New York City & New Jersey Holiday Party Guide
NYC Holiday Party Ideas: Photo Booths & the Coolest Venues in Manhattan, Brooklyn, LIC, Red Hook & New Jersey
By Big Day Events
December in New York is a lot. The tree is up at Rockefeller Center, every bar is packed, and your team has three parties on their calendar the same week. So how do you make yours the one they actually show up for?
You give people something to do the second they walk in, and you pick a room that feels like New York. This guide covers both. First, the photo booth and entertainment ideas that still get a New York crowd cheering. Then, the coolest venues across Hudson Yards, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island City, Red Hook and the New Jersey waterfront.
We’re Big Day Events. We work events all over New York and New Jersey, from the Javits Center floor to rooftop parties in Midtown, so this is the stuff we see every season.
Part 1: Photo Booth Ideas With a New York Twist
New Yorkers have seen it all, so the bar is high. These are the ideas that still get a room in this city cheering. Want the full list? See our 15 best holiday party photo booth ideas.
1. AI Caricatures in a New York Scene
Starting at $2,800
Your team, drawn as caricatures, ice skating under the tree, hailing a cab in the snow, or standing on top of your own office building. We build the background around your party, and it’s ready in about 30 seconds.
More on our New York AI caricature photo booth page.
2. Glam Portraits & Headshots for the Dressed-Up Crowd
You know the Rainbow Room crowd is going to show up looking amazing. Our photographer poses every guest, and our software finishes each one into a timeless black-and-white portrait in seconds. Not just the CEO. Everyone.
Want something your team can use all year? Run it as a headshot booth. Same studio light, same posing, finished in color, and every employee walks out with a new LinkedIn photo. In a city where everyone’s always networking, that’s a gift people actually use.
See our glam photo booth page.
3. Glambot: Your Own Red Carpet
Starting at $5,000
New York does red carpets better than anywhere. The Glambot’s robotic arm swings around each guest and films a slow-motion clip, and the whole room stops to watch the replay.
See our NYC Glambot rental page.
4. AI Video: Put Your Team in a New York Holiday Movie
Starting at $4,000
A sled ride through a snowy Central Park. Dancing inside a snow globe with the skyline behind you. Guests step in front of the camera and walk out as the stars of their own holiday movie. Play them on the big screens and watch the room lose it.
More on our AI photo booth NYC page.
5. Custom Trading Cards for a City of Sports Fans
This city argues about the Knicks, the Rangers, the Mets and the Yankees all year. Lean into it. Every guest gets a card with their photo, name and “stats,” and you can seal them in collector cases. We made soccer cards for fetchFEST New York, and people guarded them like the real thing.
More on our custom trading card page.
6. Magazine Covers for Your Year-End Winners
Put your best people on the cover. For Grassi, a firm with offices across New York, New Jersey and Long Island, we made “Company of the Year” covers starring their leadership team. Print them big for the room and hand each winner a copy.
7. Live T-Shirt Printing: The Best New York Souvenir
Forget the Times Square souvenir shirts. Guests take a photo, we turn it into artwork, and a couple of minutes later it comes off the press with their face on it. Prefer tote bags? We print those too.
Here’s why this one deserves a bigger slice of the budget: it’s three things in one. It’s the activity everyone lines up for. It’s marketing, because your logo ends up on a shirt people actually wear around the city. And it’s a personal gift with their own face on it. Most companies pay for entertainment, swag and gifts separately. This covers all three at one station.
See our T-shirt photo booth page.
8. Robot Sketch Artists for the Gallery Crowd
In a DUMBO gallery or a Chelsea loft, robots drawing portraits with real pens feel right at home. People crowd around and watch every line. Then they walk away with a one-of-a-kind drawing.
More on our robot caricature page.
9. PR Photography for the 500-Person Party
At a big Chelsea Piers or Liberty House party, the best moments happen all over the room. Our photographers catch them, and facial recognition sends each guest their own photos as they’re taken. Nobody digs through 800 pictures on Monday.
