Looking for things to do in NYC this weekend? Two of New York’s favorite holiday traditions are opening right now: the free Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal and the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Friday’s rain is expected to clear out before Saturday, which makes Nov. 14–15 a good weekend to see both. Before you head out, check the subway changes below. A few of them affect trips between Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.
The News: NYC’s Holiday Train Shows Are Back
According to amNewYork, the New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show opens Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, for its 22nd season at the museum’s Grand Central gallery. The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 14, and runs through Jan. 10, 2027. CBS New York reports that this is its 35th year. The two shows have similar names but are very different visits, so here is how to choose.
Free: The Transit Museum Holiday Train Show at Grand Central
This is the easy one for a short trip. Admission is free. The display is a 34-foot, two-level layout with Lionel trains, including Metro-North models, vintage subway cars and a Polar Express locomotive. They run past miniature New York landmarks on the way from a tiny Grand Central to the North Pole. The museum says this year adds a new section of buildings by New York artist Danny Cortes and a miniature Economy Candy storefront.
- Where: New York Transit Museum Gallery & Store, in the Shuttle Passage just off Grand Central’s Main Concourse, next to the Station Master’s Office.
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The gallery closes on major holidays, so check before Thanksgiving week.
- How long: The display is compact. Fifteen to thirty minutes is enough for most families, and that leaves time to explore the rest of the terminal.
The gallery is small and it gets busy on weekend afternoons. If you can, go right when it opens or on a weekday evening. While you are there, look up at the Main Concourse ceiling, find the clock on the information booth and step into the Whispering Gallery outside the Oyster Bar. If you want the stories behind those sights, our Grand Central Terminal history tour covers the terminal’s architecture and its secrets.
Ticketed: The NYBG Holiday Train Show in the Bronx
The Botanical Garden’s show is a half-day outing. Model trains run over bridges and through city scenes inside the glass Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, past nearly 200 New York landmark replicas made from plant parts like palm fronds, pinecones and cinnamon sticks. There is also an outdoor display with more trains.
- Dates: Nov. 14, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027. Members had a preview on Nov. 13.
- Tickets: Book a dated ticket on the NYBG website. Weekends and holiday weeks sell out, so don’t plan to buy at the gate.
- Evening hours: NYBG lists extended evening hours on select dates, starting Nov. 27–29 and continuing on several December dates and Jan. 2.
- Getting there: Metro-North’s Harlem Line runs from Grand Central to the Botanical Garden station, across the street from the garden. That makes it easy to see the free Grand Central show and the Bronx show on the same day.
NYC Weekend Weather: Rain Friday, Dry and Chilly Saturday and Sunday
FOX 5 New York says a nor’easter is bringing rain and gusty wind on Friday, Nov. 13, with the rain tapering off in the city by Friday night. Saturday and Sunday look dry, breezy and colder, with highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 30s. That is good walking weather if you dress for it. Wear a warm layer, gloves and comfortable waterproof shoes, since puddles linger after a storm. If you’re out Friday, it’s a good day for indoor sights. The Grand Central show is a perfect rainy-day stop.
NYC Subway Changes This Weekend (Nov. 14–15)
Weekend track work is normal in New York, and most visitors’ routes in Manhattan are fine. These changes are the ones most likely to trip you up.
No J or M Trains Between Brooklyn and Manhattan
The MTA is replacing switches near Marcy Av on five fall weekends between Oct. 17 and Nov. 23. When the work is on, from 3:45 a.m. Saturday to 10 p.m. Sunday, there are no J or M trains between Myrtle Av in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The MTA’s alternatives:
- Free T432 shuttle buses connect Myrtle Av, Flushing Av, Lorimer St, Hewes St, Marcy Av and Delancey St-Essex St.
- The B39 bus runs between Williamsburg and the Lower East Side during the day and evening.
- For a direct train to Manhattan, transfer to the A or C at Broadway Junction or the L at Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs.
- If you leave the subway at Myrtle Av or Delancey St-Essex St to take the shuttle, ask a station agent for a GO Ticket so you can get back in.
If you’re staying in Williamsburg or Bushwick, or heading to the Lower East Side for dinner, give yourself an extra 20 to 30 minutes.
A Train: Lefferts Branch Closed Until Monday Morning
The MTA’s nine-day A train suspension between Rockaway Blvd and Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd runs until 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16. Free shuttle buses cover 104 St, 111 St and Lefferts Blvd. If you’re riding the A to the airport, there is good news: Lefferts-bound trains are being sent to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, where you can connect to the AirTrain.
Check the Board Before You Ride
Unplanned delays happen too. On Thursday, PIX11 reported delays on the 2, 3, 4 and 5 lines after a person was hit by a train in Brooklyn. Before every trip, check the MTA app or mta.info. Read the posters on the platform and listen for announcements. New Yorkers do the same thing.
Holiday Crowd Tips From Our Retired NYPD Guides
Holiday openings bring big, happy crowds, and New York handles them well. Our guides spent their careers keeping these spaces safe. Here is their simple advice:
- Carry your bag in front in packed spots like the Grand Central concourse, holiday markets and crowded trains. Keep your phone in a front pocket, not a back pocket.
- Pick a meeting spot with your group or kids in case you get separated. The clock on Grand Central’s information booth is a classic New York meeting place.
- Tap and go with OMNY. Use a contactless card or phone at the turnstile so you don’t have to stop at a machine with your wallet open.
- Ignore anyone selling “tickets” on the street. Buy from the official NYBG or venue websites only. The Grand Central train show is free, so nobody should charge you to get in.
For more, read our NYC subway safety tips and our NYC travel tips for visitors.
Make a Weekend of It
A simple plan: on Saturday morning, see the free train show at Grand Central, then take Metro-North to the Bronx for your NYBG time slot. Come back for dinner downtown. On Sunday, head to the holiday markets and lights from our guide to things to do in NYC in December, and warm up with a cup from our list of the best hot chocolate in NYC. Planning ahead for later this month? Our Thanksgiving in NYC guide covers parade viewing.
For an evening that’s different from the usual sightseeing, join a tour led by people who policed these streets. The NYC Mafia: An Insider’s Story is an evening walk through Little Italy and the East Village with NYPD guides, with classic Italian food stops along the way. The daytime True Crime NYC Mafia Walk and the NYC Street Food, Gangs and Immigration tour are good choices for a dry, crisp weekend afternoon.
FAQ: Things to Do in NYC This Weekend
Is the Holiday Train Show at Grand Central free?
Yes. The New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show at its Grand Central gallery is free, and it opened Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. It is open 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
What is the difference between the two NYC holiday train shows?
The Grand Central show is a free, compact model-train layout in Midtown. The New York Botanical Garden show in the Bronx is ticketed and much larger, with nearly 200 landmark replicas made from plant materials. It runs Nov. 14, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027.
Is the NYC subway running normally this weekend?
Most lines are running, but there are planned changes. There are no J or M trains between Myrtle Av in Brooklyn and Manhattan from early Saturday to Sunday night, and the A train’s Lefferts branch stays closed until 5 a.m. Monday. Always check the MTA app before you ride.
What should I wear in NYC this weekend?
Forecasts call for a dry, breezy weekend with highs in the upper 40s. Bring a warm coat, gloves and comfortable shoes for walking.
Book a Tourocity Tour This Weekend
New York is at its most festive this time of year. See it with a guide who knows the city from the inside. Browse all Tourocity tours and book your spot, led by retired NYPD detectives and officers.