Holiday Guide

“When my two girls were young, I’d bundle them up and take them to Conservatory Water to see the ice. The ducks would skim in and out, leaving soft ripples in the cold air, and we’d warm our hands around cups of hot chocolate. The girls always got such a kick out of it. It felt like a small, perfect New York holiday moment.”

–Betsy Smith, President & CEO

“Because of my work as a photographer for the Conservancy, I’ve seen Central Park in every light—at dawn, at midnight, during snowstorms. But nothing compares to the Park during a snowfall, when the City is dark and still. The world seems to pause, and you can actually hear the snow falling, like a steady whisper. Each step releases a soft whoosh as your boots press into the unbroken canvas. It’s a magical, almost breathtaking moment—when the Park feels both infinite and entirely your own.”

–Harry Hunkele, Director of Video Production

“When my girls were growing up, I took them skating at Lasker Rink during the holidays. Midday, the music track would slide into the “oldies” subset of the playlist, Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” would blast, and for a moment, it felt like the 1980s again. Except I wasn’t on roller skates this time—I was guiding my daughters around the ice, watching them glide to the same beat that once pulsed from my cassette player. It was a full-circle kind of joy: the music that once soundtracked my youth now setting the rhythm for their memories."

–Jennifer Heslin, Senior Director of Earned Revenue

“On New Year’s Eve, we’d trade the rink for the Ramble, eyes scanning the branches for owls. We believed that spotting one meant good luck for the year ahead. Sometimes we found one, sometimes we didn’t—but it never really mattered. The ritual itself was enough, a special magic that belonged only to us.”

–Jennifer Heslin, Senior Director of Earned Revenue

“Experiencing the holidays in Central Park has totally changed how I see winter in New York. I used to think of it as just slush and cold, but now it actually feels special. I grew up in Harlem and still had no idea the Holiday Lighting even existed until I started working here. That night, the Dana Discovery Center felt like it woke up—music drifting across the water, families gathering to admire the flotilla of sparkling trees, the beautiful building opening itself to the neighborhood in a way I’d never seen.”

–Darline Lalanne, Director of Public Programs and Davis Center

“What I treasure about this season aren't the stories but the images that land quietly—and powerfully—when the Garden is less busy and distractions are few. The vision of the Garden after a light snow when branches are outlined, animal tracks are now visible, and little gifts are left behind. There are the occasional "icy maidens" dancing after a freezing rain. In that stillness, I can think again—imagining the seasons to come, listening to the birds who share the secrets of the winter garden with us.”

–Diane Schaub, Director of Gardens