See our PR event photography page.
10. A Live Engraving Gift Shop
New Yorkers are busy in December. Help them out. Guests pick a gift, and we engrave a name or message on it right there. Half of them pick something for Mom, and they get to cross one more thing off the list before the train ride home.
Yes, it costs more than a box of logo pens, and it’s worth it. It’s entertainment, because people love watching the laser work. It’s a thank-you gift they choose themselves. And it’s your brand on something that sits on a kitchen counter for years. One line in the budget, three jobs done.
11. 360 Video Booth: Spin Under the City Lights
Starting at $2,200
Put a 360 booth in front of an LED wall in a Brooklyn loft or on a rooftop with the skyline behind it, and the line never stops. Guests step up, the camera spins around them, and they get a slow-motion video made to be shared. We can add effects that match your theme, like the flames we added for a “fire and ice” party.
More on our 360 booth page.
The city that never sleeps
Your Party Shouldn’t Either
New Yorkers have seen everything. Rooftops, open bars, the same booth in the corner. So let’s give them something they haven’t seen. Tell us your venue, your crowd and your vibe, and we’ll put together a mix that has your team talking until the next one.
Plan my NYC partyRaw Loft? Bare Warehouse? We Bring the Glow.
A lot of the coolest spaces in Brooklyn and LIC start as four brick walls. That’s where the details come in. LED walls, neon light tunnels, lighting that makes everyone look good. We design the setup so it looks amazing from across the room and pulls people in, and your guests get an immersive photo experience instead of a booth in the corner.
Part 2: The Coolest NYC & NJ Venues for Your Holiday Party
The room sets the mood before anyone says a word. Here’s how we’d think about it, then our favorite spots by neighborhood.
A 60th-floor room gives you views nobody forgets. Ground-level spaces are easier for big crowds: no elevator lines, easy load-in, and room to spread out. Over 300 guests? Ground level usually wins.
Glass, marble and skyline for a black-tie feel. Brick, barrels and big windows for something warmer and more laid-back.
Office towers and big hotels usually want detailed COIs, set vendor hours and freight-only access. Lofts, galleries, warehouses and restaurant buyouts are often easier and more flexible with outside vendors and operators. Ask before you sign.
Venue details change, so always confirm capacity, pricing and vendor rules with the venue directly.
Hudson Yards & West Chelsea: Sky-High and Brand New
The newest skyline in the city. Glass towers, high floors and views that go all the way down the Hudson.
A glass-wrapped room near the top of one of the tallest towers in the city. Year-end parties don’t get much higher than this.
Private and semi-private events up at the outdoor sky deck, with indoor space so the weather doesn’t matter.
The tower with the terraces stacked up the side. Its high-floor lounge and event spaces feel brand new and very New York.
Floor-to-ceiling windows, a terrace, and views in every direction, a few blocks from Hudson Yards.
Big, purpose-built event floors for a whole-company party with dinner, a program and plenty of room.
A huge arts space with a hall that literally moves. For the party that’s really a production.
Classic Manhattan
The postcard version of a New York holiday party. Big views, big rooms, right in the middle of everything.
Art Deco glamour steps from the tree. About as “New York holiday” as it gets.
Huge rooms right on the Hudson, and ground level makes big setups easy. Read our Chelsea Piers venue guide.
One of the biggest rooftops in the city, with the Empire State Building right there.
A rooftop bar on top of the Ink48 hotel, with sunset views over the Hudson.
Tall ceilings and LED walls you can brand top to bottom. A party that feels like a show.
Brooklyn: Williamsburg & DUMBO
A little looser and a lot more creative. Exposed brick, art on the walls, and the bridges lit up outside.
A ballroom plus a bunch of other spaces, so it works for a small team or a whole company.
A working winery with wood, brick and candlelight. Warm and cozy for December.
