Winter in NYC · NYC311

New Year's Resolutions

2025 is your year—we want to help you get closer to your goals!

Wellness looks different for everyone, but physical activity, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and mental health support are understood as the pillars of health. Here are some easy ways you can meet your wellness goals this year.

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Get Moving

Starting a routine can feel daunting. The Mayo Clinic has a guide to get you started. And yes, you should start slow.
Did you know the amount of physical activity you need depends mostly on your age? The CDC breaks down how much time you need to exercise and other tips to maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise doesn’t have to be expensive. Sign up for NYC Parks' free fitness programs.
Joining a gym isn’t the only way to exercise. Did you know there are hiking and biking trails in NYC? Bundle up and stay local to hike.

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Eat the Rainbow

Adding fruits and vegetables of different colors to your diet has known benefits.

To enjoy a balanced and healthy diet:

Buy seasonally for a better taste and price. Consider supporting a farmers market or local farmer to replenish your fruit and veggies.
Avoid products that have a lot of ingredients you don't easily recognize when possible.
Look for food product labels that list only a few ingredients. For example, frozen corn should just list “corn.”

Get more nutrition tips

Did you know? New Yorkers using SNAP can get up to $10 a day in matching funds to buy eligible fruits, vegetables, and beans at participating supermarkets!

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Build Healthier Habits

Do you feel stuck in a cycle of negative behaviors? Habits are a part of life, but we may not want to keep ones that we’ve built up over time. Changing unhealthy habits can be difficult and frustrating, but not impossible. Here are just some ways you can break the cycle.

Don't go at it alone. Living with nicotine withdrawal can feel unmanageable, but help is available for those looking to reduce or quit smoking cigarettes, vaping, or tobacco use.
Do you struggle with overspending and sticking to your budget? You can get free professional financial counseling and coaching at Financial Empowerment Centers.
Develop an action plan. Check out this complete guide to breaking bad habits and knowing when to seek help.

Cold Weather Resources

Heat Complaint in a Residential Building Report a heat problem in a residential building. Heat Complaint in a Commercial Building Report a heat problem in a commercial or public school building. Help with Heating Bills Get help paying for heat, utilities, and boiler repairs. Winter Weather Safety Stay warm, healthy, and safe during winter storms and extreme cold.

Let it Snow

Snow Before You Go!

Winter is coming, weather we like it or not. Be prepared!

Browse our Snow page to learn about snow procedures, advisories, and City service status during winter storms.
View the interactive PlowNYC map to see plowing progress in real-time.
Sign up for NotifyNYC to get alerts by email, text, or phone.

Sleet Dreams Are Made of This

Teamwork makes the dream work! We can all pitch in to get through winter storms.

Register for snow removal employment and get paid as a temporary Emergency Snow Shoveler.
Report snow or ice on a sidewalk and learn about snow shoveling rules.
Report snow or ice on a street or highway.

Events

Abuelita Masala

January 11

Feast on the dishes, stories, and ancestral traditions of abuelitas (grandmas) of diverse cultures in this food extravaganza.

Learn more

Mulchfest

Through January 12

Give your holiday tree new life and chip it into compost at select parks.

Learn more

Gingerbread NYC

Through January 12

Marvel at miniature gingerbread versions of NYC landmarks and icons and vote for your favorite at the Great Borough Bake-Off.

Learn more

Tribute to MLK

January 20

Be inspired by the legacy and activism of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through music, dance, and spoken word.

Learn more

Lunar New Year Festival

January 29

Slither into the Year of the Snake with a firecracker ceremony and festival in Chinatown.

Learn more

See more events

Holiday Service Changes

Click on a holiday for information.

