Weekly roundup (December 3)

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December 3, 2025 | Issue #135

NYC FOR FREE WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Note from Rebeka:

This week: There are so many pop-ups and events! Whether you’re celebrating National Cookie Day on Dec 4 (McCormick, Harry Potter), want to see a tree lighting ceremony (Rockefeller Center, NYSE, Central Park), love a beauty pop-up (Byoma, Hero), a fashion pop-up (ASOS, DSW), or free hot chocolate (SWISS, Zürich), there is truly something for everyone this week.

– Rebeka

FEATURED EVENTS (THIS WEEK):

🎉Brasa Peruvian Kitchen Midtown Free Smoothies (December 3): Brasa Peruvian Kitchen is celebrating its newest location in Midtown with free smoothies and gift cards on December 3rd! 

🎄Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting (December 3): After being wrapped with more than 50,000 multi-colored, energy efficient LED lights and crowned with a Swarovski star, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit during the live broadcast “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on December 3.

🎶 Spotify Wrapped 2025 in NYC (December 3): To celebrate Wrapped 2025, Spotify is taking over New York, with immersive experiences across the city!

🍽️A Very ALDI Holiday Pop-Up (December 3): ALDI is transforming a NYC hot spot into a tinsel-drenched ALDI wonderland with appetizers, seasonal favorites, desserts and drinks. More tickets drop December 1!

🍪McCormick x Milk Bar: National Cookie Day (December 4): Join McCormick and Milk Bar on National Cookie Day with free giveaways of the limited-edition Eggnog English Toffee Cookie, plus McCormick is having a free speakeasy, The Cookie Confidential

✨ Pura x Pantone: The Color of the Year Scent Experience (December 5): Join Pura to smell the Pantone Color of the Year 2026, an immersive world where fragrance, color, and imagination collide.

❄️ Byoma Wonderlab (December 5 - 6): ’Tis the season to step into BYOMA’s Holiday Pop-Up: a cozy, colorful world made for barrier care and festive fun.

🎁Target Wonder Drop (December 5 - 7):  Join Target at Target Wonder Drop, a larger-than-life holiday spectacle with shopping, giveaways, games and brand activations from LEGO, Hasbro, and Dove.

🧥 Urban Outfitters X Nike Bounce House (December 5 - 6): You’re invited to jump into the season (literally) with a giant pink puffer-inspired bounce house inspired by the new Nike Swoosh Series Puffer Collection. 

🔴Hero Holiday Workshop (December 6 - 7): Join Hero for sweet treats, surprise gifts, exclusive merch, and more at a pimple patch wonderland.

⛸️106.7 Lite FM Skating in Central Park (December 6): Join 106.7 Lite FM at its annual tradition, skating in Central Park (at Wollman Rink). First 1,000 will skate free!

🪀Innovators Toy Land by GE Vernova (December 8): Rockefeller Center will transform into a high-energy holiday playground for kids of all ages with the first-ever Innovators Toy Land

MORE EVENTS (THIS WEEK):

🎊New Year's Eve Wishing Wall (December 3 - 28)

🍫Zürich Tourism Hot Chocolate Hut (December 4 - 6)

🍫SWISS Holiday Chocolate Kiosk (December 4 - 6)

🍪Pepperidge Farm Cookie Courier (December 4)

🎄NYSE 102nd Tree Lighting (December 4)

🎄DUMBO Tree Lighting (December 4)

📸Holiday Photos with LOVESAC (December 4)

🎄29th Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting (December 4)

🎉Nordstrom Oh, What Funhouse! NYC Holiday Party (December 4)

🍪Harry Potter New York Free Cookies (December 4)

🎮Fogo de Chão Claw of Indulgence (December 4)

🍨Touchland x Van Leeuwen Sundae Pop Up (December 5 - 7)

⚽️US Soccer The Road to ‘26 Draw Show (December 5)

👠DSW Holiday Pop Up (December 5)

❄️ASOS Winter Wonderland  (December 5 - 21)

🎁TikTok Holiday Emporium (December 5 - 7)

💆🏻‍♀️Hand & Stone Back Friday  (December 5)

🥂Quarters December Pop Ups (December 5 - 14)

🎄Fort Greene Park Tree Lighting (December 5)

🎄Woodhaven Tree Lighting (December 5)

🎄Light Up the Lawn: Roosevelt Island (December 5)

🎄Hope Holiday Tree Lighting (December 5)

💄 Tilt Beauty x Leon’s Bagels Pop-Up (December 6)

🥥Vita Coco Blue Carpet Experience (December 6)

🧴Apothékary Holiday Wellness Pop Up (December 6)

🥤Poppi NYC Holiday Pop Up (December 6)

🍫Kinder Chocolate x Elf on the Shelf Holiday Treat Truck (December 6)

🧴Jones Road Miracle Balm Bar (December 6)

🎄Bronx Little Italy Tree Lighting (December 6)

🧴Barefaced x In My Sundays Holiday Hotel (December 6 - 7)

🌙Moonbrew Dream Land (December 6 - 7)

🎁Skyview Holiday Weekend Celebration (December 6 - 7)

🧴Beauty&Beyond - KBeauty x Skincare Pop Up (December 6 - 7)

☕️Truvia x The Elk Coffee Pop Up (Saturdays, December 6 - 27)

💌Free Holiday Cards with Partiful (December 7)

🎄Park Avenue Tree Lighting  (December 7)

🚂Holiday Nostalgia Rides (Sundays, December 7 - 28) 

🍫Hot Chocolate Tours (Sundays, December 7 - 21)

🎄Madison Square Park Holiday Tree Lighting (December 9)

💄Beauty Bakery New York (December 9 - 15)

🖼️ES DEVLIN: CONGREGATION (December 9 - January 4)

🍁Genesis House CHROMA: Tales Between Hues (through December 14)

🌟Holiday Under the Stars: Columbus Circle (through Jan 4)

✨Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show 2025 (through January 4)

🚂New York Transit Museum Holiday Train Show (through February 2026)

😆PAC-MAN Celebrates 45th Anniversary (through January 18)

ON THE RADAR:

🥃 Bruichladdich Distillery Holiday Whisky Pop Up (December 10 - 12): This holiday season, Bruichladdich Single Malt Scotch Whisky is bringing Scotland to New York with a limited-run pop-up with complimentary whisky tastings and more.

🎄Washington Square Park Christmas Tree Lighting (December 11): Join for the annual tree lighting ceremony of the most iconic tree in downtown New York City

🎶Z100 All Access Lounge 2025 (December 12): Enjoy free live performances from your favorite artists and your chance to win tickets to Z100 Jingle Ball!

🎊First Annual ELF Day (December 12): Warner Bros. Discovery is honoring Jon Favreau’s “Elf” with the first annual celebration of “December the TwELFth.”

MISC, RECURRING & DEALS:

✨ Testing Opportunities: There are 6 testing opportunities you can sign up for starting on Tuesday! Earn a $50 beauty gift card for your participation (and yes, you can sign up for multiple tests!) Opportunities include: Mushroom Coffee, Hand Cream, Cushion Foundation, Eye Cream, Lipstick, and Supergreens.

🤑 Rakuten: Get Cash Back during the holidays by shopping at stores like Nike, Bloomingdales, lululemon & more (often 10%+). Plus, new users can get $50 after using the Rakuten app or browser extension to make your first purchase of $50+. Sign up here.

🙇🏽‍♀️ Get $225 for a Focus Group: Earn $225 in rewards to help to shape the future of technology! Sign up for a 3 hour in-person study in Midtown Manhattan and get $225 for your time and participation.