By Catherine Kastberg

With the holiday season approaching, I wanted to shed some light on a few seasonal activities at our disposal to get us all in the holiday spirit. This is a special and unique season, the only time of the year when certain activities are held. People travel from all over the world to get a taste of the holiday season in New York City, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t take advantage of it as well.

Broadway thrives this time of year. It opens up many new shows and performances, with Christmas as the central theme. The Rockettes are a huge attraction in the holiday season. Tickets can be pricey, but they are worthwhile. “The Nutcracker” is a classic production that can do wonders to get you in the holiday spirit. It is an experience that everyone should enjoy at least once in their lives, and there is no better time than now to enjoy it. This Wednesday, Dec. 2 the tree is lit in Rockefeller Center. It is a beautiful sight to be shared with friends and family as a way to open up the holidays. Make an evening out of it. Seeing the tree can be combined with ice skating at Rockefeller Center or at Bryant Park, located just blocks from Grand Central Terminal. Ice skating is a true holiday activity, and can be very enjoyable for people that have little or even no experience on skates.

Bryant Park opens up stands surrounding the ice rink, with little shops selling all kinds of interesting items that can be perfect for family Christmas shopping. The whole atmosphere in the city in December is magical. Stores and shops put out beautiful window displays for passersby to enjoy. Macy’s is famous for this. It truly brings out the spirit of Christmas and the winter season.

Bryant Park is also a perfect place to get Secret Santa gifts. Secret Santa is a fun, light-spirited activity to enjoy with friends to celebrate your friendship during the holidays. Get a group together, set a budget and choose a friend to spoil with a thoughtful present. It can be a fun, joyous experience that will bring everyone closer and truly in the holiday spirit.