Deck the halls, Brooklyn style!
Although Manhattan has Fifth Avenue and the world famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Brooklyn has quickly become a prime destination for celebrating the holidays. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to go with friends, a date or the kids, the borough has every base covered.
Here’s just some of the holiday fun around the borough that will beguile children and adults alike.
On the show front, Narrows Community Theater, a local performance group famous for its top notch productions, is gearing up for the holidays with its production of “The Most Miserable Christmas Tree.” This family show is about a Christmas tree left out with the trash, Douglas Fir, who is determined to remain a decorated tree. Performances will take place Fridays, December 9 and 16 at 8 p.m., Saturday, December 10 at 2 p.m. and 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays, December 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $15 for children under 13. For more information, visit www.narrowscommunitytheater.com.
The Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts is bringing back its annual holiday favorite, “The Colonial Nutcracker.” The Dance Theatre in Westchester will again perform its full-length version of Tchaikovsky’s ballet set in wintry colonial Yorktown, and will include a red-coated mouse army, an enchanted nutcracker prince, and narration to help young audience members enjoy the show, scheduled for Sunday, December 11 at 2 p.m. at the Walt Whitman Theater, 2900 Campus Road. Tickets are $15 and pre-show activities for kids will begin at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.brooklyncenter.org.
There are plenty of other Nutcracker adaptations in the borough. “The Hard Nut,” the Mark Morris Dance Group’s retro-modern reimagining of the classic, will return to BAM, 30 Lafayette Avenue. Tickets start at $25 and the show runs from Saturday, December 10 through Sunday, December 18. For times and info, go to www.bam.org.
In addition, On Stage at Kingsborough is hosting “The Nutcracker” on Friday, December 16 at 7 p.m., performed by the State Ballet Theatre of Russia. The show will feature all the traditional favorites, as well 40 of Russia’s brightest ballet stars in glorious costumes. Visit www.onstageatkingsborough.org for tickets, which start at $32.
At the Brooklyn Public Library, the kids can enjoy “Charlie Brown Christmas,” the classic animated television special that comes to life in this faithful stage adaptation with all the favorite Peanuts characters in a timeless holiday story. The free event takes place at the Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, on Saturday, December 17 at 1 p.m. Visit www.bklynlibrary.org for more info.
The holidays are a time for kids and there are plenty of events for young Brooklynites. The Children’s Chorus of Bay Ridge, a community chorus for students from first through eighth grades, will present a free performance on Sunday, December 11 at 3 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 740 Fourth Avenue.
The Fourth Annual Bay Ridge Fifth Avenue BID Holiday Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 10 from 12-4 p.m. The day will feature free trolley rides with Santa and his elf from 65th to 85th Street. The event, which also features a live DJ, will cap off with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4 p.m at 7428 Fifth Avenue. For more information, visit www.bayridgebid.com.
St. Anselm, 365 83rd Street, will be hosting its annual Winter Wonderland, an weekend event that includes tons of entertainment for the family, such as a live performance of the Nativity scene portrayed by children of all ages from the school, as well as games, arts and crafts, a candy land booth, and a visit with Santa himself. The festivities take place on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
On Sunday, December 11, beginning at 2 p.m., the Scandinavian East Coast Museum will hold its annual Santa Lucia celebration at the Danish Athletic Club, 741 65th Street. Adults get in for $50, while children’s admission is free and will include plenty of fun for the kids. For more info, go to the SECM page on Facebook. Checks can be sent to Jeanne Anderson, 30 Cricket Court, Shirley, NY 11967.
A local favorite among families, the New Utrecht Living Nativity is returning for another year. The over 60-year-old tradition includes actors wearing Biblical costumes along with live animals, such as goats and sheep, reenacting the famous Nativity scene on Saturday, December 17 from 3-6 p.m. at the New Utrecht Reformed Church, 18th Avenue and 84th Street. For more info, call 718-236-0678.
The Sunset Park BID will be offering free trolley rides along Fifth Avenue, from 38th to 64th Streets making all B63 stops on Saturday December 17 and Sunday December 18. Sidewalk sales will also be taking place.
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