In New York City, Christmas decorations typically start appearing in early to mid-November, right after Halloween and leading up to Thanksgiving. Here’s a general timeline for the festive displays:
Key Christmas decorations Dates:
- Mid-November: Many stores, streets, and businesses start putting up Christmas decorations around this time. Iconic department stores like Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and others unveil their famous holiday window displays in mid to late November.
- Thanksgiving Week (Late November): The city really begins to feel festive around Thanksgiving. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (on the last Thursday of November) usually marks the unofficial start of the holiday season.
- Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting: This is one of the most iconic events, and it typically takes place in late November or early December. The tree is usually put up a few weeks earlier, but the official lighting event kicks off the season. For 2024, the tree lighting is scheduled for December 4, 2024.
- Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: In the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights, elaborate Christmas light displays on private homes start to appear in early December, with many homes lit by mid-December.
When Christmas decorations End:
- Most Christmas decorations in New York City remain up until early January, with many coming down after the Epiphany (January 6th). However, some displays, like the Rockefeller Center Tree, stay up until the first week of January.
By mid-November, you can start enjoying the city’s magical transformation into a winter wonderland!
