🇦🇷
New York City is in full holidays mode.
DECEMBER HOLIDAYS
- Christmas Day December 25 (Christmas Day is Saturday, so Christmas Eve is the day off) 🇮🇹
- New Year’s Eve December 31 (New Year’s Day is Saturday so New Year’s Eve is the day off)
DECEMBER FESTIVALS
- Hanukkah is November 28 – December 6, 2021 ✡️
- International Tango Day is December 11 🇫🇷🇦🇷🇺🇾
- Las Mañanitas de Guadalupe is December 11 🇲🇽
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is December 12 🇲🇽
- La Parranda Puertorriqueña is December 16-24 🇵🇷
- La Posada Mexicana December 16-24 🇲🇽
- La Novena December 16-24 🇨🇴🇪🇨🇻🇪
- Winter Solstice is December 21, 2021
- Christmas Eve is December 24 🇮🇹
- Christmas Day is December 25 🇮🇹
- Kwanzaa is December 26 – January 1 🇺🇸
- New Year’s Eve is December 31 🇺🇸
INDEPENDENCE DAYS & NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS
- Central African Republic Independence Day is December 1, 1958 🇨🇫
- Portugal Restoration of Independence Day is December 1, 1640 🇵🇹
- Tanzania Independence Day is December 9, 1961 🇹🇿
- Burkina Faso Independence Day is December 11, 1958 🇧🇫
- South Africa Independence Day is December 11, 1931 🇿🇦
- Kenya Jamhuri Day is December 12, 1963 🇰🇪
- Libya Independence Day is December 24, 1951 🇱🇾
- India Republic Day is January 26, 1950 🇮🇳
NATIONAL DAYS
- National Champagne Day is (December 31)
CHRISTMAS WINDOWS
- Bergdorf Goodman
- Bloomingdales (Monday, November 23, 2020)
- Macy’s (Thursday, November 19, 2020)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Monday, November 23, 2020)
DECEMBER FESTIVALS
- Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree (December 2, 2020) TBD
- Holiday Train Show TBD
- Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square TBD
- Dyker Heights Christmas Lights TBD
- LuminoCity Festival on Randall’s Island TBD
- Hello Panda lantern festival TBD
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
- Bryant Park Winter Village (2020: October 31 – January 3) TBC
- Columbus Circle Holiday Market TBD
- Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair TBD
- Union Square Holiday Market TBD
SKATING RINKS
- Central Park’s Wollman Rink (late October to early April)
- Rockefeller Center (November 21, 2020 through January 17, 2021)
DECEMBER INDEPENDENCE DAYS
- Portugal Restoration Day, (from Spain) December 1, 1640 🇵🇹
- Tanzanian Independence Day, (from UK) December 9, 1961 🇹🇿
- Burkinabé Independence Day, (from France) December 11, 1958 🇧🇫
- South African Independence Day (from UK) December 11, 1931 🇿🇦
- Kenyan Jamhuri Day (from UK) December 12, 1963 🇰🇪
- Libyan Independence Day (from Italy) December 24, 1951 🇱🇾
DECEMBER ART
- Art Basel Miami is December 2-4, 2021
DECEMBER DANCE
- New York City Ballet George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
- Radio City Christmas Spectacular November 5, 2021 – January 2, 2022
DECEMBER FILM
Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” opens in theaters on December 10, 2021.
DECEMBER MUSIC
- Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice Celebration Saturday, December 20, 2021 TBC
- Chris Botti Blue Note Holiday Residency TBD 🇮🇹
- Handel’s “Messiah” NY Philharmonic TBD
- Handel’s “Messiah” Trinity Church TBD
- “Magic Flute” Metropolitan Opera TBD
DECEMBER SPORTS
- The MLS Cup Major League Soccer championship, Saturday, December 11, 2021
DECEMBER THEATER
Broadway TBD
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
- Machito, Latin jazz legend, December 3, 1909 🇨🇺
- Carlos Gardel iconic tango singer, December 11, 1890 🇫🇷🇦🇷
- Damaso Perez Prado, Latin jazz legend, December 11, 1916 🇨🇺
- Eddie Palmieri, Latin jazz legend, December 15, 1936 🇵🇷
- Alejandro Sanz, flamenco pop star, December 18, 1968 🇲🇽
- Wisin, reggaeton star, December 19, 1978 🇵🇷
- Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1980s art star, December 22, 1960 🇭🇹🇵🇷
- Ricky Martin, pop star, December 24, 1971 🇵🇷
- Marco Antonio Solis, regional Mexican star, December 29, 1959 🇲🇽
- Miguel Zenon, jazz saxophonist, December 30, 1976 🇵🇷
- Junot Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, December 31, 1968 🇩🇴
DECEMBER FORCES OF NATURE
- New Moon is December 4, 2021 at 12:44am
- Cold Moon full moon is December 18, 2021 at 11:36pm
- Winter Solstice is December 21, 2021 at 11:58am