A guide to NYC holiday events: live music, theater, lights and more

The holidays have arrived in New York City, ushering in a host of performances and events, from modern retellings of “The Nutcracker” to Christmas-themed jazz shows at Lincoln Center and outdoor train exhibits at the New York Botanical Garden. Here you will find a list of shows and events you can attend.

‘The Nutcracker’

The New York City Ballet will perform at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center George Balanchine’s ‘The Nutcracker’. The show runs through December 31 and features a Christmas tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall, a continuous stream of snowflakes and a dewdrop costume decorated with 65 crystals.

Those who want a more modern take on the classic should head here Kings Theater on December 16 for ‘The Brooklyn Nutcracker’ in which the artists face off in a hip-hop battle and stops at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a Flatbush Avenue subway station. Bee the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, the Westchester Ballet Company, a youth group with dancers ages 6 to 18, performs the Nutcracker on December 16 and 17 and offers a special matinee for school groups on December 14 and 15.

Hanukkah

At Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, the lighting of the largest Menorah in Brooklyn will be accompanied by live music, hot latkes and special gifts for children each night of Hanukkah, December 7 to 14. A relatively large menorah can also be found at Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan during the festival of lights; that menorah will be lit every day of Hanukkah, with a light show taking place on the last evening.

‘The Magic Flute’

A family-friendly, English-language version of Mozart’s fairy tale ‘The Magic Flute’ returns to the Metropolitan Opera from December 8 to 30, featuring the dazzling puppets of Julie Taymor in her staging of a prince’s quest to save a princess. People who purchase tickets for the December 10 performance will receive access to the Holiday Open House before the show, where children and families can go behind the scenes with members of the Met’s backstage and artistic staff.

‘A Christmas Carol’

Several “A Christmas Carol” performances will take place throughout the city, including a musical adaptation by Brenda Bell and Michael Sgouros in the Players Theater in Greenwich Village, November 26 to December 30. The show, now celebrating its 15th anniversary, features a British pantomime-inspired set design. About bee SoHo PlayhouseOn December 20 and 30, director Guy Masterson (“The Shark Is Broken”) will present the New York premiere of his rendition of “A Christmas Carol.” And at the town hall in Midtown, Neil Gaiman will read Dickens’ text on December 18 and 19.

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s programming includes a series of holiday performances, including pianist and composer George Burton, Ted Rosenthal and his trio, and Matt Wilson in a swinging, holiday-themed outfit. For the annual “Big Band Holidays” event, December 13-17, Ashley Pezzotti and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will perform holiday favorites such as “Winter Wonderland,” “The Christmas Song” and “Deck the Halls.” On December 17, the organization will present a Relaxed Performance, designed to allow children and adults with autism, learning disabilities or other sensory or communication needs to enjoy a less restrictive concert environment.

Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic

The New York Philharmonic will perform together with the Handel and Haydn Society choir and baroque specialist Fabio Biondi Handel’s Messiah, December 12-16. The annual holiday tradition of “Holiday Brass” also returns, December 16-17.

Carnegie Hall will feature a performance by singers Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith on December 5, and Orchestra of St. Luke’s will perform Bach’s Kerstoratio with La Chapelle de Québec and soloists on December 7. Modern hymn writers Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty will perform on December 9 with fresh renditions of Christmas carols and hymns and with Celtic instruments. The New York Pops also return with classics, including “This Christmas” and “Ave Maria / O Holy Night,” December 22-23.

Botanic Gardens

The New York Botanical Garden’s annual holiday show, through January 15, features an all-new outdoor train display where viewers can watch trains zoom past nearly 200 New York landmarks. The Garden’s Bar Car Nights, open to people aged 21 and over, offer the chance to admire the models while enjoying a cocktail. The garden will also host the “Glow” event through January, during which the Haupt Conservatory and the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building will be decorated with thousands of lights and transformed into dramatic, shimmering canvases.

To skate

Skating enthusiasts can go to the Ice skating rink at Rockefeller Centerfor which tickets are on sale until March 24 Bryant Park, the winter village also features an ice skating rink, along with a variety of food and drink vendors. For those in Brooklyn, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside and Bluestone offers a range of winter activities including ice skating, curling and hockey.

Comedy

Those looking for humor can watch the “One Funny Lisa Marie: Holiday Show” on the New York Comedy Club in the East Village on December 9, or go to the Triad Theater on December 9 and 23 for “Christmas Comedy: The Stand-Up Comedy Night,” featuring comedians from across the Northeast.

‘Lantern festival’

The Winter Lantern Festival has returned to Queens with more than 1,000 Chinese lanterns, interactive light swings and creatures made from craft lanterns. The festival takes place on Fridays and Saturdays through January 7 at the Queens County Farm Museum.

Kwanzaa

At the Brooklyn Children’s Museumthe Celebrate Kwanzaa event, December 26-30, will feature interactive workshops, live performances and art projects, including special activities celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Also on December 30, the Apollo Theater in Harlem will be on display ‘Kwanzaa: a regeneration celebration’ including a performance by Forces of Nature Dance Theater. The event highlights dance from across the African diaspora, as well as music and spoken word.