Holiday Events in New York

If you plan on being in New York for the 2006 holiday season, there are plenty of events and celebrations scheduled this year. You don't need to look very far for something to get your in the spirit of the holidays. Tree lighting events, Christmas parades, holiday music and festivities for the entire family can be found. Many events are free and some charge an admittance fee, but there will be something for everyone, both young and old. Just get ready to go out and enjoy the beauty of the season in New York this year.

The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is November 23, 2006 this year. This world renowned parade is the kick off for the holiday season. Nearly everyone is familiar with the stunning floats, huge inflatable character balloons and marching bands and horses. Bundle up and pick your spot on the parade route early.

The Christmas Revels
This holiday event runs from December 8,9,10 at the Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at West 95th St, NY. The New York Revels - Winter Solstice Celebration features music, dance, poetry and stories from the Scottish Highlands.

Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Window Displays
Saks Fifth Avenue features whimsical holiday window displays along Fifth Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue's annual animated window displays bring back sweet memories for adults and make new ones for children. Bring the whole family.

Macy's Christmas Window Displays
Macy's is one of New York City's most famous department stores, and their holiday window displays are well known. Each year, they feature a series of window displays with scenes from Miracle on 34th Street, as well as many other themes.

Cathedral of St. John the Divine Peace Tree
The Peace Tree in the Cathedral is decorated with 1000 paper cranes and other peace symbols. There is a workshop where kids can learn to make the cranes, and there is also a walking tour of the Cathedral. The lighting ceremony is in early December and the tree is taken down after Christmas. St John's is located at 110th St. and Amsterdam Ave. Phone 212-316-7490 for more information.
Park Avenue Trees
The Upper East Side has a 2.5 mile long stretch of Park Avenue that is illuminated by trees during the Holiday season. Don't miss this lighted tree spectacular. Park Avenue runs from 97th Street to 48th Street

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place on November 29, 2006 from 7-9 p.m.. There will be musical performances from a variety of popular artists and the Radio City Rockettes perform. Tthere are also ice skaters performing in the Rockefeller Ice Rink.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Website: http://www.wnbc.com/christmastree/index.html

The tree goes up around November 10, 2006, is lit on November 29 and is taken down on January 6. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is typically illuminated from 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. daily, except on Christmas and New Year's Eve. On Christmas, the tree is illuminated for 24 hours and on New Year's Eve the lights are turned off at 9:00 p.m.

The tree is typically a Norway Spruce. The minimum requirement is that the tree be 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide. There is no compensation offered in exchange for the tree, other than the pride of having donated the tree that appears in Rockefeller Center. More than five miles of lights are used to decorate the tree every year. Only the lights and the star decorate the tree. The tree is recycled and the 3 tons of mulch are donated to the Boy Scouts. The largest portion of the trunk is donated to the U.S. Equestrian team in New Jersey to use as an obstacle jump.

The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball
The Ball Drop in Times Square stems from an old ritual in England, when a descending Time Ball was a popular method of signaling noon to allow pocket watches and nearby ships at sea to daily reset their chronometers. This tradition still happens today in Washington D.C. at the United States Naval Observatory where it still drops a Time Ball down a flag pole every day at noon.

The lighted Ball at One Times Square descends 77 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. The Ball is covered with 504 Waterford crystal triangles, 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high intensity strobe lights, and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors.

Whatever your preference, whatever makes the holidays special for you, New York will most likely have it ready and waiting this year. Whether it's the soft glow of twinkling lights on fragrant pine trees or a cup of hot chocolate while you watch the Christmas parade, you can find it here. Put on your hat, warm coat, gloves, and a smile and head out into the holiday season ready to experience the joy in New York this winter. The magic of the holiday is just around the corner.