As the days get shorter with winter’s approach, the night skies are getting brighter with holiday lights across New York City! After all, it’s the season for NYC’s glitterin’ holiday lights, bringing some much-needed holiday cheer across the 5 boroughs. Sooo, put on your favorite sweater and have your hot chocolate ready, because you deffo don’t want to miss these magical winter lights festivals. Top 14 Christmas Light Shows in New York City 1. Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (Brooklyn) Credit: www.dykerheightschristmaslights.com Hands down one of the most iconic holiday lights display in NYC. Most of the homeowners, as well as professional decorating companies, hang their Christmas lights and decorations over the weekend following Thanksgiving. You want to go anytime between dusk and 9pm (and visit between 83rd to 86th Streets for the brightest homes) if you plan to travel by foot. The decor tends to stay up until the end of the first week of January. 2. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree & Plaza Lights (Manhattan) Credit: Rockefeller Center A star-studded light-up night ceremony brings the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to life on Wednesday, December 3rd (light-up activities generally run from 7 to 10pm, with the tree lighting up just before 10pm). After this, the tree will be lit for the holiday season (daily, from 5am to midnight). Two exceptions are: Christmas Eve, when the tree is lit for 24 hours, and New Year’s Eve, when it’s lit from 5am to 9pm. The tree goes back dark mid-January. Learn more: Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting 2025 Guide 3. Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show (Manhattan) Credit: Secret NYC Saks Fifth Avenue’s holiday light show at its flagship store returned this week one year after it stayed dark (to cut costs). The light show will commence at Saks every 10 minutes from 5 to 11pm through January 4th, 2026. The entire building is transformed into a shimmering backdrop for music-synced animations. Plus, it’s right across from the Rockefeller tree, making it the perfect combo stop. 4. Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Brooklyn) Credit: New York City Christmas This illuminated trail of art with over a million lights, open November 21 through January 4, is a must-visit this holiday season. Lightscape is one of New York’s most immersive holiday experiences. You can walk through glowing tunnels, shimmering sculptures, and softly lit garden paths. Music plays as the lights shift around you. Be sure to click a photo in the iconic Winter Cathedral! 5. Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights (Bronx) Credit: bronxzoo.com Allow the Bronx Zoo to dazzle with 400 wildlife lanterns that represent 100 species (of animals and global habitats). It’s open November 21 to January 4, and you can expect fun experiences like a holiday train and warm treats. We vouch for this as a family-friendly experience, with a little magic for all ages. 6. Central Park Holiday Lights & Wollman Rink (Manhattan) Credit: Central Park If you’re looking for a more romantic light experience—you know, the type where you take an evening walk with your partner—head to Central Park. This location takes on a cozy winter glow thanks to lit trees and decorated pathways. Wollman Rink puts visitors under the magical New York City skyline by day, and its twinkling lights by night. The operation hours are different everyday, with Friday and Saturday going up to 10pm and Sunday by 9pm. 7. Hudson Yards “Shine Bright” Lights (Manhattan) Credit: hudsonyardsnewyork.com Two million twinkling lights adorn Hudson Yards for the shopping center’s yearly Shine Bright event. The display includes 100+ miles of string lights, 700+ evergreen trees dressed to create a gleaming forest, and a huge 32-foot hot air balloon centerpiece. This must-see stop is now open through January 7. 8. Harlem Holiday Lights (Manhattan) Credit: Harlem World Magazine Harlem has kicked off the holidays with New York’s only parade of lights on November 18. After that, you can see the lights sparkling throughout the neighborhood. The annual parade brings dancing, floats, and glowing decorations that make the experience feel festive + distinctly Harlem. 9. Bryant Park Winter Village Lights (Manhattan) Credit: Time Out Holiday fun is already well underway at Bryant Park with ice skating and a big market. Small chalet-style shops add charm with their festive displays. It’s one of NYC’s coziest holiday spots, perfect for an evening skate, a stroll with hot cocoa, or snapping photos under the twinkling canopy. Be sure to mark your calendar for 2nd December for a special tree lighting ceremony at the Bank of America Winter Village. 10. Jamaica Avenue Holiday Lights (Queens) Credit: DNA Info The largest Christmas tree lighting in Queens is happening on Rockaway Boulevard. Enjoy the Grand Christmas tree illumination on 5th December at 7pm, then check out the Parade on Rockaway the following day. The holiday season brings a lively neighborhood feel: music, small business pop-ups, and festive street energy that makes the whole stretch glow. 11. The Seaport Holiday Lights (Manhattan) Credit: theseaport.nyc The Seaport is turning on its holiday sparkle during a ceremony on December 2nd from 6 to 8pm. There will be a drum line, dueling pianos, hot beverages, and a tree lighting ceremony (at 7pm). The cobblestone streets and river breeze make the Seaport feel like a cozy Christmas village. 12. Madison Square Park Holiday Lights (Manhattan) Credit: madisonsquarepark.org Enjoy holiday music during the time-honored tree lighting at Madison Square Park (which celebrates its 113th anniversary this year). Precisely, at 5pm on 9th December. You will find the 42-foot concolor fir tree at the park’s Northern Reflecting Pool—definitely a must-see! The park’s historic trees, wrapped in warm light, feel perfect for a quiet winter walk. The surrounding streets also have festive storefronts. 