‘Tis the Season: Holiday Tree Lighting Celebrations in NYC

The Holiday Season has arrived in NYC! Kicking off the season are tree lighting events held across the boroughs. Check out our round-up of jolly celebrations to take part in, while getting in the spirit.

Featuring live music and performances (can’t beat good ol’ caroling), seasonal beverages and treats, and appearances by everyone’s favorite man in red as we countdown to the flick of the switch. Grab the family and friends to celebrate the season right, which will you be checking out?

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Be sure to click the links for more info! As always, BOOKMARK this GUIDE to your home screen and check back for new additions and updates. Are we missing anything that should be in this Guide? Shoot us an email!

Updated 12/3/24

 

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Downtown Brooklyn
📅 Tuesday, November 26th, 5-6pm
📍 Albee Square W & Fulton Street, Brooklyn

DTBK Gets Lit is the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s annual Albee Square holiday lighting ceremony in partnership with City Point BKLYN. Featuring musical guests, Kinto Zonó Unplugged and DJ Mike along with LED poi and hula twirlers and Bond Street Theatre stilters. Empanada Loca will provide hot chocolate and there’ll be BANG Cookies while supplies last.

The first 40 to rock an ugly holiday sweater and check in at the DBP tent will have a chance to win a City Point gift card or a stylish Downtown Brooklyn beanie. Then, join us in our countdown to turn the holiday lights ON! Sponsored by Happy Munkey, Fulton Mall’s first legal cannabis shop.

Park Slope
📅 Saturday, November 30th, 4:30-5:30pm
📍 Park Slope, 5th Avenue and 4th Street, Brooklyn

Join Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID for their tree lighting ceremony. Featuring hot chocolate from Chela, Christmas tunes from Music by Patrick, Bubbledad bubbling, postcards to Santa with Private Picassos, arts & crafts with Park Slope Parents, and of course, Santa!

Tavern on the Green
📅 Monday, December 2nd, 5:30-8pm
📍 Tavern on the Green, 67th Street & Central Park West

Join Tavern on the Green for their annual tree lighting. Enjoy an evening of holiday sweet treats, hors d’oeuvres, hot cocoa, hot apple cider, and the magical glow of their tree. Performances by  DJ Tweed, the Manhattan Holiday Carolers, and Fleurseule (jazz). Reservations are recommended if joining for dinner. Tree lighting at 7pm.

The Seaport
📅 Tuesday, December 3rd, 3-7pm
📍 Seaport Square & Pier 16, 89 South Street

Hosted by Onika McLean, Seaport’s Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony festivities kick off at 3pm with the Maum Market, a holiday pop-up on Pier 16 featuring over 40 unique, Asian-founded brands, alongside beats by a live DJ. From 6-7pm, enjoy lively performances by Gotham Dance, Big Apple Chorus, Brooklyn United Drumline, and Carolina Rial, with surprise appearances adding to the magic. The evening culminates at 7pm with the tree lighting ceremony, illuminating Seaport Square.

Visit the South Street Seaport Museum’s booth in the market for a free go-fish activity, inspired by ice fishing, featuring winter-themed paper fish from New York Harbor that share fun historical facts about the Fulton Fish Market—perfect for kids ages 2–10. Donate pajamas to the Pajama Program on Pier 16, near the Maum Market, from 3-7pm, helping children across the U.S. get the sleep they deserve.

Bryant Park
📅 Tuesday, December 3rd, 6-7pm, entry begins at 4pm
📍 Bryant Park, 40th street and 6th Avenue

Bryant Park’s Tree Lighting at Bank of America Winter Village will feature Tony Award-winning performer Lea Salonga, performances by world-class skaters Mirai Nagasu, Ashley Cain, Kaitlin Hawayek, Jean-Luc Baker, Ryan Bradley, Ice Theatre of New York, Figure Skating in Harlem, and The Skyliners. Plus singing, fireworks, and more! A full live stream of the event will also be available to watch.

