Manhattan Holiday Events - Manhattan NYC
Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings in Manhattan & Holiday Markets & Events NYC
August 17, 2026 / Upper East Side UES / Upper West Side UWS / Midtown NYC / East Village & West Village / Tribeca SoHo Bowery / Holiday Events & Holiday Markets - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & Christmas Holidays in Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC. TMP.
Be sure to visit our Manhattan holiday markets NYC page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.
For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.
How The Manhattan Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized
NOTE. In 2025 we added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.
After posting in the Update Log, the detailed holiday events in Manhattan are then organized as follows:
0. See NOTE above as we first show the events in order of dates they occur and secondly by neighborhoods as follows.
1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF MANHATTAN
2. BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)
Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.
3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.
4. *** Note MANHATTAN HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted at the bottom of this page, along with links to other boroughs.
Manhattan Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background
The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.
Holiday lighting festivals and ceremonies have been on the rise in Manhattan in recent years. While some date back many years, some are fairly new.
Attending holiday lightings alone, with friends or with the kids gives folks a chance to enjoy their own cultural heritage and provides an opportunity to learn a bit more about and share in the cultural heritage of others.
Each lighting is a bit different, as some are orginated by the community, some by businesses, some by religious organizations, and a few have arts organizations behind them. Please feel free to send us a notice of your holiday lighting event if it's not posted herein.
Manhattan Holiday Events & Holiday Markets Now Underway
This is not meant to be a complete list, but rather a list of the holiday lighting events. The holiday lighting events are organized individually by each Manhattan neighborhood including the Upper East Side UES, the Upper West Side UWS, Midtown NYC, the East Village, the West Village, the Bowery, SoHo, Tribeca and more to come. Many include the serving of some beverage like hot chocolate and generally some snack like cookies.
- Click here for our report about the Xmas / Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings - holiday things to do Manhattan - Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa events Manhattan NYC.
Manhattan Holiday Events - Manhattan NYC
Xmas Tree, Menorah & Candle Lightings & Other Holiday Events on the Upper East Side UES, Upper West Side UWS, Midtown NYC, East Village, West Village, Bowery, SoHo, Tribeca
August 17, 2026 / Upper East Side UES / Upper West Side UWS / Midtown NYC / East Village & West Village / Tribeca SoHo Bowery / Holiday Events & Holiday Markets - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & Christmas Holidays in Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC. TMP. Continued.
The following is a compendium of holiday events in Manhattan. The events usually begin shortly after Halloween and through Christmas.
We have also provided our readers with a report about many of the biggest holiday markets in Manhattan running throughout the holiday season. Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukka, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
- Click here to view our report about Manhattan holiday markets - Manhattan NYC.
- Click here for our monthly events calendar which will include all of the Manhattan holiday things to do - Kwanzaa Hanukkah & Christmas events in Manhattan NYC each month.
STARTING MID / LATE OCTOBER
NEW EVENTS WILL BE ADDED WEEKLY
Starting in mid / late October - We Update Weekly
PAY ATTENTION TO THE DATES / YEARS.
STARTING MID / LATE OCTOBER 2026 - WE'LL BE UPDATING WEEKLY THRU THE END OF THE YEAR
UPDATED WEEKLY THRU THE HOLIDAYS
Only Asterisked markets have been updated to 2026
Pay attention to the dates / year.
UPDATE CHANGE LOG
WEEKLY UPDATES OR NEW ADDITIONS 2026
SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS
PLEASE NOTE. These brief Manhattan holiday events are in 2026 chronological order. For further details on times, locations and event descriptions, scroll down to the Manhattan geography / section noted at the end of each event.
