New York is already fantastic and Christmas time will make it even more magical and lovely!
You will recognize New York from the movies, it is actually true. Christmas Trees, Christmas decorations, chorus, Santa Claus, twinkling lights, candy stands, roasted chestnuts, ice skating. The famous Christmas music in the stores, street corners and even in the elevators: "I´m dreaming of a white Christmas", "Jinge Bells" etc.
New York is already spectacular but during Christmas time the city will be even more mystical, cosy, sparkling, fantastic, beautiful and cool! Christmas is the season when the city will offer more than usual, more shopping, more activities, more shows and other offers.
Many says that the starting shot is "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade", the fourth Thursday in November each year. The Parade begins at 77th Street and Central Park West. It Proceeds to Columbus Circle and turns on to Central Park South, 7th Ave and then 42nd street, turning south on 6th Ave. Then continues west to Macy´s at 34th Street. The Parade ends at 7th Avenue.
Thursday Nov 24, 2011 - at 9AM. It is an enormous parade that will take place this Thanksgiving day. This year is the 84rd year. The parade has existed since 1924. (During World War II between the years 1942-1944 there were no parade. Both helium and rubber was needed during this time.)
You will see, enormous inflatable balloons, marching bands who are playing music, hundreds of clowns etc. Along Broadway, million of people will gather to see the famous parade.
Fun facts:The parade was started by the second generation of immigrants. They wanted to celebrate their new American heritage and they wanted to celibrate like they did in Europe - with a parade.
Rockefeller Center - The Christmas Tree
Other say that Christmas starts when the big Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is lit.
The big tree will be lit at Nov 30th, 2011
This year the Christmas Tree ceremony is celebrating it´s 79th Annual Tree Lightning
Each year the Manager for Rockefeller Center drives around to look for the Christmas Tree. During wintertime he flies across the country. The Tree is normally an Norway Spruce and they are planted in the United States and Canada. They grow to very large sizes. When the Tree is found and cut it arrives during the night with Police escort in to New York city.
Video: Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center
2007
This is how the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is lit. Many
excited
people has come here to experience a magical moment.
The 2007, 75th Anniversary looked like this!
Source:
YouTube
Fun facts: The first tree could be seen 1931 at Rockefeller Center. The first official Tree Lightning was in 1933. In 1939 the tradition with Christmas carols by the tree started. The Tree lighting ceremony could be seen for the first time in TV 1951.
Christmas is also the time for shopping
The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday", and this day is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, so shop-til-you-drop. Many consider this to be the starting shot for Christmas. Most stores and shops start this day with many offers and sales. The big sale is of course after Christmas day, as in Sweden. 50-70% sale is not unusual!
Below are some stores that are good for "window shopping" and also for real shopping
Lord & Taylor - (Fifth Ave. mellan 38th och 39th street)
Night Tour/ Lights of the Holiday Tour (Nov 30, 2011 - Jan 2, 2012)
Take a night tour with CitySights NY and see all the bright lights lighting up New York. The special trip during the Christmas season (Nov 30 - Jan 2) takes you to places as Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Central Park, Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Radio City Music Hall and much more. Take the opportunity to see the New York Christmas lights!
The Christmas Spectacular & The Rockettes / 11 nov 2011 - 2 jan 2012 / Book tickets »
Some nice events during Christmas!
There are much to do in New York during Christmas time!
Why not go ice skating in Central Park or at Rockefeller Center, go with horse "cab", "window shopping" is a must maybe at Macys, Lord&Taylor, Bloomingdales or Saks.
Maybe see some of the famous Christmas Trees, the most famous, at Rockefeller Center, but there are also big Christmas Trees at City Hall, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art etc. Why not visit the famous Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall - "The Rockettes". Visit a church and listen to Christmas carols and gospel or maybe visit "The Scandinavian House" who also offer a variety of things during Christmas time.
Yes, there are a lot to choose from...here are some tip!
Macy´s Thanksgiving day parade Thursday Nov 24, 2011
Starts at: 9 AM - 12 Noon.
The parade starts at 77st Street and Central Park West, continues to Columbus Circle,
turn EAST onto Central Park South,
down
7th Avenue
to
42nd street, turns
south on 6th Avenues (Avenue of the Americas),
then on to 34th Street heads west to Macy's Herald Square and ends at 34th Street and Seventh Avenue at around noon.
