Rockefeller Center Christmas

Some people feel that Christmas in New York City begins with the Thanksgiving Day Parade. To me, the real start of the Christmas season is the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Everything else just marks the end of fall.

Rockefeller Center is the Art Deco office complex that takes up four square blocks in the center of Manhattan. It was built in the 1930’s and spans the area from 48^th street to 51^st street between 5^th and 6^th Avenues. They were built in the early 1930’s and are some of the most stately and gorgeous buildings in the New York. No expense was spared. There are fourteen buildings, each with a different theme and set of decorations. At the center are 30 Rockefeller Center, home to NBC broadcasting, and the skating rink, built below ground level, complete with a golden statue of Prometheus rising. 

In 1931, workers helping to build Rockefeller Center put up a Christmas tress on December 24^th. They decorated it, along with children who lived nearby, with tinsel and tin cans. In 1933, the management of the center took over the tree raising responsibilities, and when the skating rink opened in 1936, the area became the center of Christmas in New York. And the rest is history.

This year’s tree is a 75-foot Norway Spruce that towers over the rink. Six toy soldiers guard the area. The Channel Garden, which connects the skating rink to 5^th Ave. is lined with twelve heralding angels, designed by Valerie Clarebout in 1969.

Of course, being the center of Christmas, the lit tree draws crowds. I visited at 10 in the morning on a recent Thursday, and while it wasn’t wall-to-wall people I did have to wait to get a clear photo. By midday, though, it is packed, and evenings, when the lights are on, well to misquote Yogi Berra, “It’s so crowded that nobody goes there anymore.”

Nearby Christmas things to do: 

Skating at Rockefeller Center –

The skating rink is open to the public. Sessions are two hours long and cost $25-32/adult and $15 for children general admission, plus $12 for skate rental. There are other packages available.

Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall –

The Radio City Christmas spectacular is world famous. The Rockettes dance. Santa flies in. And there is a live nativity scene. There are several shows a day and tickets run from $50-150.

Christmas Windows at Saks 5^th Ave –

Saks 5^th Avenue has been putting together some of the best Christmas displays for decades. Located right across 5^th Ave from the Channel Gardens, (between 49^th and 50^th street), this year they have teamed with Disney to present Disney’s Snow White. They also have a light show during the evenings.

Bryant Park Winter Garden and Christmas Market –

Bryant Park is located behind the main branch of the New York Public Library, between 42^nd and 40^th streets, and between 5^th and 6^th Ave. Here you will find another skating rink, larger than Rockefeller Center rink and FREE (although skate rentals here are $20). There are also two indoor restaurants over looking the rink and a Christmas Market for holiday shopping.

Getting There:
The Rockefeller Center Tree is located between 49^th and 50^th streets in Rockefeller Center. The closest subway is the B, D, F or M trains to the 47^th-50^th street station.

Bryant Park is at 42^nd street and 6^th Ave. The nearest subway is the B, D, F or M to 42^nd Street or the 7 to 5^th Ave.