Two of New York’s biggest holiday attractions sit across the street from each other in the Bronx, and a short walk away is Arthur Avenue, the borough’s Little Italy.
- Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights — Nov 21 – Jan 3.
- NYBG Holiday Train Show — Nov 14 – Jan 10.
- Arthur Avenue — holiday lights, bakeries and a tree lighting in Ciccarone Park on Dec 5, 2026.
- Lehman Center — the Westchester Ballet Company’s Nutcracker in mid-December.
Plan a Bronx Holiday Day
Morning at the train show, lunch on Arthur Avenue, then the zoo’s lights at dusk. Metro-North’s Harlem Line from Grand Central makes it easy.
A Bronx Holiday Day
- 10 a.m.: Metro-North from Grand Central to Botanical Garden station for the Holiday Train Show.
- 1 p.m.: lunch on Arthur Avenue: Italian delis, bakeries and the Arthur Avenue Retail Market.
- 2:30 p.m.: Bronx Zoo entry (included with Holiday Lights tickets from 1 p.m.).
- 4:30 p.m.: Holiday Lights switch on.
Arthur Avenue at Christmas
The Bronx’s Little Italy around Arthur Avenue and East 187th Street is at its best in December, with strings of lights, holiday windows and shops selling Italian Christmas treats like panettone and torrone. The neighborhood tree is lit in Ciccarone Park in early December (December 5, 2026).
Other Bronx Holiday Ideas
- The Westchester Ballet Company’s Nutcracker at Lehman Center in mid-December.
- Wave Hill, a garden in Riverdale with Hudson River views, for a peaceful winter walk.
- Yankee Stadium tours for sports fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in the Bronx at Christmas?
The Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights, the NYBG Holiday Train Show and Arthur Avenue’s holiday lights and bakeries.
What is there to eat on Arthur Avenue at Christmas?
Italian bakeries, delis and restaurants, with holiday treats like panettone and torrone.
