Photo by Daniel Dimitrov, Creative Commons
Holiday Celebrations in NYC
Holiday celebrations in NYC will go on in 2020 so start planning now. The Covid-19 pandemic has slowed us down but we still have plenty of holiday cheer to go around. The holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year in NYC.
Thanksgiving Holiday
The traditional kick-off to New York’s Holiday season has been the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Since 1924 Macy’s has been heralding the holiday spirit with the world’s largest parade and they plan to do so for 2020. Typically the parade would draw about 3.5 million spectators along it’s 2.5 mile route but this year it will be a television only event. There will be recorded elements of the parade so you can see the balloons, floats, the celebrity entertainers, performances from some Broadway shows and Santa’s arrival, all the things that make this paradigm a holiday favorite. The biggest difference will be for New Yorkers themselves as we’ll have to watch the parade on television like the rest of the country.
Christmas Holiday Events
The Covid-19 pandemic has also affected a number of our traditional events. There will be no Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall this year. But Rockefeller Center will still have a tree. A 75-foot Norway Spruce. Decorated with more than 5 miles of lights the official lighting will be on December 2, 2020 at 7 pm. Like the Thanksgiving Day parade, there will be no in person viewing for the lighting ceremony. You can view the lighting ceremony on NBC 7 – 10 pm EST. You will still be able to visit the tree daily from 6 am to 12 am. On Christmas day the tree will be lit for a full 24 hours.
There will be the traditional ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center. And Bryant Park features a rink and a holiday shopping village.
And retailers are planning wondrous windows for your enjoyment.
New Years Eve
Times Square has been host to New Years Eve since 1904. More than 1 million people pack into the area every December 31st to watch the famous ball drop. This year New Years Eve joins our other Holiday celebrations in going digital. There will be socially distanced live elements and in person honorees. Essential workers, first responders, scientists and doctors, along with entertainers will be honored guests. And as any New Yorker will tell you, the best place to actually watch the ball drop is from you living room sofa.