Whether you’re strolling through the NYC Lantern Festival in Snug Harbor or checking out your next door neighbor’s lawn, here’s where you can see the best Staten Island Christmas lights, plus Christmas lights in NJ, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. And with everything we’ve been through over the last 2 years, one thing is for sure this winter: We’re all in need of a little Christmas magic. Luckily, Christmas-light displays are an easy and exciting way to get into the holiday spirit, especially in the New York area. If you decide to head in to see the Manhattan Christmas lights, make a day of it with other Christmas events happening across the bridge.
Staten Island Christmas Lights
1. Find Christmas Lights in Staten Island in Your Neighborhood!
You can see spectacular Christmas lights in Staten Island. The Facebook group Staten Island Christmas Houses posts an annual list of the brightest and most beautifully decorated homes in Staten Island. The list, organized by zip code and featuring a thread of photos, is updated regularly throughout the season. So bundle up, and head out to see some of the best Staten Island Christmas lights displays in the borough! And don’t forget to attend a Christmas tree lighting on the island.
2. NYC Winter Lantern Festival
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace
718-448-2500
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The NYC Winter Lantern Festival has returned to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, featuring a breathtaking 8-acre light installation with brilliant displays of flowers, an open sky, and deep-sea adventures. The festival runs Friday-Sunday, 4:30-9:30pm through Jan. 9, 2022, and is open every night from Dec. 24-Jan 2, 2022. $24.99; $16.99 kids ages 3-12.
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Manhattan Christmas Lights
1. Rockefeller Center Tree
Rockefeller Plaza, between 48th and 51st streets, Rockefeller Center
212-588-8601
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The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit on Wednesday, Dec. 1, and shines bright with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights. The tree will be lit daily from 6am-12am for all to enjoy. This year’s tree made headlines as the first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to come from Maryland!
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2. Shine Bright at Hudson Yards
Between Tenth and Twelfth avenues, from 30th to 34th streets, Hudson Yards
646-954-3155
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Presented by Wells Fargo, Shine Bright features more than two million lights illuminating The Shops, Public Square and Gardens, Edge, and Vessel.
3. Brookfield Place Luminaries
230 Vesey St., Battery Park City
212-978-1673
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Luminaries, a mesmerizing display of colorful lanterns designed by the LAB at Rockwell Group, returns to Brookfield Place with a new experience called Maestro that allows visitors to conduct the canopy using a gesture-controlled instrument to display their own unique light shows in unison with holiday music. Maestro runs Dec. 4-7, 11-12, 16-19, from 10am-8pm. For added holiday fun, Luminaries features light shows set to holiday songs at the top of every hour, 8am-10pm through Jan. 2, 2022.
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4. The Shops at Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle, Midtown
212-823-6300
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The famous 14-foot stars light up in synchronization with holiday music at 4pm each evening. These will be illuminated through Jan. 3, 2022, daily, 5-11pm.
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5. Pulitzer Fountain
Grand Army Plaza, 59 Street and Fifth Avenue, Midtown
See an adorable and illuminated holiday light display featuring penguins and other cold-weather animals that are signature of the season.
6. Holiday Lights Extravaganza Walking Tour
977 Sixth Ave., Herald Square
844-407-1795
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As part of this walking tour, you’ll visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the famous department store window displays and many other holiday-decorated spots while learning about NYC’s festive traditions. The tour ranges 3-4 hours and includes a 45-minute shopping excursion. Tickets are $50. Various dates available in December. Check the website for more information.
7. New York Christmas Markets and Lights Walking Tour
10 Columbus Circle, Midtown
844-407-1795
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Get into the Christmas spirit on a 4-hour walking tour of four of New York’s most attractive holiday markets, and find unique gifts among the vast array of hand-crafted goods, local arts and crafts, and fashionable winter attire. Sample traditional foods and warm drinks as you take in Manhattan’s holiday light displays and charming holiday decorations along the way. Tickets are $45; $36 for ages 5-11. Various dates available in December. Check the website for more information.