Christmas Day (December 25)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Closed
	Collections	Suspended
	Government Offices	Closed

New Year's Day (January 1)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Closed
	Collections	Suspended
	Government Offices	Closed

Three Kings' Day (January 6)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Open
	Collections	On Schedule
	Government Offices	Open

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Closed
	Collections	Suspended
	Government Offices	Closed

Lunar New Year's Eve (January 28)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Open
	Collections	On Schedule
	Government Offices	Open

Lunar New Year (January 29)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Closed
	Collections	On Schedule
	Government Offices	Open

Lincoln's Birthday (February 12)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Open
	Collections	Suspended
	Government Offices	Open

Washington's Birthday (Pres. Day) (February 17)

	Alternate Side Parking	Suspended
	Schools	Closed
	Collections	Suspended
	Government Offices	Closed

Winter Wonderland

Wintertime transforms the city’s parks and other outdoor spaces into an enchanting wonderland, full of glittering lights and snowy adventures. Step into the magic of winter by taking part in the season’s activities.

Ice Skating Skate the day away at indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks. Sledding Find the best hills for sledding in parks. Snow Days After heavy snowfall, Snow Day activities may be held in select parks. This may include free hot cocoa, snowman and snow angel contests, safe sledding, and more. Winter Village Bryant Park is NYC's top winter destination. Enjoy an open-air bar, food hall, seasonal drinks, skating pavilion, and curling.

The Great Indoors

When the weather outside is frightful or you just want to get out of the house, NYC’s indoor spaces can be delightful. Check out these great places to warm up, explore your city, and connect with others.

Please note that hours and visitor rules may vary, so make sure to check with the site before you go.

Click on a location type to explore:

Museums

Many of NYC’s museums and galleries offer free or pay-what-you wish admission on select days or hours. Library card holders can also use Culture Pass to get free tickets.

Explore museums

Don’t miss

The bird’s eye view of the Panorama of the City of New York at the Queens Museum
Menorahs from around the world and across five centuries at the Museum at Eldridge Street
The Waterways, a 35-foot water-filled interactive play table mimicking the Bronx River, Harlem River, and Orchard Beach at the Bronx Children's Museum

Historic Houses

Travel back in time to experience how New Yorkers from the past lived in their homes.

Explore historic houses

Don’t miss

Alice Austen House, a Victorian Gothic cottage and LGBTQ historic site showcasing groundbreaking photography
Satchmo’s glam mirrored bathroom and the mid-century modern cool of the Louis Armstrong House
The faux-marble grand foyer of Gracie Mansion, New York’s "little White House"

Libraries

Libraries aren’t only for books! They are truly community hubs where you can participate in free classes, events, artmaking, game nights, and other activities.

Find a library

Don’t miss

New York Library’s holiday displays, featuring holiday greeting cards and a Dickens Christmas
Brooklyn Library’s table-top and board game events
Queens Library’s New Americans Program to access immigration services and celebrate your culture

Older Adult Centers

New York City has over 300 older adult centers (formerly known as senior centers) for New Yorkers aged 60 and up. Older adult centers provide more than free meals—they’re places to socialize, stay active, and find community.

Group transportation is offered at select centers if you don’t have access to transportation and can’t use public transportation.

Find an older adult center

Work and Study Spaces

Tired of working at home or just want to get out of the house and find a quiet place to cozy up with a good book?

Libraries, of course, are ideal for quiet study and reading. Branches offer free Wi-Fi and low-cost printing, copying, and scanning. Many also have designated areas for research and study, including reading rooms, cubicles, meeting rooms, and computer labs.

Our favorite workspaces in libraries include:

The stunning Rose Main Reading Room at New York Public Library
Poets House, a haven for writers and poetry lovers
The sunlit atrium of the Far Rockaway Library

Find a library

Public computer centers offer access to free Wi-Fi, computer labs, and devices. You can find them in select libraries, recreation centers, and community centers.

Find a computer center

Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) are open areas on private property for everyone to enjoy. Some are indoors and offer seating and tables where you can read, study, and work.

Popular indoor POPS include:

The Winter Garden
Olympic Tower
The David Rubenstein Atrium

Find a POPS

Play Spaces

Kids going stir-crazy? Here are some ideas for families to get out of the house and burn off energy indoors.

