Where to see stunning holiday lights in NYC

The fabulous holiday icon of NYC, The Rockefeller Christmas Tree, is a must-see for both locals and visitors during the holiday season, whether you’re visiting before ice-skating on The Rink at Rockefeller Center or just passing through.

The tree will be lit daily from 6am to midnight throughout the month of December. On Christmas Day, the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve it is lit from 6am to 9pm.

Washington Square Park's soaring tree is a sight to behold. See the beautifully lit 45-foot tree throughout the holiday season, lit from 4pm-1am daily.

On the day after Thanksgiving, the neighborhood of Dyker Heights undergoes a transformation, as residents along several blocks in the area festoon their homes with elaborate holiday decorations. And we're not talking about a Christmas tree or a simple nativity scene: Among the kitschy pieces you might see are life-size reindeer, huge inflatable Santas and snowmen, Christmas carols blaring from loudspeakers and tens of thousands of lights.

One of the biggest light shows in the country is opening at Citi Field on Sunday, November 20, and it's going to be dazzling.

The Amaze Light Festival by Artistic Holiday Designs features a series of five worlds—the North Pole, Land of Sweets, and a Whimsical Forest. There will also be a blend of live, high-energy performances every two-hours and the country’s largest animated light display with a mega light show every 30-minutes.

Tickets are now on sale at AmazeLightFestival.com. 

Head to the northeastern part of Central Park to see the Charles A. Dana Center draped in holiday lights.

Then head to the southwestern part of the park to Tavern on the Green. The iconic restaurant has lit 20-foot Christmas tree with 2,000 ornaments and 10,000 lights to glow through Central Park. Grab some dinner or a drink while you're there! 

Pier 15 at 78 South Street has transformed into Winter Wonderland at Watermark, a festive destination inspired by The Santa Clauses, the upcoming Disney series based on the popular The Santa Clause films starring Tim Allen. Tickets, which include entry and a complimentary cup of hot cocoa, start at $20 per person and can be purchased right here.

There will be tons to do on-site during the 90-minute-long experience, starting with the chance to quite literally walk through Santa’s house, where you’ll get to sit in the figure’s cozy armchair by the fireplace in his very own living room. Don’t forget to snap some photos, of course.

The experience runs through January 15.  

This dazzling light sculpture takes an intriguing new spin on holiday lights. The new massive, moving sculpture installed on Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza celebrates that the diversity of languages in New York City.

Titled “Your Voices,” the sculpture was commissioned by Moët & Chandon and made in association with the Endangered Language Alliance.

In addition to the scultpure, see live performances on the following dates:

• December 9: Cardinal Hayes Singers, The Jalopy Chorus, and the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus
• December 10: Schiller Institute NYC Chorus, Ukrainian Village Voices, and the Cardinal Hayes Singers
• December 11: Cardinal Hayes Singers, Our Chorus NYC, and the Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir
• December 16: Ukrainian Village Voices, Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir, and Our Chorus NYC
• December 17: Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir, The Jalopy Chorus, and Our Chorus NYC
• December 18: Ukrainian Village Voices, Our Chorus NYC, and the Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir

The massive bows, angels, nutcrackers, lights and other festive decor that adorns New York City's most famous buildings comes together each year in a warehouse in Westchester County where hundreds of elves (ahem, employees) bring Christmas magic to life.

This year, you can peek inside the 110,000-square-foot warehouse of American Christmas, the company responsible for the beloved holiday decorations at Macy's, the Cartier mansion, Radio City Music Hall, the Rockefeller Center Channel Gardens and more. Plus, you can buy vintage decorations that once adorned iconic buildings, walk through larger-than-life displays in Santa's Village, explore several Dickens-themed photo opportunities and pose with 50 mesmerizing animatronics. 

See Santa's Village and the rest of the festivities at American Christmas, 30 Warren Place in Mount Vernon, through December 24. Tickets cost $10 during the week and $15 on weekends.  

Yes, Rockefeller Center is a major tourist trap during the holidays, but you can’t deny its beauty. (You can be a jaded New Yorker without being a total a Grinch.)

Folks travel near and far to hit the slick stuff and admire the humungous Norway Spruce covered in thousands of LED lights, as well as the golden angels and other illuminated shrubberies. Needless to say, this inviting landmark certainly brings its A-game in terms of spreading holiday cheer.

Saks Fifth Avenue’s ten-story facade makes this department store a can’t-miss stop on your Christmas lights tour. In the past, festive LED light projections included “Snowflake Spectacular,” and a yeti, who according to a tie-in tale by Daily Monster creator Stefan J. Bucher, came down from Siberia to live on the roof of the department store. The usually two-minute show repeats every seven to eight minutes and ties in with the holiday display in the store's 12 windows.

Home to the incredible, high-kicking Rockettes, Radio City Music Hall is one of the most cheerful and well-lit landmarks during the merriest time of year. It’s no shock since the venue is known for its always-packed holiday show: Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Its twinkling Christmas tree is certainly captivating enough to make us want to stop and take a photo or two.

While taking a winter stroll through the iconic Central Park, it’s worth stopping by the Plaza Hotel to enjoy the hospitable venue’s lovely holiday decorations. From Christmas wreaths adorned with ornaments, to pine-covered trimmings covered with rows of white lights, the view could cheer up even the Scroogiest New Yorker.

Even before Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose, the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park has already been attracting the masses (it opened before Halloween).

Apart from a free, open-to-the-public ice-skating rink, more than 60 holiday shops and outstanding food, this holiday market attracts passersby with its stunning display of holiday lights adorning the park grounds, including its larger-than-life Christmas tree. Even if you’re simply passing by this Christmas utopia, take a moment to grab some hot cocoa, sit back and admire the magic.

Take a break from Christmas shopping and check out the state-of-the-art holiday light display at The Shops at Columbus Circle. The spectacle features a dozen 14-foot LED stars that do a colorful “dance,” flashing more than 16.7 million color mixes. You’ll be so moved, you won’t even care that you maxed out your MasterCard getting Aunt Judy that back massager she’s been wanting.

This bar and grill combines traditional German food and beer with a healthy serving of kitsch, notably with its annual Christmas decorations. Year-round, you can enjoy a wide range of German dishes, especially meats and sausages, while an array of faux medieval paintings peeks out behind meticulously entwined oak branches.