The ultimate 2024 guide to ringing in the holidays with your family in Brooklyn is here! Here are some of the best family events for Brooklyn families coming up in December:
1. Holiday photo opps and other indoor fun
- Santaland at Atlantic Terminal Mall
Saturday, November 30–Tuesday, December 24 | $5 holding fee for reservation, $20+ photo packages | Downtown Brooklyn
Need pics with Santa? Santa Land has been a holiday family tradition with a for over 15 years! And swing by their annual Parade at 12pm on Saturday, December 7th. Check out their full schedule of special events. - Photos with Santa at The Old Stone House
Saturday, December 7 | 10am-12pm | $33/family | Park Slope
Enjoy a photo session with Santa, in partnership with Park Slope Parents and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID! Photographer Marc Goldberg will make his professional photos available on his website for purchase. You’re welcome to snap your own photo as well. - Town Square presents Cookies with Santa
Saturday, December 7 | 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm | $20 online/$30 at door for kids, $10 to admit 2 parents | Williamsburg
Santa's coming to Greenpoint/Wiliamsburg for a fun time at FourFiveSix! So ready your list with all your wishes, to whisper to Santa with all your kisses! Delicious hot chocolate, homemade cookies to decorate, holiday music on their beautiful patio, and, of-course, precious moments and photos with Santa! - Santa Studio at CityPoint
Saturdays & Sundays December 7-15 | 11am-3pm | FREE | Downtown Brooklyn | For ages 1-10
Capture the joy of the season with a free portrait at the Santa Studio, featuring the jolly man himself in a red suit and a holiday-inspired backdrop. - Holiday Character Meet & Greet at Time Out Market
Saturdays December 7, 14, 21 | 2-5pm | FREE | DUMBO
Whether you're a fan of Frosty the Snowman and the Gingerbread Man (12/7 + 12/14), or Santa Claus, the Grinch, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (12/21), they'll all be there spreading holiday cheer. This in-person event is perfect for families looking to make unforgettable memories this holiday season.
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2. Outdoor holiday celebrations
- Bed-Stuy Gateway BID's Winter Wonderland
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sundays November 30-December 22 | 12-6pm | FREE | Marcy Plaza/Bed-Stuy
Join them for a month long family-friendly holiday tradition that includes live entertainment, fashion showcases and live music from local DJs. - 4th Annual Children’s Party with Santa on Atlantic Avenue
Saturday, December 7 | 12-3pm | FREE | Hoyt St Garden/Boerum Hill
Bring the kids for arts, crafts and meet Santa! Decorate and color ornaments shaped like snowmen and holiday trees or BYO ornaments to be displayed on the fences of the vibrant Brooklyn garden. Santa and Olaf will be there for photo opps and local musicians will provide joyous tunes.
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Sundays, December 1-29 | 10am-5pm | Cost of one subway ride | Manhattan
This holiday season, the Transit Museum continues the annual tradition of Holiday Nostalgia Rides on the New York Transit Museum’s 1930s R1/9 train cars! Operating between 2nd Avenue – Houston Street on the uptown F line and 96th Street – 2nd Avenue on the Q line, the Holiday Nostalgia Train will transport straphangers back in time every Sunday in December.
