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Where to See The Nutcracker Ballet in NYC in 2024

The Yorkville Nutcracker stars talented local dancers in an NYC-centric version of the classic tale. Photos by Eduardo Patino
The Yorkville Nutcracker stars talented local dancers in an NYC-centric version of the classic tale. Photos by Eduardo Patino
11/10/23 - By Drew Kristofik

The Nutcracker ballet is a classic holiday experience for kids and parents, and there are now so many versions of The Nutcracker ballet in NYC a parent could go sugar plum crazy trying to figure out which one is best for their family.

We've found more than a dozen cool variations of The Nutcracker ballet playing this season across all five NYC boroughs, from Lincoln Center's iconic classic Balanchine iteration to one with a fabulous afterparty. We've also found one Nutcracker ballet performance featuring stunning marionettes and three performances that are 100% FREE (though you have to take your chances as a walk in - tickets to those performances were snatched up the minute they were released!)

Read on for all our picks for the best Nutcracker ballets in NYC for families, and find more holiday-must do's and Christmas activities in our Guide to the Holidays in NYC.

Click through to check our listings for all the details, including addresses, times, and recommended ages, and check our Family Activity Calendar for more must-see children's shows and holiday theater.

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The New York City Ballet's iteration of The Nutcracker ballet is a holiday bucket list activity in NYC. Photo courtesy of the ballet
The New York City Ballet's iteration of The Nutcracker ballet is a holiday bucket list activity in NYC. Photo courtesy of the ballet

Where to See The Nutcracker Ballet in Manhattan in 2023

The Nutcracker at Brookfield Place

Battery Park City–FREE
Friday-Sunday, November 22-24
The one that's free, but walk-in only.
This free one-hour version of the beloved holiday ballet, performed to Tchaikovsky’s cherished score, is set Art Nouveau-style circa 1907 with innovative choreography by long-time New York Theatre Ballet choreographer Keith Michael. READ MORE

Dorrance Dance | Nutcracker Suite at NY City Center

Midtown West
Friday-Sunday, November 22-24
The one with that Duke Ellington swing.
Part seasonal concert, part tap ballet, The Nutcracker Suite is a toe-tapping, hand-clapping revelation set to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s extraordinary arrangement of the Tchaikovsky classic. READ MORE

The Steadfast Tin Soldier & Nutcracker Sweets

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Weekends from Saturday, November 30-Sunday, December 29
The one with gorgeous marionettes - best for littles.
Puppetworks presents a double bill, featuring The Steadfast Tin Soldier, from Hans Christian Andersen, and Nutcracker Sweets with Tchaikovsky's music. Both are adapted for the marionette stage by Nicholas Coppola.  READ MORE

The Nutcracker at Ajkun Ballet Theatre

Midtown West
Weekends from Saturday, December 7-Sunday, December 22
The one that includes a family photo with the cast.
Chiara Ajkun's version of The Nutcracker, performed by Ajkun Ballet Theatre, is perfect for children and adults alike and includes a complimentary photo with the cast.  READ MORE

The Brooklyn Nutcracker at City Tech

Flatbush, Brooklyn
Thursday-Sunday, December 12-15
The one with the best infusion of Hip-Hop.
The Brooklyn Nutcracker fuses ballet, hip-hop, and a variety of world dance genres to create a new holiday tradition. This performance transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant culture of melting pot Brooklyn. READ MORE

The Hard Nut: Mark Morris Dance Group at BAM

Downtown Brooklyn
Weekends from Thursday, December 12 - Sunday, December 22
The one with dancing GI Joes (Best for teens).
This modern reinterpretation of The Nutcracker by the Mark Morris Dance Group, based comic book art of Charles Burns, delivers a lavish, gender-bent version of a classic transplant's story, lasting from the straight-laced 1890s to the swinging 1970s. READ MORE

The Nutcracker at LaGuardia PAC

Long Island City, Queens
Friday-Sunday, December 13-15
Best in Queens.
Joffrey Ballet School’s production of The Nutcracker is followed by a meet and greet with cast members and a visit to Santa’s Toyland. READ MORE

InsideOut Concert: The Nutcracker

Midtown West
Saturday, December 14
The one with the classic score, without all the ballet visuals.
Take a journey through Tchaikovsky's musical imagining of the Land of the Sweets and experience some of the most beautiful and expressive music ever written from your seat inside the orchestra. READ MORE

The Nutcracker at the Lehman Center

Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx
Saturday-Sunday, December 14-15
Best in the Bronx.
The Westchester Ballet Company's Nutcracker is a spectacular, enchanting, full-length presentation of the beloved holiday classic featuring a cast of 100 dancers.  READ MORE

The Bang Group’s Nut/Cracked at 92Y

Upper East Side
Saturday, December 14 & Thursday, December 19
The one with the best after party.
Choreographer David Parker's version of the Nutcracker blends tap, vaudeville, ballet, disco, contemporary dance and genre-nonconforming glee. Nut/Cracked makes Tchaikovsky’s beloved score swings with unexpected arrangements by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians. READ MORE

The Yorkville Nutcracker at The Gerald Lynch Theater

Upper East Side
Thursday, December 19-Sunday, December 22
The one that's set in NYC.
This year marks the 26th anniversary of The Yorkville Nutcracker, set in 1895, which includes lavish sets and costumes and takes the audience on a tour through old New York's most beloved landmarks, including a holiday party at Gracie Mansion, dancing at the Crystal Palace in the New York Botanical Garden, and skating in Central Park. READ MORE

The Nutcracker at the College of Staten Island

Mid-Island, Staten Island
Saturday-Sunday, December 21-22
Best on Staten Island.
Staten Island Ballet's immersive production of The Nutcracker sells out annually. Staged at the College of Staten Island's Williamson Theater, it's a unique show that immerses audiences in the holiday spirit. READ MORE

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