Christmas Lights in The Bronx
1. Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
718-220-5100
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See festive lights in the Bronx at this holiday event. During the evenings, the park comes to life with holiday cheer as immersive light displays, custom-designed animal lanterns, and animated light shows sparkle across the zoo. The outdoor celebration is complete with festive entertainment, seasonal treats and classic holiday music. (Registration required: $39.95; $34.95 seniors 65 and older; $24.95 ages 3-12)
2. NYBG GLOW
2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
718-817-8700
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Discover the beauty of the NYBG landmark landscape and historic buildings after dark, breathtakingly illuminated with a newly expanded 1.5-mile colorful experience. See the website for the schedule this holiday season. (Registration recommended. $35; $20 children 2-12; children younger than 2 are free.)
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Brooklyn Christmas Lights
1. Lightscape
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., Crown Heights
718-623-7200
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See the garden after dark at the illuminated Lightscape spectacular. Through Jan. 9, 2022. See the website for the schedule. (Registration required. $34; $18 ages 3-12; free for children 2 and younger.)
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2. Dyker Heights
Dyker Heights is home to some of the most over-the-top Christmas lights in New York. Displays spill over homes, roofs, and gardens each year. You can take a drive (or walk) through the neighborhood to feast your eyes on the displays, or even sign up for a guided walking tour or bus tour (which originates at Bryant Park Winter Village).
Christmas Lights in Queens
1. NYC Winter Lantern Festival
Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Glen Oaks
718-347-3276
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The NYC Winter Lantern Festival comes to the Queens County Farm. Enjoy a dazzling display of festive holiday lights and handmade lanterns in the shape of flowers, tractors, your favorite farm animals and more. Through Jan. 9, 2022: Thursday-Sunday and daily Dec. 16-Jan.2, 4:30-9:30pm. Check the website for prices.
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Christmas Lights in NJ
1. Orchard of Lights
Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
201-666-0472
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Drive through a guided tour of 32 acres of brilliant holiday light displays. Enjoy hot cocoa in the retail farm market, take pictures with Santa, make s’mores, and more. Through Dec. 29. Check the website for a complete schedule and prices.
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2. Six Flags Great Adventure’s Holiday In The Park Drive-Thru Experience
1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson
732-928-2000
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Enjoy glittering lights, festive snacks, and take a spin on your favorite rides at Six Flags Great Adventure’s Holiday in the Park. Through Jan. 2, 2022. Check the website for a complete schedule and prices.
3. Magic of Lights
Exit 116, Garden State Parkway, Holmdel
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Enjoy 40 scenes of festive light displays at this New Jersey drive-thru holiday lights festival. Drive a 1.2-mile course as you view sparkling LED displays of snowmen, elves, poinsettias, candy canes, and more. Through Jan. 2, 2022: Sunday-Thursday, 5-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 5-11p.m. Tickets start at $25.
4. Skylands Stadium Light Show & Christmas Village
94 Championship Place, Augusta
973-383-7644
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This mile-long drive-thru holiday light experience features more than 2 million sparkling lights. After your drive-thru adventure, stop by the Christmas Village to ride the Ferris wheel and carousel, go ice-skating, meet Santa and enjoy seasonal food and drinks. Through Jan. 9, 2022 on select days; visit the website for a complete schedule and ticket information.
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5. Winter Wonderlights
655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick
800-951-3770
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New Jersey’s Winter Wonderlights drive thru has more than 1.5 million lights animated to popular holiday tunes. Other features include 20-foot trees, a 200-foot tunnel of lights, a tribute to first responders, and much more. Through Jan. 2, 2022: daily, 5:30-10pm. Tickets are $28.
6. Martorana Christmas House
396 Fairfield Road, Wayne
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Stop by this decorated house in Wayne, NJ, to see a crowd of festive inflatables starring Santa, reindeer, and many other holiday characters (8am-12pm) and enjoy holiday lights (4pm-12am) throughout the holiday season.
7. Fanwood’s Famous “Christmas House”
83 Paterson Road, Fanwood
908-403-6486
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It’s hard to miss this beautifully decorated Christmas house in Fanwood, NJ. Adorned with thousands of holiday lights, it’s a must-see holiday display in the area. Also, all donations made to the Christmas House go to the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.
8. Allaire Christmas Light Spectacular
1923 Bailey Corner Road, Wall Township
732-796-3298
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Enjoy a country-style Christmas light show at Allaire Community Farm. The event is complete with a tractor-drawn hay ride that brings you through an illuminated Christmas display as holiday music fills the air. Multiple dates and times are available through Dec. 30. Check the website for the full schedule. Tickets are $15
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