Madison Square Park
📅 Tuesday, December 3rd, 4:30-5:45pm
📍 Madison Square Park, 25th and 5th Avenue, Northern Reflecting Pool

One of their largest trees yet, a 55-foot concolor fir in the Northern Reflecting Pool. Madison Square Park’s Tree Lighting will feature photo ops, baked goods, and live music performances in partnership with the Tin Pan Alley and Sony. Tree lighting at 5pm.

Rockefeller Center
📅 Wednesday, December 4th, 8-10pm, the public starts lining up from the morning
📍 Rockefeller Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza

‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ special, hosted by Kelly Clarkson will feature performances from Clarkson, the Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Little Big Town, RAYE, and Thalia. The Radio City Rockettes will also put on a festive performance.

NBC’s TODAY anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, and Craig Melvin will also join the tree lighting ceremony. Tree lighting at 9:57pm.

New York Stock Exchange
📅 Thursday, December 5th, 3-7pm
📍 New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street

Join NYSE for their annual New York Stock Exchange Tree Lighting Event. Featuring the iconic NYSE Christmas tree, live music performances, and various company activations.

Snacks and refreshments will also be served. This year’s performers include Fogo Azul, School of Rock, NYC Gay Men’s Chorus, The Hit Squad, and Darlene Love.

Red Hook Lobster
📅 Thursday, December 5th, 6-8pm
📍 Red Hook Lobster, 284 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn

Join Red Hook Lobster for their 8th annual Lobster Trap Christmas Tree Lighting. They’ll have complimentary drinks and bites along with holiday music. Reservations are recommended if joining for dinner. Tree lighting at 7pm.

Central Park
📅 Thursday, December 5th, 5:30pm
📍Central Park, Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, East Side at 110th Street

Celebrate the season with Central Park Conservancy’s 28th Annual Holiday Lighting. Meet Santa and friends, sing carols on the plaza, and warm up with hot cocoa while enjoying a variety of seasonal activities. The event concludes with the lighting of a flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer.

Battery Park City
📅 Thursday, December 5th, 6-7:30pm
📍 Battery Park City, Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Chambers Street & River Terrace

The illumination of the Battery Park City Holiday Tree will feature lively carols, beverages and treats, and many special guest appearances including PS / IS 276 Advance Chorus, Downtown Beats and Matías De La Flor from Broadway’s Camelot, and a visit from you-know-who!

Roosevelt Island
📅 Friday, December 6th, 6pm
📍 Roosevelt Island (Mediation Lawn), 524 Main Street, Roosevelt Island

Join at the annual RIOC Tree Lighting Ceremony. Featuring food, live music, giveaways, Santa, and performances.

DeKalb Market Hall
📅 Friday, December 6th, 5-6pm
📍 DeKalb Market Hall (Flatbush entrance), 445 Albee Square, Brooklyn

Join for DeKalb Market Hall’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Featuring complimentary hot chocolate and cookies from Cafe Davignon.

Riverside Park
📅 Saturday, December 7th, 4:30-6pm
📍 Riverside Park, 125th & Marginal Streets

Join for Riverside Park Conservancy’s holiday tree lighting featuring live music, decoration making, and hot chocolate (while supplies last). Tree lighting at 5:30pm.

Fort Greene Park
📅 Saturday, December 7th, 4-5pm
📍 Fort Greene Park, Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Street, Brooklyn

Join Fort Greene Park Conservancy for the 10th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in partnership with Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership.

Enjoy a free cup of hot chocolate and write letters to Santa while listening to live holiday music. Contribute to their toy drive by bringing new, unwrapped toys to donate to the Myrtle Avenue Toy Drive, benefiting families at Fort Greene’s Ingersoll and Whitman Houses.

Morningside Park
📅 Saturday, December 7th
📍 Morningside Park, 121st Street Oval

Join Friends of Morningside Park as they light up the tallest living tree in a NYC park. This year they are trading the traditional carolers for the smooth jazz of The Holiday Band in addition to seasonal refreshments and snowflake tattoos for the whole family. Tree Lighting at 6pm.

