Date and venue: Sundays through February 22 at Ellen’s Stardust Diner

Mamma mia, here we go again — to brunch! The famous Ellen’s Stardust Diner, featuring singing waitstaff, is kicking off a ticketed brunch event inspired by the hit musical. With themed dishes liked “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Chicken + Waffles” and “Chiquitita Chilaquilies,” you can turn your day into a Mamma Mia! celebration by seeing the show at the Winter Garden Theatre next door afterward. Tickets to the brunch are available online, and tickets to Mamma Mia! on Broadway are available right here.

Get Mamma Mia! tickets now.

Date and venue: Now through 2028 at MoMA PS1

For the first time, all visitors, not just New Yorkers, can go to the MoMA PS1 for free. Just a short 7 train ride from Times Square, the Queens art museum, an offshoot of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Midtown, highlights rotating exhibits throughout the year.

Date and venue: Now through March 1 at Bryant Park

An NYC winter must-do is a visit to the Bryant Park Winter Village. Ice skate with free admission (skate and locker rental fees apply) and hit up the Lodge, with drinks and bites available to complete your cold-weather outing. Just a short walk from the Theatre District, it’s the perfect place to hang out before or after a show.

Date and venue: Now through February 28 at The Rink at Bryant Park

The popular bumper cars return to The Rink at Bryant Park this month. For a 45-minute time slot, glide along on the ice in the bumper cars that look like oversized inner tubes, which you can direct using a built-in joystick. Open for kids and adults alike, this is a fun, unique way to spend a winter afternoon. Tickets are available online.

Date and venue: January 7 to 25 at various venues

For over 20 years, the Under the Radar Festival has showcased groundbreaking theatrical work in New York City from around the world. This year, the festival will host more than 25 productions in Off-Broadway venues across the city, from one-person shows to live musical performances. Discover the full lineup.

Date and venue: Now through January 10 at NYU Skirball

Part of the Under the Radar Festival is Mario Banushi’s Mami, a multidisciplinary show blending dance, surrealism, and theatrical performance with raw emotion to explore topics like motherhood and memory. Catch this emerging artist’s breakout hit in its U.S. debut now.

Get Mario Banushi: Mami tickets now.

Date and venue: January 11 at Stella 34 Trattatoria & Bar

RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Olivia Lux will host a Rent-themed drag brunch this January, perfect timing for measuring the new year in love. Sing along to your favorite Rent songs with drag queens dressed as the characters, reenacting some of the most famous scenes from the musical. Tickets are available online.

Date and venue: January 20 to February 12 at various restaurants

If you enjoy a pre- or post-show meal almost as much as the show itself, then NYC Restaurant Week is for you. Hundreds of New York City restaurants take part in this event, offering special two- to three-course lunches and dinners for all-inclusive (and usually cheaper-than-usual!) prices. Dozens of Theatre District restaurants are included, with everything from upscale fine dining to quick, casual bites. Visit the Restaurant Week website to make reservations and view participating eateries.

Date and venue: Now through February 12 at various hotels

NYC Hotel Week offers visitors special prices at a variety of spots across the city, including many Theatre District hotels. Participating hotels offer 25% off, with popular chains like Hilton, Hyatt, Hampton Inn, and more included, as well as boutique hotels. Visit the Hotel Week website for a full list of participating hotels.

Date and venue: January 20 to February 12 at attractions throughout the city

Yet another way to save in New York this January is taking advantage of Must-See Week, which includes museums, attractions, classes, and other ticketed activities across the city at 2-for-1 prices. Have a movie or TV buff in your group? Check out On Location Tours, which will show you famous filming spots. Want to take in a bird’s-eye view of the city? The Top of the Rock and the Edge at Hudson Yards observation decks are included. See the full list of attractions on the Must-See Week website.

Date and venue: January 7 to 25 at 59E59 Theaters Theater B

Taking inspiration from photo shadowboxes, this unique show features a cast of eccentric characters living in a magical tenement building. Facing the brink of humanity’s extinction, these characters have their lives turned upside down in this surrealist show.

Get Juxtapose tickets now.

Date and venue: Now through January 13 at various venues

New York City’s annual Winter Jazzfest is back this January to celebrate talented musicians as they put on some of the best jazz shows you can catch in the city. There are a few ways to enjoy the festival, either through tickets to individual shows or by getting a “Marathon” pass that lets you into any show on the designated night, pending club capacity. With the latter pass, you can hop from venue to venue and check out different artists and formats. The full lineup and tickets are available online.

Date and venue: Now through March 2026 in Central Park

A slightly cheaper alternative to the Rockefeller ice rink, Central Park’s iconic Wollman Rink, lets you escape the concrete for a bit and skate amid nature. It's open daily through March, and it’s encouraged to book tickets in advance online as it can get busy during popular times. Once you’re on the ice, however, you can skate for as long as you’d like.

Date and venue: Now through March 29 at SoHo Playhouse

Celebrating performances from Fringe festivals across the world, Soho Playhouse’s International Fringe Encore Series brings some of the best, most thought-provoking, and hilarious Fringe Festival performances to NYC through March. Explore dozens of plays, comedic sets, live music, and more. See the full lineup at the SoHo Playhouse website, and check out a few shows below with tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Get Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World tickets now.

Get Dreamscape tickets now.

Date and venue: Opening January 15 in Times Square

Times Square is getting a new attraction that will make visitors feel like they’re starring on an actual live game show. Aptly named Great Big Game Show, it puts your group into two teams to face off against each other through various games and challenges, and a live host will bring the entire experience together.

The same venue also houses an escape room called The Escape Game, so you can take the entire day to play your way through this new attraction space. Great Big Game Show tickets and Escape Game tickets are available online.

Date and venue: Now through January 16 at Juilliard

Now in its 25th year, the Julliard ChamberFest combines masterclasses and live performances to showcase Julliard’s best in chamber music. Both student and student/faculty ensembles will perform famous works from Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and more. See the full performance schedule online.

Date and venue: January 19 at the Apollo Theater

The historic Apollo Theater is hosting a special Martin Luther King Jr. event that honors Dr. King’s legacy through a series of conversations, focusing on young people making a difference in society for the future. Activists and community leaders will gather in a panel to discuss making changes on local and national levels, and discussing how to carry Dr. King’s messages into the future. Learn more and RSVP online.

Date and venue: Nightly at 11 p.m. following Broadway shows

This unique late-night crawl kicks off the minute you leave your Broadway theatre, where you’ll be met by a fabulous drag queen as your guide. The 2-hour private tour meanders through Hell’s Kitchen and is filled with surprises at every turn, including live performances.

Broadway After Dark: The Curtain Call Crawl promises Broadway stories and “insider tea” in addition to cocktails and plenty of glam. Tickets start at $69 per person, and you must book as a group.

Date and venue: Now through January 11 at the New York Botanical Garden

The Bronx garden's annual train show includes nearly 200 replicas of landmark NYC buildings, all made entirely out of plant-based materials and tucked amid the NYBG's blooming conservatories. It's a beloved holiday tradition for all ages and a great way to escape the concrete of the city for an afternoon.

Date and venue: Now through February at Grand Central Terminal

The New York Transit Museum is holding its 21st annual Holiday Train Show at Grand Central. This free, 34-foot display features miniature versions of NYC landmark buildings like the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Grand Central.

Numerous model trains move along the tracks and wind among the buildings, and many are modeled after New York trains like the Metro North and the subway, plus the Polar Express. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, except for major holidays.