# Christmas parades and tree lightings in New York City, 2026

> We found three Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around New York City with 2026 dates: three tree lightings and lighting nights, all free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 3 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
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## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting** at Rockefeller Center, Midtown. When: Wed, Dec 2, 2026. Time: 7–10pm. Price: Free to watch. The 76-foot tree lights up with more than 50,000 LEDs under its Swarovski star. Expect very big crowds. Official page: https://www.rockefellercenter.com/holidays/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Dumbo Holiday Tree Lighting** at Dumbo Archway and Pearl Plaza, Dumbo, Brooklyn. When: Thu, Dec 3, 2026. Time: 4–7pm; tree lit at 5:30pm. Price: Free. Santa and elves, a photo booth, student performances, cocoa and treats. Bring an unwrapped toy for the 84th Precinct toy drive. Official page: https://dumbo.nyc/treelighting/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Washington Square Tree Lighting** at Washington Square Park, under the Arch, Greenwich Village. When: Tue, Dec 8, 2026. Time: 6pm–7pm. Price: Free. Brass quartet and carols with songbooks handed out. Santa leads the countdown and brings candy canes. Carols return under the Arch on Christmas Eve at 5pm. Official page: https://www.washingtonsquarenyc.org/events/2019/12/4/tree-lighting-ceremony-ww4ya-38gjh-6e67k-har8h-jsce8-dcwzl-gymzf (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in New York City?
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center: Wed, Dec 2, 2026, 7–10pm. Dumbo Holiday Tree Lighting at Dumbo Archway and Pearl Plaza: Thu, Dec 3, 2026, 4–7pm; tree lit at 5:30pm. Washington Square Tree Lighting at Washington Square Park, under the Arch: Tue, Dec 8, 2026, 6pm–7pm.

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in New York City free?
All of the ones we list are free to watch: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, Dumbo Holiday Tree Lighting and Washington Square Tree Lighting. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).