A tour of New York’s finest Christmas lights displays

An iconic staple of Christmas in New York, this Brooklyn neighbourhood takes festive decorations to the next level. That’s right, each year, visitors flock to Dyker Heights to see the houses adorned in all kinds of extravagant decorations and lights. Many have various over-the-top themes that continue to enchant crowds year after year. You can find out more about visiting Dyker Heights here.

This year, Saks 5th Avenue has partnered with Dior to present its holiday lights show. The collaboration, entitled “Dior’s Carousel of Dreams at Saks” showcases Dior’s journey from its home city of Paris to the shimmering streets of New York. Featuring nearly 300,000 LED lights, the display is colourful, surprising and entirely magical, a must-see for anyone in the city who may be looking to get into the festive spirit.

Nothing says Christmas in New York quite like the Christmas tree at Rockefeller centre. Not only is it a festive favourite amongst New Yorkers, but foreign visitors come flocking to the city to witness its beauty each year. The tree is lit daily from 5am to midnight until January 13th. The festive atmosphere around the centre is palpable, and it’s only enhanced by the ice skating rink that sits directly in front of the tree. You can purchase your tickets to go ice skating here.

Another epic tree on this list, don’t underestimate Washington Square Park’s iteration of holiday cheer. The 45-foot tree is lit daily from 4pm to 1am and truly adds a haunting glow to the park, especially come nightfall. A contrast to the glimmer and colour of Rockefeller, this tree is simply luminous and oozes wonder.

This iconic music venue always manages to light up its corner of the street with the most stunning festive details. Complete with a christmas tree, rows of lights and various other decorations to complete its festive transformation, it truly is an unmissable sight to behold when spending Christmas in the Big Apple. And while you’re there, why not drop in for a Rockettes show? The Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular is a staple of the New York festive season and it would be a shame to miss out on it. Find out more about the show here.