Free Play

Libraries, museums, and community centers offer many opportunities for structured and unstructured play indoors. Open play is a great way to develop motor skills, spark creativity, and make new friends.

Don’t miss

Open playtime for babies and toddlers at New York Public Library
Sensory play and exploration at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
81st Street Studio at the Met
Indoor sports and fitness at NYC Parks

Recreation Centers

Recreation centers are great places to meet up with friends and have fun. From game rooms to basketball clinics, there’s something for everyone. And best of all, membership is free for anyone under 18.

Explore recreation centers

Love Is in the Air

Go Out Together

Winter is here and so are these sweet date ideas to enjoy the best city around.

Stroll arm-in-arm through some of the city’s coziest and most romantic parks
Soak in the glimmer of the night skyline as you go from their place to yours aboard NYC Ferry
Dine at some of the city’s best spots for a special price during NYC Restaurant Week (January 21 – February 9)
Surprise them with Date Night at the Met

Make it Official

So, you made it here, huh? Congratulations!

Learn about getting a marriage license, one of the required documents to get married in New York State.

And, visit NYC Cupid to schedule an appointment to:

Register a Domestic Partnership
Have the City Clerk's Office perform your wedding ceremony

Did you know?

You can have your wedding ceremony at a city park! NYC Parks just requires a Special Events permit to do so.

Homelessness

The City and its not-for-profit partners address street homelessness, provide safe temporary shelter, and connect New Yorkers experiencing homelessness to sustainable housing.

You can help people experiencing homelessness, especially during the winter season.

The City offers services to people living on the streets, in the subway, or in other public places. Learn how to request help for a homeless person on our Homeless Assistance page.

Through the Pathway Home Program, individuals and families can get financial help to move out of homeless shelters and stay with family members or friends until they can move into a home of their own.

Volunteer to count New Yorkers living on the street through the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) annual survey.

Donate to the Homeless Trust Fund and help improve the quality of life of people experiencing homelessness.

Find more resources

Code Blue

When the temperature is 32 degrees or lower, including wind chill values, Code Blue is in effect. During Code Blue, outreach teams check on people who live on the streets and in the subway more frequently.

Shop Your City

New York City is the shopping capital of the world for a reason. From department stores to holiday markets, there's something for every shopper and budget this season.

Shop Smart

Want to be a savvy shopper? NYC Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has got you covered with tips for buying toys, electronics, holiday gifts, and more.

You’ll also learn to:

✓ Stick to your budget
✓ Protect yourself when shopping online
✓Avoid common scams
✓ File consumer complaints

Get shopping tips

Shop NYC Merch

You can find unique city-themed gifts for everyone on your list at CityStore, the official store of the City of New York.

Shop online or in-person to buy:

Official NYPD, FDNY, and DSNY branded merchandise
T-shirts, magnets, home goods, stationary, posters, toys, and puzzles
Authentic memorabilia, and more!

It’s a great way to support NYC—100% of sales benefit the City of New York.

Visit CityStore

Shop Local

Give back to your neighborhood and support small businesses by shopping local instead of online.

The Shop Your City map can help you find small businesses throughout the five boroughs, including stores owned by veterans and Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Shop your city

Shop Sustainable

NYC is a great place to shop sustainably or find unique items while saving money.

Buy Secondhand

Nab one-of-a kind thrift or vintage items at a charity shop or secondhand store. Buying used or recycled items instead of new keeps them out of landfills and reduces the environmental impact caused by the supply chain.

Buy in Bulk

Shopping at a bulk or zero-waste refill store helps reduce packaging waste on food and household goods you often use.

Buy Nothing

Get free goods by joining your neighborhood Buy Nothing group. These online communities allow members to post stuff they want to get rid of and give away to others for free.

You can also use DonateNYC, an online directory to find places to get or buy secondhand goods.

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