4. Holiday tree lighting celebrations:
- Bay Ridge Cares Christmas Tree Lighting at Owls Head Park
Wednesday, December 4 | 6pm | FREE | Bay Ridge
Join Bay Ridge Cares for a Christmas Tree Lighting at Owls Head Park! Santa himself is flying in (with gifts for the kids—he’s got the inside scoop on who's been nice! The event will also feature live performances, tasty snacks, and DJ Mr. Kid spinning tunes for kids and kids at heart - DUMBO Holiday Lighting
Thursday, December 5 | 4-7pm | FREE | DUMBO Archway
Join DUMBO BID to ignite some holiday cheer with loads of festive activities: tree lighting, menorah lighting, Santa photobooth, holiday concert, PS307 & Dock St Middle School performances, free hot cocoa and sweet treats, holiday projections, toy drive for the 84th Precinct's Operation Sleigh Ride, New York Cares Coat Drive, and food drive for Vinegar Hill Pantry. - Carroll Park Holiday Tree Lighting
Friday, December 6 | 5-7pm | FREE | Carroll Park
Join Friends of Carroll Park and the Court Street Merchants for music and refreshments at 5pm. Tree lighting and Santa visit at 6pm! They'll also be collecting goods for their City Harvest holiday food drive, so please grab a can or box (no glass!) of non-perishable food en route. - Sunset Park Tree Lighting
Friday, December 6 | 3-6pm | FREE | Sunset Park
Santa will be there. Come take pictures with Santa. The first 200 children get a goodie bag. - Sinterklaas Day at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
Saturday, December 7 | 2-4pm | FREE | East Flatbush
Come out for a fun-filled day of craft activities, tree lighting, and a special visit from St. Nick. Kids will enjoy a visit from St. Nicholas as he arrives on horseback around 2:30pm. Sip hot cider, try your hand at colonial games, create a holiday pomander, decorate a Dutch clog for Sinterklaas, and dress the tree for the tree lighting that will close the day as the sun goes down. - Fort Greene Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 7 | 4-5pm | FREE | Fort Greene Park (Myrtle Ave & St Edwards St entrance)
Fort Greene Park and Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership present a magical evening as they illuminate the park. - Diocese of Brooklyn’s Christmas Tree Lighting
Friday, December 13 | 5-7pm | FREE | Grand Army Plaza
The public is invited to join Diocesan officials and parishioners from all over Brooklyn and Queens for this special occasion to light a Christmas Tree at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch. The tree will remain lit 24/7 in red lights—the only such tree in NYC—until January. - Brooklyn Heights Promenade Tree Lighting
Wednesday, December 18 | 5:30pm | Brooklyn Heights
Join The Brooklyn Heights Garden Club on the Promenade at Montague Street for a tree lighting ceremony including a visit from Santa and singing from the always wonderful Grace Chorale.
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5. Join the community for holiday caroling
- Caroling in the Plaza at Bed-Stuy Gateway BID's Winter Wonderland
Fridays December 6 and 13 | 12-6pm | FREE | Marcy Plaza/Bed-Stuy
Join the Bed-Stuy BID for a holiday celebration on their Trolley along Fulton St. with local houses of worship. - Caroling at Time Out Market New York
Sundays December 8, 15, 22 | 2-5pm | FREE | DUMBO
Sing along with live performances by "The Other Reindeer" Christmas carolers, there's something for everyone to enjoy. - Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Holiday Extravaganza
Sunday, December 15 | 3-5pm | $20 per person suggested
BKCM’s brownstone will transform to celebrate the holiday season with their first multicultural Holiday Extravaganza! In addition to caroling on the stoop, programming includes BKCM’s Klezmer Hanukkah Ensemble, David Bertrand’s Calypso holiday band, an all-levels-welcome sing-along of Handel’s Messiah, instrument exploration, holiday crafts from around the world, and more!
6. Shop local at Brooklyn Holiday Markets
- Red Hook Holiday Market
Saturdays & Sundays December 2-22 | 1-6pm | Red Hook
The Red Hook Business Alliance (RHBA) and BWAC present dozens of local artisans and businesses offering unique, locally-based items for even the most discerning people on your list. You'll find everything from jewelry and fashion to delectable foodstuffs, art cards and affordable art prints, and more. - UniFair Holiday Market at First Unitarian Church
Saturday, December 7 | 10am-3pm | Brooklyn Heights
UniFair sells beautifully decorated wreaths, jewelry, and baked goods. They will have their famous fruit cakes using Connie Newsom's delicious recipe (thanks to Vonda Brunsting and her team of bakers for keeping that tradition going!) and plenty of delicious holiday treats baked by us for us. - Brooklyn Navy Yard's 7th Annual Wallabout Wonderland Holiday Market