November Holiday Events in Manhattan NYC 2026
- UWS _ Monday, November 24, 2025 thru early January 2026 - the Origami tree will be lit at the American Museum of Natural History - at 200 Central Park West on the UWS. They describe this years tree as follows, "... This year’s dazzling 13-foot holiday tree, on the theme New Beginnings,celebrates the spectacular variety of species that evolved after an asteroid impact ended the age of dinosaurs some 66 million years ago. Among the more than 1,000 origami pieces are dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles—pterosaurs that ruled the skies, mosasaurs and plesiosaurs that roamed the seas, as well as Triceratops and T. rex, which walked the Earth during the Cretaceous Period ...". For details see - https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/origami-holiday-tree
- UWS & Midtown _ Thursday, November 27, 2025 from 8.30 am to 12 noon - Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year there will be seven performance groups, 29 clown crews, 17 performers, eleven marching bands, six balloonicles, and 25 huge floating balloons. They start at the American Museum of Natural History at 80th Street [officially from 77th Street], marching south at Central Park West, turning east onto 59th Street, before turning south on 6th Avenue. Finally they turn west on 34th Street, ending at Macy's in Herald Square. For details see - https://www.macys.com/s/parade/route/
- UWS _ Tuesday, November 28, 2023 from 5 - 6 pm - Manhattan Holiday Event Light Up the Nights at Verdi Square. UWS.
December Holiday Events in Manhattan NYC 2026
- Ongoing _ UWS _ Monday, November 24, 2025 thru early January 2026 - the Origami tree will be lit at the American Museum of Natural History - at 200 Central Park West on the UWS. They describe this years tree as follows, "... This year’s dazzling 13-foot holiday tree, on the theme New Beginnings,celebrates the spectacular variety of species that evolved after an asteroid impact ended the age of dinosaurs some 66 million years ago. Among the more than 1,000 origami pieces are dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles—pterosaurs that ruled the skies, mosasaurs and plesiosaurs that roamed the seas, as well as Triceratops and T. rex, which walked the Earth during the Cretaceous Period ...". For details see - https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/origami-holiday-tree
- Ongoing _ Midtown _ Daily, November 6, 2025 to January 4, 2026 at various times - 100th year of Rockettes Holiday Performances - at Radio City Music Hall at 1260 6th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets in Midtown Manhattan.
- Midtown _ Wednesday, December 3, 2025 from 7 - 10 pm - Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Event. At 5th Avenue and 49th Street in Midtown Manhattan. For details see - https://www.rockefellercenter.com
- NYC _ Sunday, December 14 - Monday, December 22, 2025 - Hanukkah - the Jewish festival of lights is celebrated in all five boroughs of NYC. Happy Hanukkah.
THE FOLLOWING ARE ONGOING.
- Multiple Days _ Midtown _ Sunday - Monday, December 14 - 22, 2025 beginning at 5 pm nightly except Friday at 3.45 pm & Saturday at 6.30 pm - Menorah Lighting at Grand Army Plaza at 59th Street and 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan across from what used to be the Plaza Hotel [it is now mostly luxury facilities and residences]. For details see - https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4588762/jewish/Worlds-Largest-and-Brightest-Menorah.htm or https://www.centralpark.com | www.chabad.org | www.nycparks.gov
- Ongoing _ Midtown _ Daily, November 6, 2025 to January 4, 2026 at various times - 100th year of Rockettes Holiday Performances - at Radio City Music Hall at 1260 6th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets in Midtown Manhattan.
- Ongoing _ UWS _ Monday, November 24, 2025 thru early January 2026 - the Origami tree will be lit at the American Museum of Natural History - at 200 Central Park West on the UWS. They describe this years tree as follows, "... This year’s dazzling 13-foot holiday tree, on the theme New Beginnings,celebrates the spectacular variety of species that evolved after an asteroid impact ended the age of dinosaurs some 66 million years ago. Among the more than 1,000 origami pieces are dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles—pterosaurs that ruled the skies, mosasaurs and plesiosaurs that roamed the seas, as well as Triceratops and T. rex, which walked the Earth during the Cretaceous Period ...". For details see - https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/origami-holiday-tree
KWANZAA IS 12/26 - 1/1/2026
BEGINNING MID / LATE OCTOBER 2026 - NEW EVENTS ADDED WEEKLY.
ONLY ASTERISKED EVENTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO 2026. Pay Attention to Dates / Years.
- CLICK this link to view this and other current & upcoming:
Click here for the Manhattan holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Manhattan holiday events nyc.
WORK IN PROGRESS. Beginning Mid / Late October 2026 we'll be adding new events every week until the end of the year.
ONLY ASTERISKED EVENTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO 2026. WATCH THE DATES / YEARS.
- CLICK this link to view this and other current & upcoming Manhattan holiday markets & shops NYC.
I.
