Christmas In New York 2016: Best Broadway Shows And Holiday Performances To See This Season

New York City is one of the best places to enjoy the festivities of the holiday season. Filled with timeless traditions from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to the intricately decorated windows of Fifth Avenue department stores, the city has plenty of holiday cheer to offer.

Some of the best festive Broadway shows offer a wide range of critically acclaimed content.

The Nutcracker
A decades-old classic, the New York City Ballet has been putting on renditions of "The Nutcracker" for 62 years. Both matinee and evening performances are being held until Dec. 31. The ballet includes almost 90 dancers and 60 musicians as well as an enormous Christmas tree that grows to a height of 40 feet during the show.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular
The annual Radio City performance is one of the city's biggest holiday draws. The spectacular has been held every year since 1993 and revolves around 36 Rockettes, dancers known for their high kicks and Swarovski-studded costumes. The show runs until Jan. 2, 2017, at the Radio City Music Hall.

Madeline's Christmas
Author Ludwig Bemelman's children's books about a young Parisian girl are taking to the stage this holiday season for a Christmas special. The musical is geared toward family and young children and is being performed from Dec. 8 through Dec. 18 at the Lion Theatre on 42nd Street.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The animated television classic is being recreated as a musical at Madison Square Garden for the holidays. The performance is being held until Dec. 18.

The Book of Mormon
For those looking for a less festive Broadway show, tickets are available for the nine-time Tony Award-winning best musical. The show follows Mormon missionaries as they travel to Uganda to convert people to their religion and is being performed at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on West 29th Street.

Matilda
Roald Dahl's classic children's book about a young girl with magical abilities and a penchant for reading has been on Broadway since 2013. Tickets are available throughout the holidays at the Shubert Theatre on West 44th Street.

Wicked
A twist on the Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the story of how the wicked witch came to be. Wicked is playing at the Minskoff theater on West 45th Street.