Saturday, December 7-Sunday, December 8 | 12-5pm | FREE entry | Brooklyn Navy Yard
Shop the annual Market's 200+ vendors and stop by the Brooklyn Bridge Parents Family Corner for free activities including cookie decorating, holiday card making, lego adventures, and Free Book Giveaways while supplies last. - FAD Market Pop-Up in at the Invisible Dog Art Center
Saturdays & Sundays December 7-22 | 11am-6pm | Boerum Hill
Join FAD Market for three festive weekends in December, where you'll discover a rotating selection of over 50 of the region’s most talented makers, designers, and artisanal food brands. Our curated market offers a diverse range of impeccably crafted jewelry, apparel, bath and body care, home décor, handmade food items, and more—perfect for checking off everyone on your holiday list. - Old Stone House Holiday Bazaar
Saturday, December 7 (rain date 12/8) | 10am – 4pm | Park Slope
50+ local artisans, makers, and small businesses will be located in the 4th Street cul de sac off of 5th Avenue in Park Slope next to Old Stone House in Washington Park. There will be free family activities courtesy of the Textile Arts Center and Private Picasso, as well as mulled wine for purchase, and visits from Santa Clause! - The Holiday Market at Brooklyn Museum
Sunday, December 8, Saturday, December 21, Sunday, December 22 | 11am-5pm | Prospect Heights
This indoor holiday market is a well loved, seasonal event with 60+ vendors. Come shop the best of Brooklyn with a revolving roster of artisans, designers, and makers selling contemporary fashion, accessories, home goods, food, beauty, jewelry and more! - Powerhouse Arts x Brooklyn Pop-Up Holiday Market
Saturday, December 14 | 11am-6pm | Gowanus
Powerhouse Arts is a factory for art & ideas, housed in a purpose-built facility in Gowanus. The Grand Hall whose walls are covered in preserved graffiti art is 22,517 open square feet with huge windows. The market will feature 100 vendors, craft-making, gift wrapping, DJs, raffles, and more! - More ongoing holiday markets: The Makers Show at CityPoint, Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market, DUMBO Loft Holiday Market, The Artisans Bazaar at Fort Greene Park
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7. Celebrate Hanukkah:
- Ceramic Menorah Workshop (w/ Kosher Pizza) at The Craft Studio Brooklyn
Wednesday, December 11 | 5-6pm | $75 (for 1-2 kids) | Boerum Hill | Ages 2-18+
Design, paint, and brush on a glaze on a beautiful full-size ceramic menorah. Your family will cherish it for Hanukkahs to come. - Hanukkah Celebration at JCC Brooklyn Windsor Terrace
Sunday, December 15 | 10am-12pm | FREE | Windsor Terrace | For ages 0-5
Celebrate Hanukkah at JCC Brooklyn! Join us for a free, family-friendly event on December 15, 10 am to 12 pm, with music, activities, and holiday treats. - Chanukah Jam with Tkiya at Brooklyn Brewery
Sunday, December 15 | 10am-12pm | FREE | Williamsburg | For ages 0-7
There will be latkes, crafts, singing, movement, stories, a puppet show, bubbles, and more. - Hanukkah Celebration at JCC Brooklyn Clinton Hill
Sunday, December 15 | 10am-2pm | FREE | Clinton Hill | For ages 0-5
Celebrate Hanukkah at JCC Brooklyn! Join us for a free, family-friendly event with music, activities, and holiday treats. - Light it Up! Brooklyn Family Hanukkah Arts Festival & Shuk at The Senesh School
Sunday, December 15 | 1-3pm | $10-$25 | Carroll Gardens| For ages 0-10
Kick off your Hanukkah celebrations at our annual Brooklyn Family Hanukkah Arts Festival with lots of kids' arts and craft activities, music, dance and more! - FamilyLab: Love and Latkes
Sunday, December 15 | 1-7pm | $50 | Boerum Hill | For ages 2-7
Jump into the kitchen this Hanukkah to get messy and have fun. If it’ll be your first time frying or if you’re bringing your family recipes, everyone's invited! - JCC Brooklyn Hanukkah Community Event at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Sunday, December 15 | 11am-1pm | FREE | Willliamsburg | For ages 0-5
Join for a Hanukkah event with music, crafts, face painting, and treats for all ages! - Kids Chanukah Party at Ferox
Wednesday, December 25 | $25/child | Greenpoint | For ages 5-10
Join Chabad of North Brooklyn at Ferox for a Grand Menorah Lighting, Pizza, Latkes, Donuts, Chanukah Crafts, and More! Each ticket includes food, crafts, and a Ferox ticket. - Chanukah Donut Decorating at Jewish Children's Museum
Wednesday, December 25-Thursday, January 2 | 12:30-4:30pm | $14-17, free for under 2 | Crown Heights
Get into the Chanukah spirit and decorate your own one-of-a-kind Chanukah treat at their make your own donut bar! - Stay tuned – More to be listed in our 2024 Hanukkah Guide soon!