Midtown Manhattan Holiday Events NYC
Christmas Tree, Menorah & Kwanzaa Lightings
Use link at top of page for - Midtown Holiday Markets in Manhattan NYC
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade & Holiday Tree Lighting
Thursday, November 23, 2023 beginning at 9 am
Description.
Not Confirmed [but they did this last year 2022]. On Monday and Tuesday nights there are performances down at Herald Square which is the park across for Macy's anchor store at 151 West 34th Street.
Confirmed. On Wednesday night you can view the balloons at the American Museum of Natural History along 77th Street, Central Park West and 81st Street. And while it's crowded, it's generally quite manageable as the locals have done it and most of the visitors don't know about it. Manhattan holiday tree lighting events on the Upper West Side UWS and in Midtown Manhattan NYC.
Location / Parade Route.The parade steps off from about West 77th Street at the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West on the Upper West Side. The parade then marches south along Central Park West, east along 59th Street, south along 6th Avenue and west on 34th Street ending at Macy's Herald Square, where they do a Christmas tree lighting around noon. It's very crowded along the parade route, oftentimes by people who start taking their positions as early as 6 am'ish, as they have traveled from - around the nation and around the globe - to view the event so they don't take any chances on not getting a good view.
Contact. https://www.macys.com/s/parade/
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Event - Manhattan NYC
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 from 7 - 9 pm
The tree is lit daily from 5 am - 12 midnight except Christmas Day when it's lit for 24 hours and New Years Eve when it turns off at 9 pm. The tree will remain on display through the second Saturday 1/13/24 of January 2024
Description. Started in 1932, the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting ceremony has gone on for 90 years as of 2022. There's entertainment along with the lighting and it's broadcast by NBC which has studios on the premises. The tree generally arrives in early to mid November. Manhattan holiday tree lighting events in Midtown Manhattan NYC.
Location. The big Christmas tree is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and there's access via 5th Avenue between 49th and 51st Streets and along 49th and 51st Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues.
Contact. https://www.rockefellercenter.com
Bryant Park Holiday Tree Lighting Event
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 beginning at 6 pm / Line starts forming at 4 pm
Description. Tree lighting with music, dance and theatrical performances by Broadway musical and skating stars. Please note that the skating rink is closed between 1 - 7 pm on that day.
Location. Bryant Park between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues.
Contact. https://bryantpark.org/
II.
Upper East Side UES Holiday Events - Manhattan
Holiday Tree & Candle Lighting Events
Use link at top of page for - Upper East Side Holiday Markets on the UES of Manhattan NYC
_ UES Holiday Events - TBD
UES Manhattan is host to numerous Holiday Events every year celebrating the holidays, including tree lightings.
Stay tuned.
III.
Upper West Side UWS Holiday Events - Manhattan
Upper West Side Holiday Lightings & Events or CLICK
Use link at top of page for - Upper West Side Holiday Markets on the UWS of Manhattan NYC
Winters Eve at Lincoln Center - Holiday Events UWS NYC
Holiday Concerts & Holiday Entertainment on the Upper West Side
OLD _ NOTE DATE / YEAR _ Monday, November 29, 2021 from 5.30 - 9 pm
Description. There's Winters Eve at Lincoln Center on the UWS.
THIS DESCRIPTION IS FROM A PRIOR YEAR AS IN THE INITIAL POST THEY HAD NOT FINALIZED ACTIVITIES. The festivities begin at 5.30 pm with a tree lighting in Dante Park at Lincoln Center at Broadway & 63rd Street. Numerous talented musicians, sometimes with national reputations, will be there to perform at Lincoln Square’s sidewalks and public spaces.
From Columbus Circle to 70th Street along Broadway including Lincoln Square’s sidewalks and public spaces will be filled with musicians, processional groups, jugglers and stilt-walkers and over 30 of Lincoln Square’s restaurants and eateries will offer food tastings at nominal cost [$1 - $4] at three separate outdoor locations between 6 and 8.30 pm. Organized by Lincoln Square BID. Manhattan holiday events / tree lighting on the Upper West Side UWS NYC.
Location. From Columbus Circle to 70th Street along Broadway, including numerous plazas and spaces at Lincoln Center.
