Things To Do in Brooklyn in Winter

NYC Living - October 13, 2023

Have you recently finished moving to Brooklyn? As you can see, Brooklyn is an exciting borough with tons of things to do. But let’s face it – no matter where you live, things can get less exciting once winter rolls around. Everything is simply less lively. But you should know that there are plenty of fun things to do in Brooklyn in the winter, and Brooklyn Movers are here to tell you what they are. So if you’re ready to have some winter fun in Brooklyn – stay tuned!

Visit a museum

Let’s face it – not everyone is up for outdoor activities in the Winter Months. Some people just can’t stand the cold. But, when it comes to fun things to do in Brooklyn in the winter, there is no shortage of ideas. There are plenty of reasons to move to Brooklyn, like organizing a visit to any of the many local museums. Not only will you have a fun indoor winter activity, but you and your loved ones will even learn something along the way!

And best of all – you’ve got plenty of diverse choices. For example – why not visit the epic New York Transit Museum? If you’ve lived in New York for a while, you’ve probably learned a lot about the city already. But trust us – there are always new angles to learn from! And in this case, it’s the transportation history of New York! Imagine visually learning about the evolution that happened from the simplest trolleys to the building of the sprawling subway. Also, if you fear this might not be interesting for your kids; there’s no reason to worry. Every weekend, the museum organizes programs specifically focused on the young ones.

The Brooklyn Museum is another great choice

While the New York Transit Museum may complement the theme of your moving to Brooklyn; it’s definitely not your only choice! After you’ve found all of the moving services you needed, and you want to wind down; why not visit the Brooklyn Museum? Unlike our previous suggestion which may be suited towards the transit buffs; this museum is more suited to avid art lovers. There are almost 6000 items to enjoy, from many different historical periods! Really, there aren’t many museums in the country where you can find both Islamic art from the 10th century, and Egyptian exhibits from the B.C. era.

The front entrance of the Brooklyn Museum.
If you want a great indoor activity – the Brooklyn Museum is one of your all-time things to do in Brooklyn in the winter!

Also, during the weekends, you’ll find many interesting lectures and live shows. So during the colder months, why not use this opportunity to have some great educational fun? This is really one of the most fun things to do in Brooklyn in the winter. Sure, visiting museums may not be everyone’s first choice when it comes to winter activities; but why not have a drink in a comfortable tiny cafe afterward. You’ll have a truly wholesome, wintery experience.

Visit the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

While some may see the Botanical Garden as a summer activity, there is loads to see in the garden during the winter months. The Garden recommends seeing the Japanese Hill-And-Pond Garden in the snow, as well as looking out for some of the Winter wildlife throughout the Park. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden also hosts a series of art exhibits throughout the year. Throughout 2021, there was a glorious Kusama exhibit up for view. Be sure to see what’s on before you go.

Try some new foods at Time Out Market

DUMBO is never a bad idea, especially during the Holiday months. The Time Out Market is a new fixture in the area which is a great place to go to try new foods out and do some shopping. At Time Out Market you can try delicious Ramen, Dumplings, Tacos, Pasta, Bagels. There is something for everyone! Once you are in Dumbo, you can take your kids to ride Jane’s Carousel. At $2 a ride, this century old merry-go-round is a perfect spot to enjoy the unbeatable NYC skyline views.

See the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas is of no importance when visiting Dyker Heights. The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour is an annual tradition where residents in the area deck their houses with more Christmas Lights than you’ve ever seen. Be sure to bundle up and bring some mugs of Hot Cocoa as you will be out in the cold for some time. After you are done touring the Christmas Lights, have a bite at some of the old Italian Joints in the area. They say the Tasty Pastry Shoppe has some of the best Cannoli’s!

For other ideas regarding fun holiday activities in Brooklyn, check out our other blog here.

Do some shopping

If you’re looking for things to do in Brooklyn in the winter – visiting the holiday markets is a wonderful idea! As you’ll see many parts of Brooklyn are practically crawling with local vendors and artists. And there’s a very interesting variety of products you can find here, from vintage to home-manufactured. If we had to recommend one, it would be the Artists and Fleas market. It’s located in the center of Williamsburg, and you’ll find vendors there all year round. So if you want to find the most interesting clothes, house products and jewelry in New York – head on out there!

A wide variety of glassware and other items at a flea market.
The Brooklyn flea markets generally have interesting items you can buy cheaply!

Also, you’ve got other options here as well! The Brooklyn Flea is one of the most famous flea markets in the city; and it has a different indoors location each winter. It moves into winter quarters each Thanksgiving, and they remain there each weekend until March. So if you’re into quirky trinkets and interesting products – find out where they’re at this winter and give the Brooklyn Flea a visit!

Ice skating is one of the best things to do in Brooklyn in the winter

At the end of the day, you may still opt for some of the more traditional winter activities. Which is why going ice skating in Prospect Park may be among the best things to do in Brooklyn in the winter for you! And if you don’t feel like staying in the outdoors, Brooklyn also has some amazing indoors skating rings!

Children ice staking in an outdoor skating rink.
If you want some outdoor fun in Brooklyn, ice-skating in Prospect Park is always there!

Enjoy some performing arts

Are you an aspiring performing art lover? Then the Brooklyn Academy of Music is definitely the place for you. And furthermore, this venue will come in handy once the winter cold comes knocking. Indeed – throughout the entire season, you’ll find many different kinds of performances; around here, there’s something for everyone. Do you want to see one of the finest renditions of “The Nutcracker” on the entire East Coast? That’s why the American Ballet repertory is here. Such opportunities are one of the many benefits of moving to New York; everything is available to you!

There’s an excellent film festival for children here

And it’s not like you’re limited to ballet here when it comes to performing arts! The Brooklyn Academy of Music also usually hosts a film festival for kids; so you can have some family fun that anyone can enjoy! For the past twenty years, the children of Brooklyn have been looking forward to watching many great films throughout February; and it’s usually something that their parents enjoy as well. So if you’re looking for fun things to do in Brooklyn in the winter; we believe that BAM will be a great pick for you!

Ready to move?

Moving to Brooklyn means getting to experience some of the most wonderful parts of NYC year round. Enjoying the winter in Brooklyn is only one of the many special aspects of life in the big apple.

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