Best Christmas trees in New York City

The trees have yet to be cut, but the countdown has already begun. Find out when the Big Apple's most beautiful boughs will be lit up for the season.

The New York Botanical Garden
Tree lighting: Sat, Nov 21 at 4pm. On view through Sun, Jan 10. Kazimiroff Blvd at Fordham Rd, Bronx (718-817-8700, nybg.org). Travel: B, D to Bedford Park Blvd; 4 to Bedford Park Blvd –Lehman College, then take the Bx26 bus to the garden’s gate; or Metro-North’s Harlem line local to Botanical Garden. $20, students and seniors $18, children ages 2–12 $8, children under 2 free; event free with garden admission.
Get back to nature at this early lighting as you take in the winter wonderland of the New York Botanical Garden. After the conifer gets lit at the Reflecting Pool, exercise your family's vocal chops by joining the Westchester Chordsmen in an old-fashioned sing-along of tunes from just about every tradition. All ages.

American Museum of Natural History Origami Holiday Tree
Tree lighting: Mon, Nov 23 at 10:30am. On view through Fri, Jan 1. Central Park West at 79th St (212-769-5100, amnh.org). Subway: B, C to 81st St–Museum of Natural History. Daily 10am–5:45pm. Suggested admission $16, students and seniors $12, children ages 2–12 $9.
Embrace the holiday season by glimpsing a 13-foot tannenbaum covered in 500 colorful paper ornaments. This year’s decorations all adhere to an alphabet theme: You’ll find a "T" hanging alongside a Tyrannosaurus rex and a "C" canoodling with a chimpanzee. All ages.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Annual Christmas Tree
Tree lighting: Tue, Nov 24. On view through Jan 6. 1000 Fifth Ave at 82nd St (212-535-7710, metmuseum.org). Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St. Tue–Thu, Sun 9:30am–5:30pm; Fri, Sat 9:30am–9pm. Suggested contribution $20, seniors $15, students $10, children under 12 free. No strollers on Sundays.
The institution’s yearly stunner is a candlelit, angel- and cherub-adorned blue spruce that towers above the 18th-century Neapolitan Baroque Crèche. Seasonal music rounds out the display. All ages.

FREE South Street Seaport
Tree lighting: Fri, Nov 27 at 6pm. On view through Sun, Dec 27. Big Apple Chorus performs every Fri at 6, 7pm; Sat, Sun at 3, 4pm. South Street Seaport, Fulton St at South St (212-732-7678, southstreetseaport.com). Subway: A, C to Broadway–Nassau St; J, M, Z, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Fulton St.
Attend one of the first major tree lightings of the season and watch the 50-foot Douglas fir light up the cobblestone streets. Then your family can “Deck the Halls” at the docks as the Big Apple Chorus, a group of barbershop doo-woppers, harmonize holiday carols. All ages.

FREE Rockefeller Center
Tree lighting: Wed, Dec 2 7-9pm. On view through Thu, Jan 7. 50th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-332-6868, rockefellercenter.com). Subway: B, D, F, V to 47–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr.
Touted as the world’s most famous Christmas tree (and who could prove otherwise?), the giant spruce at Rockefeller Plaza will be illuminated by more than 30,000 multicolored bulbs in a gala ceremony on Dec 2: Celebrity performances begin around 7pm, followed by the lighting at 8:55pm (although if you want to have a view of the festivities, plan to arrive during the early afternoon). Tip: If your little one fits in a front carrier, leave the stroller at home. The crowds here are especially resistant to vehicular nudgings; better to slip between bodies like the Ghost of Christmas Past. All ages.

FREE Atlantic Avenue
Tree lighting: Thu, Dec 3 at 6pm. On view through Wed, Jan 13. The Belarusian Church, 401 Atlantic Ave at Bond St, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn (718-875-8993, atlanticave.org). Subway: A, C, G to Hoyt–Schermerhorn; 2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins St.
Deck your Brooklyn halls with boughs of holly at this fest centered around Atlantic Avenue between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue. After Councilman David Yassky lights the tree, kids from P.S. 38 and P.S. 261 will lead caroling. Stick around for a performance by Rolie Polie Guacamole and a visit from Santa, as well as complimentary treats from local shops. All ages.

FREE Park Avenue Memorial Trees
Tree lighting: Sun, Dec 6 at 6:30pm. The Brick Presbyterian Church, Park Ave at 91st St (212-705-4237, fundforparkavenue.org). Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St.
Every year since 1945, the firs that line the Park Avenue Malls have been lit to honor those whose lives were lost while serving in our nation’s wars. This year’s batch of 104 trees will be lit following a ceremony at the Brick Presbyterian Church. All ages.

FREE St. Nicholas Park
Tree lighting: Sun, Dec 6 at 6pm. St. Nicholas Park Plaza, enter park from St. Nicholas Ave at 135th St (stnicholaspark.org). Subway: B, C to 135th St.This year’s celebration features Tamara Tunie, of Law & Order: SVU fame, who'll recite the classic ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, as well as a visit from Saint Nick himself. Your family can nosh on free hot cocoa, apple cider and cookies as you take in the freshly lit tree and tunes sung by the talented youngsters from the Harlem School of the Arts. All ages.

FREE New York Stock Exchange
Tree lighting: Thu, at 4:55pm, performances 3–6pm. On view through Sat, Jan 9. Broad St between Wall St and Exchange Pl (212-656-3000, nyse.com).
The Financial District celebrates the season, too: Head downtown to see this 65-foot-tall Norway spruce, decked out in a rainbow of lights and baubles. A merry lineup of performers helps celebrate this 86-year-old tradition, including the cast of Broadway's Rock of Ages and a few Muppets. All ages.

FREE Carl Schurz Park
Tree lighting: Sun, Dec 13 at 5pm. On view through Jan 6. East End Ave at 86th St (212-459-4455, carlschurzparknyc.org). Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St.
At this outdoor gathering, your family can watch the park’s tree light up; indulge in gratis hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes; and fa-la-la along with the Young People’s Chorus of NYC as they sing both traditional carols and new arrangements of old favorites. All ages.

FREE Peace Tree at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
Tree lighting: Fri, Dec 18, at 11am. On View through Dec 31. 1047 Amsterdam Ave at 112th St (212-316-7490, stjohndivine.org). Subway: B, C, 1 to 110th St–Cathedral Pkwy.
More than 1,000 paper cranes created by origami expert Lore Schirokauer decorate the tree. This 28-year-old tradition was inspired by the children’s book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, the real-life story of an atomic bomb survivor who attempted to fold 1,000 cranes—the traditional Asian symbol of long life, happiness and peace—before she died of leukemia at age 11. 

Bryant Park
Tree lighting: TBD

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• Holiday window displays
• Lesser-known holiday displays
• Holiday fun