During the holiday season, the bustling streets of New York City are not short of a spectacle of lights and charming neighbourhoods. The city comes alive with a magical touch of the winter air. Every year, visitors and locals witness breathtaking displays of Christmas lights in NYC, enhancing the holiday spirit like never before.
Whether you’re taking a walk in Central Park, strolling down Fifth Avenue, or taking in the mesmerising view from the Empire State Building, the display of Christmas lights in NYC is the reflection of warmth and joy for all.
Let’s explore the dazzling Christmas lights in NYC and learn more about these iconic displays during this magical time of the year!
Things to do in New York on Christmas
Are you spending your Christmas Lights In NYC and want to witness the magical displays of Christmas Lights In NYC around the city? Here is a list of places where you can see Christmas lights in NYC. Visiting these places is amongst the best things to do for Christmas in New York City.
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The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
This Christmas tree is New York City’s pride and joy as it is the beaming symbol of the holiday season. It is lit daily from 5 AM to midnight after a special light-up night ceremony on November 29. Whereas, on Christmas is lit 24 hours. There are more than 50,000 multi-coloured LED lights wrapped around the tree along with a three-dimensional Swarovski star weighing 900 pounds. This star was designed by Daniel Libeskind in 2018. You will surely love this tree lighting event on Christmas.
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Dyker Heights Holiday Lights
The display of Christmas lights in NYC is one of the most famous attractions of the city. With life-size Santas, snowmen, and sleighs, the neighbourhood around Brooklyn is the most over-the-top with Christmas Lights In NYC decorations. A lot of folks visit the Kings County neighbourhood to witness lighting shows around the multiple blocks and avenues.
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Winter Village at Bryant Park
You can peruse more than 180 shopping and food stalls at one of the best New York City parks. There are loads of unique and handmade New York City-specific gifts for you and your family. The 17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink has a pop-up restaurant called The Lodge which is famous for festive cocktails and hearty food. Don’t miss the Small Business Spotlight booth at the park, it features some of the best local minority-owned businesses. The village will be open through March 3, 2024.
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Bryant Park Christmas tree lighting
The Christmas tree at Bryant Park will be lit on November 28 at 6 pm, catapulting the city into the holiday season. As usual, the Winter Village will be filled with attractions as well, including holiday shopping, ice skating, and top-notch drink and food options. Experiencing Christmas lights in NYC is an adventure on its own!
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Radio City Rockettes
This holiday stalwart features wooden soldiers, Santa, and dazzling Rockettes. In recent years, new music, more eye-catching costumes, and advanced technology have been introduced to make the performance better for the audience.
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Train show at Grand Central Terminal
This is located at the New York Transit Museum Gallery & Store in Grand Central Terminal, Shuttle Passage. You should definitely visit this New York Transit Museum as it is back with its famous Holiday Train Show. It features Lionel model trains travelling along a 34-foot-long model train layout that winds its way through some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including a mini Grand Central. It’s a fun display for your kids or a sweet way to pass your time at Grand Central before you catch your train.
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Grand Central Holiday Fair
Perhaps one of the most conveniently located New York City Christmas Markets is the Grand Central Holiday Fair. Till December 24, Vanderbilt Hall, the destination highlights 75 local food and craft vendors and small businesses that are known for their quality craftsmanship and products. The fair operates seven days a week from 10 am to 7 pm on Mondays, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. It will be closed for Thanksgiving.
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AMNH’s Origami Holiday Tree
The American Museum of Natural History or AMNH showcases a spectacular origami holiday tree every year. With about 2,000 colourful origami animals decorated on the 13-foot-tall tree, this museum has been taking forward the tradition for more than 50 years. Volunteers from around different parts of the world come together to make origami and decorate the tree, which focuses on a theme related to the museum. This year’s theme is Proboscideans on Parade which was inspired by the new exhibit The Secret World of Elephants. Visitors can find the tree in the Ellen V. Futter Gallery on the first floor. Visiting the holiday tree is included with the museum entrance.
