Radio City Christmas Spectacular: Buy tickets to see the Rockettes

Make plans to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and find out where to eat afterward. Plus, go behind the scenes with the Rockettes.

By Time Out editors Fri Oct 12 2012

Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall

Photograph: MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular celebrates its 85th year of precision dancing and high kicks, beginning on November 9 and running until December 30. Along with George Balanchine's The Nutcracker from the New York City Ballet and the Oratorio Society of New York's performance of Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall, the Spectacular has become one of NYC's most hallowed holiday traditions, drawing tourists and locals alike. Unlike the other two, however, there's nothing highbrow about Radio City Music Hall's pageant of glitz. It celebrates classic holiday values—peace! Love! Consumer confidence!—by deploying a flying Santa, a massive LED screen, and the sea of legs known as the Rockettes, all kicking in fabulous unison.

RECOMMENDED: Christmas in New York guide

Event details and tickets

Photograph courtesy of MSG Entertainment

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Price band: 2/4
Critics choice

You'll get a kick out of this holiday stalwart, which—after 80 years—still features Santa, wooden soldiers and the leggy, spunky Rockettes. Last year, new music, more eye-catching costumes, and advanced technology were introduced to bring audience members closer to the performance, and you can expect an even more dazzling extravaganza as the precision-dance troupe celebrates its 85th anniversary. All ages.