13. Dumbo Archway Plaza Holiday Lights (Brooklyn) Credit: Dumbo Head to the Dumbo Archway Plaza (on December 4 at 5:30pm) for photos with Santa, live music, hot cocoa, and a tree lighting ceremony. This spot turns into a glowing holiday tunnel beneath the Manhattan Bridge. With the bridge overhead and the skyline just steps away, it’s one of the most atmospheric holiday light spots in Brooklyn. 14. Menorah Lightings Across NYC Credit: Thrillist New York City celebrates Hanukkah with beautiful public menorah lightings that add even more glow to the holiday season. The two largest ones—the Grand Army Plaza menorah in Brooklyn and the Fifth Avenue & 59th Street menorah in Manhattan—are among the biggest in the world! Overview of NYC Christmas Tree Lighting New York City’s Christmas tree lightings are some of the most beloved traditions of the holiday season! They bring together locals and visitors for nights filled with music and cheer. The most famous of all is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, a globally televised ceremony that officially kicks off the city’s holiday festivities. Tens of thousands gather each year to watch the massive tree glow with over 50,000 LEDs under the iconic star-studded topper. But Rockefeller isn’t the only tree lighting worth seeing. Neighborhoods across the five boroughs host their own celebrations. Bryant Park lights its rink-side tree with a festive show featuring skaters, performances, and hot cocoa in hand. Madison Square Park carries on a tradition more than a century old, illuminating its concolor fir tree with warm lights. The Seaport District hosts a waterfront illumination, and Jamaica Avenue brings Queens together with its vibrant community tree lighting. Each celebration adds its own personality—some are glittery and grand, others cozy and local—but all share one purpose: welcoming the holiday spirit with lights that brighten the long winter nights 🙂 How to Create Your Christmas Show at Home? We’d like to add on: You don’t have to visit a big holiday festival to enjoy Christmas lights. Your home can sparkle just as brightly with the right setup! If you’re looking to create that Christmas light show in your home, Govee Christmas Lights are one of our top recommendations. Begin by outlining the areas you want to decorate: the roofline, windows, your front porch, and indoor spaces like the tree. At this point, you should be thinking: I have to layer, mix warm and colorful effects, and create that “show moment”. When decorating your Christmas tree, the Govee Christmas String Lights 2 offer millions of adjustable shades. There are also dozens of dynamic modes—perfect for building your own mini light show in the home. Stepping outside, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro are designed to stay up all year, but we especially love them during the holiday season. They blend neatly into your trim and light up your whole exterior. And for that dramatic finishing touch, use the Govee Outdoor Laser Light Projector. This casts moving patterns onto your house. Pair all three together using the Govee app, and you can sync colors, set routines, and customize scenes that play automatically every night. It brings the full holiday-show experience right to your doorstep! Explore All Govee LED Christmas lights >> FAQs About New York Xmas Light Shows What time is the Christmas tree lighting in NYC? The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting usually happens between 7pm and 10pm. The actual light-up moment takes place just before 10pm. Neighborhood tree lightings vary but typically happen around early evening. What date is the Rockefeller tree lighting 2025? For 2025, the Rockefeller Center tree lighting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3rd. Where can I watch the Rockefeller tree lighting? You can watch it live in-person at Rockefeller Plaza (an experience we definitely recommend). But if you can’t make it there, tune in to national TV broadcasts (typically NBC). Many streaming platforms also air the ceremony. Does it cost money to go to the Rockefeller tree lighting? Nope. Attending the Rockefeller tree lighting is completely free. However, you’ll want to arrive very early because the plaza fills up fast! Why was the Saks Light Show cancelled? The Saks Fifth Avenue light show went dark for a year in an attempt to cut costs. But, don’t worry. It has officially returned for the 2025–2026 holiday season Where is the best place to see Christmas lights in NYC? There are just so many options, 14 of which we listed in this blog post. Dyker Heights, the Rockefeller Center area, Fifth Avenue, Hudson Yards, Bryant Park… These are some of the most spectacular spots to see holiday lights. How long does it take to walk through Dyker Heights Christmas lights? Expect to spend some 60 to 90 minutes walking through the decorated streets. This depends on crowds and how many houses you explore, though. What is the most Christmassy place in New York City? We’ve got to say, Rockefeller Center earns the top spot with its massive tree and ice rink. Fifth Avenue comes as a close second for its glowing window displays. Conclusion And, there you have it! The 14 best Christmas light shows in New York City… with the 15th being your own home. If you’re lucky enough to visit the light shows in NYC, take the chance for sure. You might even want to see more than one show to feel the different spirits of Christmas in the city. But if you’re staying in this year, you can create your own NYC light show within your home🎄