9 PLACES TO SEE A BIG CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IN NYC

My personal opinion as a native New Yorker is that Winter is the worst time to visit the city. New Yorkers are shrowded in black, they keep their heads down, and their extremities guarded. Yet as our skyline becomes swathed in color from the fall foliage, and we begin to think the warm glow of summer was just a dream a different glow spreads across the city. An imported forest of BIG evergreen trees pops up all over NYC. The fanfare that accompanies an NYC tree lighting makes winter just warm enough, it’s as if the universe gives us Christmas to look forward to.

On the home front there’s also the big question of sustainability as it pertains to a real or fake Christmas tree. So for the weeks beforehand where I get to pretend like I won’t cave into the pomp and circumstance of it all and forgo it all due to my sustainability politics Its so much fun to view the NYC trees.

LOTTE NEW YORK PALACE 

ADDRESS | 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Thursday, November 29, 2019 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Ushered in with a performance in late November this is one of the best kept big Christmas tree secrets NYC has to offer. The tree is up and lit before the official tree lighting ceremony, and like the best things in NYC its invite-only. Housed in the immaculate courtyard of a luxury hotel, with bistro seating and warm beverages on tap, It’s just two blocks away from NYC’s most famous Christmas tree at Rockefeller center but it feels worlds apart. It seems like a really good place to

SOUTH STREET SEAPORT

ADDRESS | 89 South St, New York, NY 10038, USA

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Monday, December 2, 2019 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Erected amid cobblestone streets and a stone’s throw from the city’s first rooftop ice-skating rink. The downtown NYC tree lighting will have live music and free hot chocolate, plus special treats from South Street Seaport restaurants, while you enjoy the holiday decorations.

INSIDER TIP | Santa’s elves will be hidden in the crowd during the tree lighting, surprising the merriest guests with gift cards, up to $1000, to the hippest NYC shops and restaurants

ROCKEFELLER CENTER

ADDRESS |45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, USA

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Wednesday, December 4, 2019 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Obviously the big tree overlooking the skating rink is the must-see tree in NYC. However, the

BROOKFIELD PLACE

ADDRESS |230 Vesey St, New York, NY 10281

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Friday, November 29, 2019 \12pm – 8pm

The holiday show that is on display inside of Brookfield place is paralleled only by the twinkling fairy lights that illuminate the barren trees in the courtyards facing the river’s edge. The Atrium at brokfield place is filled with so many

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK

ADDRESS |Washington Square N, New York, NY 10012

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Wednesday, December 4, 2019, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

since 1924 (which means it bests the first Rockefeller Center Tree by seven years!)

METROTECH COMMONS

ADDRESS | Brooklyn, NY 11201

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Wednesday, December 4, 2019, 5:00 – 6:30 PM

Part of Downtown Brooklyn’s BIG holiday festivities this 30-foot-tall tree, glowing with thousands of twinkly lights.

INSIDER TIP |

WALL STREET/ NYSE

ADDRESS |11 Wall St, New York, NY 10005, USA

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Thursday, December 5, 2019 \ 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm

a Downtown New York tradition since 1923. The lighting ceremony begins with performances by music acts that run the gamut. The holiday performances always include the Radio City Rockettes. Like all tree lightings aimed at New Yorkers, there are free treats for attendees.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine

ADDRESS | 1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING |

The most interestingly decorated tree on our list, for just over 35 years, this cathedral in Morningside Heights has been displaying a Peace Tree fluttering with paper cranes as a symbol of peace and friendship between people of all faiths and backgrounds.

INSIDER TIP | There are various admission costs, as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine offer tours for cathedral arts and history

Honorary Big Trees in NYC

THE PLAZA HOTEL

ADDRESS | 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Friday, November 29, 2019 8 am

INSIDER TIP | the staff at this property puts in an overnight shift on Thanksgiving to give guests a nice surprise when they wake up the next morning and come down to the lobby.

CENTRAL PARK

ADDRESS | 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING |

A flotilla of trees lingers on Harlem Meer, all of NYC is invited to watch this tree lighting set on a lake.

INSIDER TIP | Head to the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center in the northeast end of the park for free hot cocoa and cookies. There will be caroling and photo ops with Santa Claus — also free, but BYO camera. 

REFLECTING POOL NYBG

ADDRESS |2900 Southern Blvd Bronx, NY 10458

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING |

If you’ve made the trek uptown for the annual Holiday Train Show be sure to embark on an invigorating 45-minute walk to view the Garden’s stately conifer collection decked out in their holiday finest and the old-growth forest in the beauty of winter. 

INSIDER TIP | Leon Levy Visitors’ Center

PARK AVENUE TREES

ADDRESS |62 E 92nd St, New York, NY 10128, USA

DATE OF TREE LIGHTING | Sunday, December 8, 2019 \ at 6:30 pm

If you’re uptown taking a detour to view the stretch of Park Avenue between 54th and  97th streets, where beautifully lighted trees illuminate the malls. The trees are traditionally lit on the first Sunday evening of December following a ceremony outside the Brick Presbyterian Church (Park Avenue & 91st Street) that serves as a reminder of the original meaning of the lights and a celebration of the holiday season.

The tradition began just after World War II ended to honor those who had lost their lives in the war. And the lighted trees are still a symbol of peace and the price paid for it. 

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