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8. Catch a kid-friendly holiday performance
- Free Holiday Kids Concert at Time Out Market New York
Friday, December 13 | 10-11am | FREE | For ages 0-5 | DUMBO
Calling all of our smallest Brooklyn friends! Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW teams up with Time Out Market New York to present free concerts for toddlers and babies featuring the one and only Suzi Shelton! - Nutcracker Tap Dance Special
Saturday, December 14 | 11am + 1pm | Adults $40, free for 12 and under | Brooklyn Heights
The Nutcracker as you’ve never heard it before, featuring tap dance virtuoso Demi Remick, the sweet tones of Steve Whipple on the upright bass & Blanca González and Jesse Elder of Musiquita on violin and piano. The ensemble will also perform some holiday favorites, some Latin folk music & and a handful of children’s classics. This special performance is guaranteed to entertain and delight the young and young at heart alike! - Grand Kyiv Presents: The Nutcracker at Kings Theatre
Saturday, December 14 | 7pm (6pm doors) | $39+ | Flatbush
A re-imagined holiday classic, The Brooklyn Nutcracker fuses ballet, hip-hop and a rich tapestry of global dance genres to create a new family tradition for the modern era. Culturally immersive, The Brooklyn Nutcracker transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the heart of Brooklyn's cultural mosaic. - Brooklyn Brandenburgers Family concert at Old Stone House
Sunday, December 15 | 3pm & 7pm | $25, free for under 16 | Park Slope
Join the Brooklyn Brandenburgers for their annual Family Holiday Concert featuring music by musicians including Schubert, J.S. Bach, and Mozart. - Suzi Shelton's Holiday Show at Jalopy Theatre
Saturday, December 21 | 11am-12pm | $10 Adults/$5 Kids | Red Hook | For ages 0-8
Suzi will be celebrating the holiday season with joyful songs along with musicians Jeff Litman and Andi Rae Healy as well as a host of special guests. Get ready to shake some jingle bells and sing along! Refreshments will be available for sale and there might even be a visit from a special jolly fellow in a red suit! - Jingle Bell Swing at Old Stone House
Sunday, December 22 | 10:30-11:15am | Adults $40, free for 12 and under | Park Slope
Join us for a toe-tapping, holiday-themed concert where you and your little ones can sing, dance, and play along to festive favorites. From timeless classics like Winter Wonderland and Let it Snow to jazzy holiday tunes that will get everyone moving, this interactive concert is a joyful way to kick off the holidays. - Hip Hop Nutcracker at Kings Theatre
Monday, December 23 | 7pm (6pm doors) | $40+ | Flatbush – Enter our giveaway contest
This contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip-hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. - Rock & Roll Playhouse Noon Years Eve Party Celebration at Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, December 29 | 12pm (11am doors) | $23 tickets | Williamsburg | For ages 0-10
The Rock and Roll Playhouse celebrates the holidays with a concert featuring the music of the Grateful Dead and a Noon Years Eve Party celebrating 10 Years of The Rock and Roll Playhouse!
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Tuesday, December 26 – Saturday, December 30 | 10am-5pm | $15 admission | Crown Heights
Celebrate the traditions of Kwanzaa at New York City’s largest family Kwanzaa event, presented in partnership with Brooklyn-based Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation. Now in its 17th year, Celebrate Kwanzaa takes place over 5 days. Each day features a mix of repeating and unique programs designed for all ages. Save the dates and join us at this spirited cultural celebration!
10. Ring in the New Year with a new Drones Light Show in Prospect Park
Tuesday, December 31 | 10pm | FREE | Grand Army Plaza
Per New York Times, the Prospect Park Alliance is planning to host "a light show with illuminated drones programmed to turn the night sky into a canvas for sparkly representations of landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. The newfangled show will come after a celebration in Grand Army Plaza beginning at 10 p.m. on Dec. 31."
There's more in the calendar – check it out, and happy December!!
