21 Fun Things to Do This Weekend in Harlem and Beyond
- The Curious Uptowner
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
It's another weekend filled with festive holiday markets and tree lightings—plus the annual screening of "It's a Wonderful Life" at the United Palace.
December 1-19; Monday-Thursday noon-5pm, Friday 4pm-8pm
West Harlem The Forum at Columbia, 601 W 125th St and Broadway
The first-ever holiday market at Columbia's Forum includes vendors such as Woofcessories, Rouge Hoops, K's European Jams and 125 Collection.
Saturday, December 13 1pm-3pm FREE
Washington Heights Colonial basement kitchen in the Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace between W 160th and W 162nd Sts
Celebrate the holidays by making your own old-fashioned pomander ornament—a dried orange studded with cloves to sweeten the air—in the mansion's colonial basement kitchen (the main house is closed for renovations). Readings of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" take place in Spanish at 1:30pm and in English at 2:30pm.
Saturday, December 13 3pm-7pm
East Harlem Under the Park Avenue Viaduct, Park Ave and E 112th St
The trailblazing Harlem Night Market returns to East Harlem for the second of three Saturdays in December with food, drinks, and local artisans—plus music from Uptown Vinyl Supreme, a 360-degree photo booth, a graffiti truck gallery and much more.
Saturday, December 13 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 by the Ice Theatre of New York, Figure Skating in Harlem and more, concluding with a visit from Santa and a rinkside tree ceremony.
Saturdays in December 4pm-5pm FREE
West Harlem Hamilton Grange National Memorial, 414 W 141st St between St. Nicholas and Convent Aves
Take a candlelit stroll through the rooms of founding father Alexander Hamilton's historic home—Saturdays in December only.
Sunday, December 14 noon-6pm
Washington Heights Plaza de las Americas, Broadway and 175th St
Stop by for a full day of of festive events in and around the plaza at the United Palace Theater, including the NoMAA holiday market opening at noon, ornament making at 2:30pm, holiday music at 3:30pm, the tree lighting at 4:30pm, and a screening of "It's a Wonderful Life" at the theater at 5:30pm.
Sunday, December 14 3pm-5pm FREE
Harlem Church of the Intercession, 550 W 155th St and Broadway
This annual reading of Clement Clarke Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"—NY1 political anchor Errol Louis does the honors this year—is followed by a visit to the author's grave across the street.
In case you missed it:
Friday & Saturday 7am-11pm, Sunday-Thursday 7am-9pm
Central Harlem Gottesman Rink, Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, Central Park, E 110th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Central Park's beautiful new facility in the north end has quietly transformed into an ice rink. If you're planning to go during peak skating hours (Mon-Fri 5pm-11pm and weekends), consider booking your tickets in advance here.
Friday & Saturday 11am-9pm; Sunday, Wednesday & Thursday 11am-6pm
Central Harlem 144 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Lenox Ave
The Studio Museum in Harlem's beautiful new building—seven years in the making—opened on November 15. Come by to see the special exhibition featuring the light sculptures of Tom Lloyd and revolving artworks from the permanent collection. Book your tickets for free admission to the museum on family-friendly Studio Sundays.
November 1-March 22, 2026; Wed-Sun 11am-5pm FREE
East Harlem The Africa Center, 1280 Fifth Ave between E 109th and E 110th Sts
This group photography exhibition features the work of 12 Sudanese photographers—half of who still live in the country—tracing the conflict from 2019 revolution to the ongoing war.
November 6-March 22, 2026; Thu-Sun noon-5pm FREE
Washington Heights The Hispanic Society, 3741 Broadway between W 155th and W 156th Sts
Rare historical textiles, recently restored paintings, and newly-exhibited illuminated manuscripts shine the spotlight on the opulent fashions of Imperial Spain.
Friday 6pm-9pm; Saturday & Sunday 1pm-4pm, 6pm-9pm
West Harlem Skating Rink at Riverbank State Park, entrance at Riverside Drive and 145th St
Lace up your skates for ice skating all season long at Riverbank State Park.
November 7-January 19; 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
Professional and amateur bakers from across the city show off their gingerbread creations inspired by the theme "Iconic New York." Judges this year include Harlem's own Melba Wilson (Melba's) and Aliyyah Baylor (Make My Cake).
October 10-March 8, 2026; Tue-Thu 11am-5pm, Fri 11am-8pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Upper West Side The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West and 77th St
This new exhibition celebrates the many Black LGBTQ+ creatives that made Harlem flower in the 1920s and 1930s. Think blues singer Gladys Bentley, poet Countee Cullen and lesser-known figures like drag ball queen Bonnie Clark.
Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-3pm
Sugar Hill Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St. Nicholas Ave at 155th St
Stop by for the latest exhibitions—the mural "Beneath the Harlem Sun" by artist Zelinette Estrada and the 2025 Student Exhibition—plus storytelling and much more.
Through Summer 2026 (Jangueando) & January 11, 2026 (Coco Fusco); Thu-Sun 11am-5pm
East Harlem El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave at 104th St
East Harlem's museum celebrating Latino culture has two new exhibitions: "Jangueando" features about 30 newly acquired works, including painting, photography, sculpture and installation; "Coco Fusco" shines the spotlight on the Cuban-American artist's films, installations and photographs.
May 8-June 30, 2026; Mon-Sat 10am-6pm FREE
Central Harlem Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd and 135th St
The Schomburg is celebrating its 100th anniversary with this exhibition of objects—from paintings by Aaron Douglas to inscriptions by Zora Neal Hurston—that have formed the library's first century.
Weekends starting on 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 live shows every Friday.
Saturdays at 9am FREE
Inwood Inwood Hill Park, Seaman Avenue and Isham Street entrance
Organized by New York Road Runners, this free community-led 5K run includes three loops through the woods and along the salt marsh in Inwood Hill Park.
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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