An intimate lounge for a dressed-up night with a smaller group.
A big industrial art gallery by the bridges. Feels like a gallery opening, not an office party.
A Mediterranean restaurant tucked under the Manhattan Bridge, with water and skyline views.
Red Hook: Waterfront With a Little Grit
A little harder to get to, and that’s the charm. Old warehouses, cobblestones and some of the best harbor views in the city.
A distillery and winery on the water, looking out at the harbor and the Statue of Liberty.
A massive open space with harbor and skyline views. Room for anything you can dream up.
Casual, fun and right on the water, for a team that doesn’t want a stiff night.
Long Island City: The Skyline View Everyone Wants
Some of the best views of Manhattan aren’t in Manhattan. LIC looks straight across the East River, and the spaces are usually bigger for the money.
A restored 19th-century building with a courtyard looking out at the Queensboro Bridge.
A skyline rooftop plus a two-story studio, so the party moves inside when it’s cold.
A raw warehouse and gallery on the East River. A blank canvas for lighting and LED.
Wide-open views of the skyline and the Queensboro Bridge.
New Jersey: Hoboken & Jersey City
Want the whole Manhattan skyline as your backdrop? Cross the river. The sunset views from the Jersey side are hard to beat.
A Sky Room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound terrace facing the skyline.
Elegant rooms with views of lower Manhattan. Works for small groups and huge ones.
A big ballroom plus a riverfront terrace, right across from the Financial District.
A full buyout overlooking the lit-up skyline, easy for anyone coming off the PATH.
A sleek hotel space on the river with big New York views.
Planning in your office instead? That works too. A lobby, a big conference room or a cleared-out floor can become a party with the right setup.
Your NYC Holiday Party Planning Timeline
- 3 months out: pick your date and venue. December Fridays in Manhattan and Brooklyn go first.
- 2 months out: book your photo booth and entertainment, and pick a theme.
- 6 weeks out: we design your branded overlay, backdrop and artwork, and you approve it.
- 4 weeks out: send us the venue contact. We handle the insurance certificate and load-in details.
- 1 week out: we confirm the run-of-show: arrival, setup time, hours and where everything goes.
- Party night: we arrive early, set up, and run the whole thing. You enjoy your party.
Throwing a Party in NYC: What Most Planners Forget
New York venues have rules, and they’re strict about them. Here’s what to ask before you book anything.
- Certificate of insurance (COI). Most NYC venues want one from every vendor before load-in. We send ours straight to your venue.
- Freight elevators and load-in windows. Many buildings only let vendors in through the freight entrance at set times. We plan our setup around them.
- Union venues. Some big spaces use union labor for setup. Ask early so there are no surprises.
- Power. Older lofts and warehouses don’t always have outlets where you need them. We check the floor plan ahead of time.
- Getting there. Red Hook and the Jersey waterfront are gorgeous but take a little more travel. Think about the subway, the PATH, the ferry, or a shuttle.
- December books fast. The best rooms and the best dates go early. Lock in your venue and your entertainment together.
NYC & NJ Holiday Party Questions
Do you do holiday parties in all five boroughs?
Yes. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island, plus New Jersey, Long Island, the Hamptons, Westchester and Connecticut. Travel around the city is included, so you don’t pay extra for us to get to Red Hook.
Do you offer branded photo booths in NYC?
Every booth we do is branded. Your logo and colors go on the photo overlay, the backdrop, the share screen and the prints. For a holiday party we keep it light and festive. For a client party, we can make your brand the star.
Can you do professional headshots at our holiday party?
Yes, and it’s one of the most useful things you can give a New York team. Our photographer poses each person, our software retouches it in seconds, and everyone gets a polished headshot sent right to their phone.
What are the best holiday party venues in Hudson Yards?
If you want height, Peak on the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards and the sky deck at Edge are hard to top. The Spiral has high-floor lounge and event space, Glasshouse Chelsea is a few blocks away on the 21st floor, Convene has big event floors for a whole company, and The Shed is there for the party that’s really a production.