Bronx Little Italy
📅 Saturday, December 7th, 4-6pm
📍 Ciccarone Park Arthur Avenue & East 188th Street, The Bronx

The Belmont BID’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Join them to meet Santa, sing Christmas carols, and enjoy Italian cookies and hot chocolate from their local small businesses. In partnership with the Children’s Cancer Society of America, there will be a Toy Giveaway! Child must be present; first come, first served.

Queens Botanical Garden
📅 Saturday, December 7th, 12pm
📍 Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street, Queens

Join Queens Botanical Garden for live musical performances (Fogo Azul, MMR Jazz Trio, Eleonore Weill, Jolly Holidays Carolers), a menorah, tree lighting, holiday crafts, selfies with Santa, and sales at the QBG Shop and outdoor Holiday Market. Enjoy a beverage, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, at the QBG Bar. Tree lighting at 4:30pm.

Empire Outlets
📅 Saturday, December 7th, 6:30pm
📍Empire Outlets, Center Court, Level 3, 55 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island

Join Empire Outlets for their Annual Holiday Tree Lighting. Come hang out with Santa Claus and the GRINCH! Featured performance by Vinnie Medugno. Come early to watch him broadcast his show live at 5pm. There will be a performance from Spotlight Theatre. S’mores and Hot Chocolate will be available to purchase by Simply Smiley Co!

Carl Schurz Park
📅 Sunday, December 8th, 5pm
📍Carl Schurz Park, 86th Street at East End Avenue

Join Carl Schurz Park Conservancy for their holiday tree lighting featuring  for carols, Cantori New York, candlelight, candy canes, and hot chocolate.

Tompkins Square Park
📅 Sunday, December 8th, 4-5pm
📍Tompkins Square Park (Southeast corner of the Central Lawn), Avenue A and East 7th Street

Join for the 33rd Annual Tree Lighting at Tompkins Square Park. Sponsored by C&B Cafe, with music from the Mandel& LydonTrio, refreshments from Veselka Restaurant, and carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City.

Washington Square Park
📅 Friday, December 13th, 5-7pm *NEW DATE*
📍 Washington Square Park, Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North

Join for the 100th Annual Washington Square Tree Lighting. The 44-foot tree Vermont tree is scheduled to arrive in Washington Square in late November, the Monday after Thanksgiving.

The first hour (5-6pm) will be filled with holiday festivities including stilt walkers, photos with Santa Claus and candy canes in hand, and much more followed by the tree lighting and caroling (Rob Susman Brass Quartet, their vocalist Linseigh Green), The Washington Square Association will provide songbooks. They will have a special performance of Twas The Night Before Christmas by actor John Rothman. Tree lighting at 6pm.

United Palace
📅 Thursday, December 12th, 4-7pm
📍 4140 Broadway at 175th Street

This year, United Palace is teaming up with its community partners to light up the Plaza de las Americas. Schedule of Events: 3pm: Ornament Making with the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, 4pm: Holiday Market with Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, 5pm: Drumline with Annette A. Aguilar’s Bean Bloco, 5:30pm: Tree Lighting with Community League of the Heights, 6pm: Toys for Tots with United Palace, 7pm: “Buunni Open Mic” (doors open at 6:30pm, Free RSVP)

Dumbo
📅 Wednesday, December 18th, 4-7pm *NEW DATE*
📍 Dumbo Archway + Plaza, 155 Water Street

Join the Dumbo Imporvoent District for their Holiday Lighting with a countdown led by Alexandria Sica! Featuring Santa Claus with elves in tow and a photo booth from Self Portrait Project. Holiday covers by Curtis J. Social and the Dumbo house band and performances by the PS307 and Dock Street Middle School students.

Hot cocoa and sweet treats donated by Celestine, Dawn’s ‘Til Dusk, Ivy Stark Mexology, Jacques Torres, and Starbucks. Mulled cider and more for sale at The Archway Bar. Also Holiday Projections, Toy Drive, and Food Drive. Tree lighting at 5:30pm.