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The shiny honeycomb in Hudson Yards is about to get even brighter.
For the first time since first opening in 2019, the Vessel is set to host its very own holiday lighting ceremony on Monday, November 17. The celebration will mark the start of Shine Bright at Hudson Yards, the neighborhood’s annual tradition that turns the west side into a sea of twinkling lights.
The lighting, which will be held from 6pm to 6:45pm in the Public Square and Gardens, is free and open to the public. The lineup, emceed by Helen Little from 106.7 Lite FM, leans heavily festive: Kelsie Watts, the star of Six the Musical, will perform songs from her new album Christmas in New York; Vy Higginsen’s award-winning Sing Harlem Choir will bring gospel warmth; and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s brass ensemble will handle the classic carols. The iconic Ellie the Elephant, the beloved mascot of the New York Liberty, is even scheduled to make an appearance.
Designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick, the 16-story vessel consists of more than 150 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps and 80 landings, making it the ideal setting for a holiday light celebration, if you ask us. Since its debut, it’s drawn millions of visitors enthralled by both the city views and the sheer extravagance of it all. Even Stephen Ross, CEO of Hudson Yards’ developer Related Companies, once described it as a “12-month Christmas tree.”
Roughly two million lights will be flipped on next week, taking over the complex, wrapping trees, terraces and the 150-foot vessel in gold, making the structure resemble a giant ornament at the center of the five-acre Hudson Yards Public Square, surrounded by landscaped gardens, trees and direct High Line access. The lighting will also mark a festive new chapter for the landmark, which reopened last year after extensive safety updates.