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20 Fun Things to Do This Weekend in Harlem and Beyond

Updated: 4 days ago



Holiday markets, tree lightings, a special creening of "Little Women" at the United Palace—plus more fun things to do this weekend.


Friday, December 13 & 20 7pm-9pm FREE

East Harlem El Sitio Feliz Community Garden, 237 E 104th St between Second and Third Aves

Be sure to RSVP for this free pop-up featuring ice skating, hot chocolate, music and shopping.


Saturday, December 14, 21 & 28 noon-6pm

Harlem Jackie Robinson Bandshell, 116 Bradhurst Ave at 148th St

This new holiday market features local food vendors and artisans, plus festive fun including gingerbread decorating and a Santa vs. Grinch photo challenge.


Saturday, December 14 1pm-3pm FREE

Washington Heights Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace between W 160th and W 162nd Sts

Celebrate the holidays by making your own colonial pomander—an orange studded with cloves—plus enjoying readings of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Spanish and English at the historic Morris-Jumel Mansion.


Saturday, December 14 2pm-6pm FREE

Central Harlem The Apollo Stages at the Victoria, 233 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr and Frederick Douglass Blvds

Bring the kids to take pictures with Black Santa and catch a live performance or two at this annual event's brand new location in the Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater. While you're at it, bring a new toy, book or non-perishable food item for the Apollo's holiday drive.


Saturday, December 14 & 21 3pm-7pm

East Harlem Park Ave and E 112th St

The trailblazing Harlem Night Market continues for the next two Saturdays in a festive new location under the Park Avenue Viaduct and the adjacent Urban Garden Center, featuring local vendors selling food, drinks, and unique gifts.


Saturday, December 14 at 4pm FREE

West Harlem Rink at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park, entrance at 145th St and Riverside Drive

This free celebration kicks off with an ice show featuring the Ice Theatre of New York, Figure Skating in Harlem and more, concluding with a rinkside tree ceremony.


Saturdays in December from 4pm-5pm FREE

Hamilton Heights Hamilton Grange National Memorial, 414 W 141st St between St. Nicholas and Convent Aves

Take a walk at night through the candlelit rooms of founding father Alexander Hamilton's historic home—Saturdays in December only.


Saturday, December 14 at 5pm FREE

Central Harlem St. Nicholas Park, West 135th Street Plaza, St. Nicholas Ave and W 135th St

Rescheduled: This festive event at the base of the James Baldwin Lawn takes place by one of the park's living trees. There will be live music, ornament-making and more.


Sunday, December 15 at 3pm

Washington Heights United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St

Watch director Greta Gerwig's 2019 take on this literary classic at the United Palace—a stunning former vaudeville theater with more than 3,000 seats.


Sunday, December 15 4pm-6pm FREE

Harlem Church of the Intercession and Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum, W 155th St and Broadway

The annual reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the church will be followed by a lantern procession to author Clement Clarke Moore's grave and singing of "Silent Night."


 

In case you missed it:


Weekends starting Fridays at 8pm

Sugar Hill 750A St. Nicholas Ave between W 147th and W 148th Sts

This Black-owned comedy club—the only one in NYC—kicks off the weekend with two live shows every Friday, including the weekly Harlem Evenings Comedy Show hosted by Rashad Bashir at 10:30pm.


November 17-February 17; Sun-Tues & Thu 10am-5pm, Fri & Sat 10am-9pm

Upper East Side The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave and E 82nd St

Explore how Black artists past and present have forged a connection with ancient Egypt through painting, sculpture, music, and—a first for the Met—performance, in the exhibition's special "Performance Pyramid." Site-specific works at three Harlem subway and train stations are also included.


November 8-January 12; Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm

East Harlem The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave at E 103rd St

Bakers from around the city show off their gingerbread creations inspired by the theme "Iconic New York." One of the judges this year is Harlem's own Melba Wilson.


Fri 6pm-9pm, Sat & Sun 1pm-4pm, 6pm-9pm

West Harlem Skating Rink at Riverbank State Park, entrance at Riverside Drive and 145th St

Lace up your skates: ice skating season has kicked off at Riverbank State Park.


Maria A. Guzman Caprón, En Tu Mirada [In Your Eyes], Las Curlies, and Aquí Para Ti [Here for you], Photograph by Matthew Sherman/Courtesy of El Museo del Barrio.

October 10-February 9; 11am-5pm

East Harlem El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave at 104th St

The museum's second large survey of Latinx contemporary art—featuring 33 artists from across the U.S., Puerto Rico and beyond—touching on themes such as transformation, hybrid belonging, and collective memories.


October 5-January 12; Wed-Sun noon-6pm FREE

West Harlem Wallach Art Gallery, 615 W 129th St between Broadway and 12th Ave, 6th floor

This new exhibition combines contemporary and historic art focusing on industry along the Hudson River—from Albany to the Atlantic Ocean.


September 14-February 16; Thu 1pm-5pm, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-3pm

Sugar Hill Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St. Nicholas Ave at W 155th St

The latest exhibits at this beloved children's museum include "Order/Reorder: Experiments with Collections" from the Hudson River Museum and "David Antonio Cruz: When the Children Come Home."


August 2-February 28, 2025; Mon-Sat 10am-6pm FREE

Central Harlem Schomburg Center, 515 Malcolm X Blvd at W 135th St

The Schomburg, home to the archives of James Baldwin, is celebrating the Harlem-born novelist's 100th birthday with highlights from his literary career.


Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm FREE

Hamilton Heights 414 W 141st St between St. Nicholas and Convent Aves

Go on a free tour of founding father Alexander Hamilton's historic uptown home, including a stroll through the parlor, dining room and study.


Weekends until 3:45am

Central Harlem Shrine, 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd between W 133rd and W 134th Sts

This gem of a live music venue kicks into high gear on the weekends with a mix of jazz, funk, blues, and even comedy—ending with DJ sets that run into the early morning.


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2 Comments


obonillasr
Oct 28, 2023

Love this blog! I always check this site and timeout ny before planning a weekend in NYC. Keep up the amazing work! 🙏🏽

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realtimcarlson
May 16, 2023

This is a good website and I like it very much.

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