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With the sun logging off before 5pm each day, it's time for the city's glittering lights to bring us some much-needed holiday cheer. Thankfully, beautiful light displays are popping up all across the city. Some installations are already switched on and others will illuminate very soon, transforming NYC into a winter wonderland aglow in spectacular colors.
Dates have been set for nearly all of the most light-up celebrations across the city, and we’ve compiled them below. They’re listed in chronological order so you can find an event (or two or three) that fit into your schedule. We’ll continue updating the last as more festivities are announced, and if we missed one that you know of, email us (thisweek.ny@timeout.com).
What dates do Christmas lights go up in New York?
Shine Bright Only at Hudson Yards
Now open through January 5
Two million twinkling white lights adorn Hudson Yards for the shopping center's annual Shine Bright event. The display includes 115 miles of string lights, 725 evergreen trees dressed to create a gleaming forest, 16-foot tall illuminated hot air balloon decorations and a massive 32-foot hot air balloon centerpiece.
Harlem Holiday Lights
Harlem already kicked off the holiday season with NYC’s only parade of lights, but now you can see the beautiful lights sparkling throughout the neighborhood.
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Now open through January 5
Stroll through this illuminated trail of art with more than a million lights, plus dazzling colors and coordinated music. Be sure to snap a photo in the iconic Winter Cathedral.
Bronx Zoo Holiday Light Show
Now open through January 5
Expect the Bronx Zoo to dazzle with 400 wildlife lanterns representing 100 species.
Frost Fest at Luna Park in Coney Island
Now open through January 1
Luna Park's Frost Fest is home to a 35-foot tree sure to get you into the holiday spirit, plus photo opps with Santa, a holiday market, and an ice skating rink.
Dyker Heights
Typically the week after Thanksgiving
Most of the homeowners—and professional decorating companies—hang their Christmas lights and decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. Go anytime between dusk and 9pm if you plan to travel by foot. The decor usually stays up until the end of the first week of January.
Madison Square Park
Enjoy festive music during this time-honored tree lighting which celebrates its 112th anniversary this year. Find the 55-foot concolor fir tree at the park's Northern Reflecting Pool; you can't miss it!
Bryant Park
Holiday fun is already well underway here with ice skating and a large market. But you should mark your calendar for December 3 when Tony Award-winning performer Lea Salonga will host a special tree lighting ceremony at the Bank of America Winter Village.
The Seaport
The Seaport will turn on its holiday sparkle during a ceremony on Tuesday, December 3 from 3-7pm. Expect a drum line, a holiday market, and a tree lighting ceremony at 7pm.
Rockefeller Center
After a special light-up night ceremony on December 4, the iconic tree will be lit daily from 5am to midnight. On Christmas Eve, the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve it is lit from 5am to 9pm. The tree goes dark for the season in mid-January.
Central Park
For more than 25 years, the Central Park Conservancy has been draping the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center in holiday lights to ring in the season. Head to the northeastern part of Central Park to see it.
Jamaica, Queens
The largest Christmas tree lighting in Queens will happen on Rockaway Boulevard. See the Grand Christmas tree illumination on Friday, then check out Parade on Rockaway the following day.
Dumbo Archway Plaza
Head to the Dumbo Archway for photos with Santa, hot cocoa, live music, happy hour specials, and a tree lighting ceremony.
Washington Square Park
Framed perfectly inside the park's famous arch, Washington Square Park's beautiful tree is a sight to behold. If you miss the tree lighting, you can see the beautifully lit 45-foot tree throughout the holiday season, lit from 4pm-1am daily throughout December.
Menorah lightings
NYC is home to two massive menorahs which will be lit up during Hanukkah.
More Christmas fun in NYC
In addition to being dazzled all the beautiful lights, make the most of this holiday season by admiring incredible gingerbread displays, seeing a festive show, going ice skating and shopping local. Here's our full guide to the holiday season in New York City.