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New York City Ballet
This enchanting 1954 production, set to Tchaikovsky’s incredible score, consists of the New York City Ballet company and two casts of School of American Ballet students. There is an onstage blizzard and a Christmas Lights In NYC tree that grows from 12 to 40 feet. Attending a ballet show during Christmas makes the whole experience even more magical!
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Elf screening at the Empire State Building
Visitors and locals can enhance their movie experience, quite literally, at the Empire State Building. Watch the Elf movie on December 3, 10, and 17. The tickets will cost $130/person, including themed drinks and snacks, as well as access to the building’s observation decks and museum.
Hotels in Christmas Lights In NYC
If you are looking to stay the night in the city that never sleeps then here are some renowned hotels you can check out:
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St. Regis New York:
The interior of the hotel is flanked by Nutcrackers on each side of the 55th Street entrance, ornaments, and garlands wrapped along walls and bannisters. The hotel also hosts a lot of activities for the kids and the rooms have a twinkling makeover. Your stay at St. Regis is not short of classic elegance. You will also find a wintry-themed pop-up shop and a three-course dining experience at Astor Court Restaurant.
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The Plaza:
So well known for its Christmas Lights In NYC celebrations, The Plaza was a part of a documentary on British TV. The hotel goes all out to make the stay magical, with the staff working feverishly throughout the night on Thanksgiving to deck the place in festive cheer, giving the guests a delightful surprise. Not only are there a variety of seasonal packages offered, but there is also a six-foot Christmas tree. The Plaza is amongst the top hotels in the city due to the meet and greet with Santa and their holiday gift shop.
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Ritz-Carlton Central Park:
The hotel is in close proximity to Central Park and its lobby is decorated with gold leaves, wreaths, and garlands with blue ornaments. You’ll be surrounded by cool marble and warm wood the minute you step inside. Guests are offered a nightly turn-down service along with a full in-room dining menu which is available 24 hours a day.
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The Standard East Village:
If you are at the hotel this year then don’t forget to grab a ticket for A Very Decimo Christmas in the tenth-floor restaurant, featuring a Mexican/Spanish feast, plus a Champagne cocktail on arrival. The vibe of the hotel is modern and artsy and their garden is usually converted into a festive winter-wonderland-themed garden.
Restaurants in New York for Christmas
Is there anything better than a cup of coffee or hot chocolate after witnessing Christmas lights in NYC? The bakeries, bars, and restaurants in NYC add to your Christmas Lights In NYC joy! Celebrate your Christmas in New York City with the most mouth-watering food you’ve ever had!
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Lysee:
This is a French-Korean pastry shop known for its corn mousse cake, dairy-free hot chocolate made from Valrhona chocolate, and homemade bruleed marshmallow.
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Bar Pisellino:
This restaurant serves hot chocolate overflowing with cocoa, topped with a dollop of slow-melting whipped anna.
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The Grand Salon at The Baccarat:
Experience the most ravishing tea service afternoon in New York at the Grand Salon at the Baccarat Hotel. The tea services are named after historical figures like the Prince of Wales service, which is $140 and provides a classic English tea with savoury bites along with homemade scones and honey lavender cake.
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Black Mountain Wine House:
The interior of Black Mountain is like a cosy cabin with chairs, bonfires, and varieties of charcuterie and cheese. It’s the perfect intimate setting for you to spend an evening with your significant other.
Lobby Bar At The Bowery Hotel
With cumulus couches and antique chairs, this hotel’s elegant lobby bar is the ideal spot for meeting out-of-towners. You can have a classic cocktail on cold winter nights at this bar!
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Conclusion
With skyscrapers adorned with twinkling lights, NYC, the urban winter wonderland is the epitome of cheer. Witness the magical display of Christmas lights in NYC this holiday season with iconic displays, varieties of delicious food items and much more.
For more information on Christmas shows in New York, visit OGlooks.