Santa Land Macy´s
At Macy´s 8th floor, you will find Santa Land. It is a magical world for the children. Every year Santa Claus will receive wishes from all the children. Entrance is free. You will also find moving toys!
Over 300.000 persons visit Santa Land every year.
Macy´s Christmas windows
You can´t miss the Christmas Window displayes at Macy´s. Every year it is a new theme.
Just stroll outside and look at all the nice figures and hear the Christmas music that is playing.
When we visited New York at Christmas (2006) we went to Macy´s and the theme was "The Fairy tale´s World"
The Ice rink at Rockefeller Center!
The rink is opened Saturday Oct 8, 2011.
The ice rink at Rockefeller Center opened for the first time on Christmas day, 1936. The rink have approx. a quarter of a million visitors every year.
Approx. 150 people can go ice skating at the same time. You pay for the rent of skates and a fee to enter the rink. View website for price information.
FAO Schwartz - the big Toy store! The worlds biggest toy store.
During Christmas the line of people will be very long...but that is Christmas. This is the place for every child and persons between 0-100 years to become a child again. The toys are living in a "fantasy world" for a moment instead of laying in the boxes. Here you will find the most exclusive toys you can imagen.
If you love candy don´t miss their big candy store!
Go skating on the pond at Bryant Park
Free admission
Take your friends for some ice skating in the Park. This is a wonderland in the middle of Manhattan. This is New York´s only free admission ice skating rink.
Adress: between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues. It is a short walk from Grand Central Staion and Times Square.
Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday 8am - 10pm,
Friday & Saturday 8am - Midnight More info: Bryant Park
Radio City Music Halls Christmas show Nov 11 - Jan 2, 2012 - This year is the 79th Annual Show
Every year since 1932 a spectacular Christmas show with the group "Rockettes" is performed here. The dance group, with 36 girls, are dancing in different formations and their moves are made exactly the same time, so it will look like just one and the same move!.
For you that may have seen "A Chorus Line" probably understand a little bit more what it´s all about....
A show is played at the frontside of the building. Sorry to say we do not have the exact time when it is played. You will see lights and hear music. If you are visiting the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center then just stop for a couple of minutes at Saks. It is located close to the Tree at Rockefeller Center...
December 2006
Saks Department Store
5th Avenue New York
Play movie
Use the play-button under the movie to start the film.
Grand Central Terminal - Laser light show
(The Grand Central Kaleidoscope)
We will be back with dates, this was the dates 2009: 1 Dec, 2009 - Jan 01, 2010.
A laser light show is projected on the famed Sky Ceiling, 125 feet above the Terminal's Main Concourse. These spectacular shows bring the ceiling's constellations to life in a celebration of winter, all choreographed to seasonal music.
Entrance is free.
Every 30 minutes from 11AM to 9PM. The show will take approx 5 min.
Grand Central Terminal - Holiday Fair
We will be back with dates, this was the dates 2010:Nov 15 - Dec 24, 2010
If you want to visit a fair indoors - then make a visit to Grand Central Station and
Vanderbilt Hall. Here you can walk around and just looking at all the stuff and maybe also buy something......
This year the holiday fair is entering its 12th year.
Mount Vernon Hotel Museum - Holiday Candlelight Tours December 9th, 2011 at 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30 PM
December 10th, 2011 at 5, 6 & 7 PM
Come and enjoy a Christmas from 1830th. A nice tour in one of New York's oldest house, where you go back in time and see what it was like then.
Reservations recommended, it is popular.
The Chorus -
The Big Apple Chorus
- stands
like a christmas Tree
and
sings Christmas carols. We will be back with dates, this was the dates 2009:
Fridays: 6PM & 7PM
Sat-Sun: 3PM & 4PM
During: Nov 27 - Dec 24
(Fulton Street between
South Street and Water Street)
This year they have moved the Christmas celebration to daytime. This event will save a lot of
electricity. Earlier years the park has had a lot of lights on several objects. This year you will see more animals than before! We will be back with dates, this was the dates 2009:
6 dec - 4 jan, 2010
Christmas in New York (2011)