Contact. www.winterseve.nyc / www.lincolnsquarebid.org
CANNOT FIND INFO FOR 2023 AS OF 11/18/23 - KIND OF LIKE LAST YEAR - ALTHO THEY DID DO ONE IN 2022
Monday, December 6, 2021 at 5 pm - Lincoln Center Square Tree Lighting
Location. In Dante Park at 64th & Broadway on the UWS.
Contact. Lincoln Square BID / www.lincolnsquarebid.org
Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History Manhattan NYC
Monday, November 20, 2023 - Monday, January 8, 2024 - Origami Holiday Tree aka Gems of the Museum
Description. ORIGAMI. Every year the American Museum of Natural History erects a tree and decorates it with origami made by New Yorkers. This year, the 52nd [started in 1970, but may have skipped a year (2020?)], the theme is probocideans on parade. BTW - probocideans are mammals similar to elephants.
Location. In the Grand Gallery on the first floor at the American Museum of Natural History at Central Park West and 79th Street on the Upper West Side.
Contact. https://www.amnh.org/
IV.
East Village / West Village Holiday Events Manhattan NYC
Holiday Events - Tree, Kwanzaa Candle, Menorah Lightings - East Village & West Village or
Use link at top of page for - East Village / West Village / LES Holiday Markets in Manhattan NYC
Washington Square Tree Lighting Event - Village NYC
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 6 to 7 pm
Description. The Washington Square tree lighing event has been tradition since 1925. The event includes music by the Rob Susman Quartet and sing-along handbooks around the tree under the arch. Manhattan holiday tree lighting events in the Village NYC organized by the Washington Square Park Conservancy.
Sunday, December 24, 2023 from 5 - 6 pm - Christmas Eve Caroling
Description. On 12/24 there's a Washington Square Christmas Eve Caroling event in the same location at 5 pm.
Location. In Washington Square at 5th Avenue and Washington Square North [equal to about 7th Street / Waverly Place].
Contact. http://www.washingtonsquarenyc.org / www.washingtonsquareparkconservancy.org
V.
SoHo, Tribeca, LES, Bowery & Downtown Holiday Events - Manhattan NYC
Use link at top of page for - SoHo & Tribeca holiday markets in Manhattan NYC
TBD
Zuccotti Park Holiday Lights Celebration
OLD _ NOTE DATE _ YEAR _ Thursday, December 3, 2017 from 5.30 - 6.30 pm
Location. At Zuccotti Park at Broadway & Liberty Street.
Description. There will be music by the Manhattan Dolls and Metropolitan Klezmer and treats. They illuminate Zuccotti Park at Broadway & Liberty Street with thousands of lights.
Contact.
VI.
Harlem & Washington Heights Holiday Events Manhattan NYC
Christmas Tree, Menorah, Kwanzaa Lightings
Use link at top of page for - Manhattan Holiday Markets NYC & Holiday Shopping Manhattan NYC
Apollo Theater in Harlem - Kwanzaa Holiday Special NYC
Sunday, December 26, 2021 beginning at 7 pm - Kwanzaa Performance
Description. The Kwanzaa performance features a number of talented musicians and performers. This Harlem Kwanzaa holiday event takes place in Manhattan, but is shown VIRTUALLY.
Admission. Free / Pay what you wish.
Location. This year the peformance is being shown digitally - use the website below to obtain a ticket / the link. HISTORICALLY - At 253 West 125th off Fredrick Douglas Blvd in Harlem. Holiday Events in Harlem in Manhattan NYC.
Contact. www.apollotheater.org
New York City NYC Holiday Shopping & Holiday Events NYC - Related Links
Links to Other NYC Boroughs - Holiday Markets / Holiday Shopping NYC
- CLICK HERE to view a report on Manhattan holiday markets NYC, and here for Queens holiday markets NYC, and here for Bronx holiday markets NYC and here for Brooklyn Holiday Markets NYC, and here for Staten Island Holiday Markets & Shopping NYC.
Links to Other NYC Boroughs - Holiday Events / Things To Do
- CLICK HERE to view a report on & Manhattan holiday events / Manhattan holiday things to do NYC, & Queens holiday events / Queens holiday things to do NYC, Brooklyn Holiday Events / Brooklyn Holiday Things To Do NYC, Staten Island Holiday Events / SI Holiday Things To Do NYC and Bronx holiday events & Bronx holiday things to do NYC.
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