Which NYC venues are easiest to work with for outside vendors?
It really depends on the building. Office towers and big hotels usually have stricter COI requirements, set vendor hours and freight-only load-in. Lofts, galleries, warehouses and restaurant buyouts tend to be more flexible with outside vendors and operators. Ask the venue before you sign, and send us their contact so we can sort out the paperwork.
Should we pick a high-floor venue or a ground-level space?
For views, go high. For a big crowd, go low. Ground-level spaces skip the elevator lines, make load-in easy and give people room to move. If you’re over 300 guests, ground level usually makes for a smoother night.
What are the best holiday party venues in Brooklyn?
For a big group, The Williamsburg Hotel or the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. For something cozy, Brooklyn Winery or Velvet Brooklyn. For an art crowd, Smack Mellon in DUMBO. And if you want the harbor and the Statue of Liberty out the window, head to Red Hook Barrel Yard.
Where can we get the best Manhattan skyline views?
Funny enough, from outside Manhattan. Long Island City looks straight across the East River, and the Jersey City and Hoboken waterfront faces the whole skyline. Maritime Parc, Liberty House, The Ainsworth and the LIC rooftops all have the view.
What are good venues in Red Hook?
Red Hook Barrel Yard for waterfront views and a distillery on site, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal for a huge open space, and Brooklyn Crab for something casual and fun on the water.
Are there good event spaces in Long Island City?
Definitely. The Foundry has a historic building and a courtyard by the Queensboro Bridge, The Edge LIC has a rooftop plus an indoor studio, and Sound River Studios is a raw waterfront warehouse that’s perfect for LED and lighting.
What are the best New Jersey holiday party venues near NYC?
Maritime Parc and Liberty House in Liberty State Park, Atelier on the Hudson in Jersey City, and The Ainsworth and W Hoboken in Hoboken. They’re easy for anyone coming from the city on the PATH, and the skyline views are unreal.
Can you work with our venue’s COI and load-in rules?
Yes, we do it all the time. Send us the venue contact and we’ll get them our insurance certificate, confirm the freight elevator and load-in time, and work out where the power is.
How much does a photo booth cost for an NYC holiday party?
Starting prices: classic photo booth or 360 video booth from $2,200, AI caricatures from $2,800, lenticular prints from $3,500, AI video from $4,000, Glambot from $5,000, and the 180° array from $6,200. Everything else gets a custom quote based on your hours, guest count and venue.
How early should we book for December in New York?
As soon as you have a date. The best NYC venues and the best Friday nights in December go fast, and custom designs take time. Reach out even if the details aren’t set yet.
What works best for a big Manhattan party with 500+ guests?
Go fast and go wide. AI caricatures and PR photography handle big numbers, and two or three stations spread people around the room. Add a Glambot or 180° array as the showpiece everyone gathers around.
Can you set up in our office instead of a venue?
Yes. A lobby, a big conference room or an open floor works great. We’ll check the freight elevator, the space and the power, and turn it into a party.
Do you also do conferences and brand activations in NYC?
All the time. Holiday parties are just one part of the year. We run AI photo booths, caricatures, trading cards and video booths at conferences, summits and brand activations around the city, including at the Javits Center. See our Javits Center photo booth page.
Is a photo booth all Big Day Events can do in NYC?
Not even close. Check out our AI caricatures in New York, AI photo booth NYC, Glambot NYC, sticker photo booth NYC, glam portraits, 180° array, live T-shirt printing, robot sketch artists and PR photography. We do all of it in New Jersey too.
This Year, Make Yours the New York Party They Talk About
The year’s almost done. The city is lit up, everyone’s ready to celebrate, and your crowd is walking in expecting a great night. That’s a lot riding on one party.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We work with top brands on the regular, all over New York and New Jersey, and we’re here to make yours amazing.
Contact us