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The holiday season in New York doesn’t truly begin until the lights flicker on across the city’s beloved evergreens—and Bryant Park has just dropped the date for its annual glow-up. The tree lighting ceremony at the Bank of America Winter Village will take place on Tuesday, December 2, at 5:30pm, turning Midtown’s coziest corner into a full-on snow globe of skates, cocoa and cheer.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will once again feature dazzling ice-skating performances, surprise guests and plenty of holiday sparkle. Last year’s lineup included Olympic skaters and live music, and though Bryant Park is keeping this year’s host under wraps for now, they promise it’ll be “not-to-be-missed.”
The massive Christmas tree anchors the rink at the Bank of America Winter Village, which opened for the season on Friday and runs through March 1, 2026. Now in its 13th year, the Winter Village remains one of the city’s great cold-weather equalizers: home to New York’s only free-admission ice rink and more than 180 open-air holiday shops curated by Urbanspace.
Skaters can glide under twinkling lights, grab a mulled wine or hot chocolate at The Lodge and shop for handmade gifts ranging from jewelry and knitwear to small-batch sweets. For those who prefer spectating over spinning, The Lodge’s enclosed bar area is perfectly positioned to take in the rink action (and the lighting ceremony, if you arrive early enough to snag a spot).
“Bryant Park is proud to continue its partnership with Bank of America to bring New Yorkers and visitors their favorite destination for seasonal attractions, dining and small business merchants,” the park’s team said in its seasonal announcement.
Beyond the tree lighting, the Winter Village calendar is stacked: Santa’s Corner, Cozy Igloos and the much-loved Bumper Cars on Ice will return later in the season. The Holiday Shops stay open through January 4, 2026, while the rink and The Lodge keep the party going deep into winter.
Mark your calendars, sharpen your skates and get ready for one of New York’s most picture-perfect nights of the year—when Bryant Park’s tree flips the switch and the city officially hits full holiday mode.